Powermonkey extreme good deal for touring.

[Sore Thumb]

In the future I will get a dynamo hub, but at the moment just wanted to get a high capacity and versatile/waterproof battery. So I thought I would look at the powermonkey extreme.

However it's a bit expensive at £120. However I found that Argos on line sell it for around £89.

Went to birmingham today to have a look around Cotswold outdoor and they were selling it for £120.

I said to the assistant, thanks but that's too expensive. He said that they did have a price match, even if you can get it cheaper on line. It had to be same colour and in stock.
I mentioned the price at Argos online only and was in stock. Assistant came back 5 mins later and said we can do the deal for £88. Bargain, just over £30 off.
Now a owner of a powermonkey extreme.

 

[stephenjubb]

Pity you can't take it back.

You can get a top of the range shimano 36 spoke front wheel for £107 (125 euros) from

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,140,141;product=29909

solar power is too unreliable in the UK.

Hope it works for you.

 

[ufkacbln]

Pity you can't take it back.

You can get a top of the range shimano 36 spoke front wheel for £107 (125 euros) from

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,140,141;product=29909

solar power is too unreliable in the UK.

Hope it works for you.

They are brilliant, and you can charge them in friendly caravans, pub / cafe electrical sockets, trains, any computer.... etc. Far from being restricted to solar power. I have yet to be refused to be allowed to plug it in

They are also versatile and can charge GPS systems such as the Garmin, bike lights such as the Exposure and Knog

I have a Power Monkey that travels everywhere with me and a "Mini Gorilla" for use when I tour and want to extend the Ipad / Macbook life

 

[ufkacbln]

Pity you can't take it back.

You can get a top of the range shimano 36 spoke front wheel for £107 (125 euros) from

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,2,140,141;product=29909

solar power is too unreliable in the UK.

Hope it works for you.

Don't forget you can't use this directly to charge any USB based items such as phones.

You need to factor in another £15r for a system such as the Busch and Muller E-Werk, or the Tout Terrain plug. The BioLogic Reecharge is cheaper but will not work with Iphones or Ipads.

 

[stephenjubb]

They are brilliant, and you can charge them in friendly caravans, pub / cafe electrical sockets, trains, any computer.... etc. Far from being restricted to solar power. I have yet to be refused to be allowed to plug it in

They are also versatile and can charge GPS systems such as the Garmin, bike lights such as the Exposure and Knog

I have a Power Monkey that travels everywhere with me and a "Mini Gorilla" for use when I tour and want to extend the Ipad / Macbook life

he hasn't wasted his money, he can charge the power monkey from his dynamo and use it as a cache battery to charge other devices. You can buy adapters to do this for £18 that convert from AC to DC.

A good idea for the future. all of the benefits of the power monkey and the benefit of charging from a dynamo.

 

[HorTs]

I got a PME for Xmas and so far its been good (not used in anger). I've carried it around for 2 ish hours through dapled woodland and it charged up 1 bar. I'll be storing it on my rack with the battery in the pannier while touring.

 

[Sore Thumb]

I plan to get a dynamo in the future. However I need to update my sleeping bag and mat too. I also need a disc only dynamo hub and wheel set. So this will be a bit more expensive than a standard dynamo hub.

 

[lauradogin]

agree,You need to factor in another £15r for a system such as the Busch and Muller E-Werk, or the Tout Terrain plug

 

[gilespargiter]

Of course the thing everyone is keeping as a well guarded secret is the actual solution to this difficulty. I could just give you a clue, and say look on European websites, where bicycles are regarded as a transport solution, rather than a rich person's fetish. However I have decided to become a full blown "whistle blower" and take the consequences.
The secret is... side runner dynamos (furtive look over shoulder).. side runner dynamos. Such a controversial thing to say here in the UK.
You can have a top of the range Busch & Muller from; http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/products/bike-parts/lighting/dynamos/side-runner-dynamos/ or you could obtain a highly rated Nordlicht dynamo from; http://www.dutchbikebits.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=40 for less. Brit bike part suppliers seem to regard them as luxury accessories and charge accordingly.
They represent the most efficient lighting you can have, because; way under half the price of installing even the cheapest hub dynamo. The B&M weighs 120grams. Fully off when off. When on, slightly less efficient than the very best hub dynamo's - so if you take all that together, unless you run over 99% in the dark, they beat all the rest hands down.
They do need careful setting up with their axis perpendicular to the spindle. They do not run on the sidewall (contrary to popular Brit myth) but on the edge of the tread belt - so can be used on all but the very lightest of racing tyres perfectly happily. When set up properly they do not slip in wet weather, although sticky mud or snow could confound them. They will produce enough light to see by when walking with your bike. You can use any ordinary dynamo lights with them.
Once you have used one of these for a few thousand miles or so and come to realise how reliable and trouble free they are, you will wonder why you spent all this time messing about with expensive never-ready batteries.
Europeans usually mount them in front of the forks. Brits usually mount them behind the rear stay, where they are protected by the carrier (if you have one) and are less vulnerable when leaning the bike. Panniers fit over them.

 

[GarminDave]

I have a SON hub dynamo and the e-Werks with cache battery. I can charge my iPad (yesterday from 44% to 72% charge in about three hours) but it won't, at present, charge my iPhone 3GS? Any ideas. I had a standard Power Monkey and invariably just used it as a cache battery, there never was enough sunshine; I do have a 4kW solar array on my roof at home but that does not help me keep all my electronic gizmo's charged when cycling!

Later

Dave

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I have a SON hub dynamo and the e-Werks with cache battery. I can charge my iPad (yesterday from 44% to 72% charge in about three hours) but it won't, at present, charge my iPhone 3GS? Any ideas. I had a standard Power Monkey and invariably just used it as a cache battery, there never was enough sunshine; I do have a 4kW solar array on my roof at home but that does not help me keep all my electronic gizmo's charged when cycling!

Later

Dave

mad question time - were you trying to charge the iPhone using the same cable as the iPad? I ask because we have the iPhone 3GS and it will not charge off anything other than an iPhone USB cable... the iPod cables don't work for it. like I said mad question. Incidentally, out iPod's charge off the iPhone cables so we have a work around.

 

[yello]

Nordlicht dynamo from; http://www.dutchbikebits.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=40 for less..

Thanks for the reminder. I'm considering the dynamo option on my touring bike, primarily to charge a cache battery but also as a 'just in case' lights option. I don't see the need to go the dynohub route for a few reasons; usage, cost,maintenance, etc.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Thanks for the reminder. I'm considering the dynamo option on my touring bike, primarily to charge a cache battery but also as a 'just in case' lights option. I don't see the need to go the dynohub route for a few reasons; usage, cost,maintenance, etc.

what maintenance do they need? I ask because I have had one for 2 years and it was in daily use for 12 months on tour, yet I have never done any maintenance to it what so ever

 

[yello]

I'm thinking more of on the road maintenance. If a dynamo packs up then it's just the dynamo and can be replaced as such. If your dynohub packs up on the road then it's a much more involved, not to mention expensive, resolution. I'm not saying it's an everyday occurrence but it is a consideration.

I'm on my 2nd Shimano hub. The bearings went in the first one (Actually, they went twice. I was able to repair it the first time, not so lucky with the 2nd attempt).

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I'm thinking more of on the road maintenance. If a dynamo packs up then it's just the dynamo and can be replaced as such. If your dynohub packs up on the road then it's a much more involved, not to mention expensive, resolution. I'm not saying it's an everyday occurrence but it is a consideration.

I'm on my 2nd Shimano hub. The bearings went in the first one (Actually, they went twice. I was able to repair it the first time, not so lucky with the 2nd attempt).

Fair enough. We have Schmidt Son hubs which after 12 months on the road in use every day over 8,700 miles on tour have been completely fine. They are now around 2 years old though their mileage is only around 1,000 miles more than the tour distance. not noticed any change in them at all, so fingers crossed.