I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 00:08:59 +0000 (UTC), in <[email hidden]>, Rik
Quoted message said:
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
Rik
I have found www.mark-ju.net very informative on dynamos/solar chargers, home-made electrical power stuff ... -- I remember when the internet was only in black & white. It only had a few pages but at least they all worked. Email: Put only the word "richard" before the @ sign.
"Rik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be
I saw a feature on solar panel chargers for mobile phones in a Sunday supplement a couple of weeks ago. The solar array was in a fold up wallet and kits were available for popular models. Unfotunately I can't remember the supplier.
"Rik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
A good online resource is www.google.co.uk which came up with these amongst others:
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
I thought about rigging up a dynamo to charge a mobile, but even ignoring losses in rectification, the 3W output is barely adequate to charge my (small) phone.
"Rik" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
In "]news:[email hidden], Rik <[email hidden]> typed:
Quoted message said:
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
There's the bikecurrent mailing list on topica.com, which discusses this kind of thing. I'll try and dig you out a link. ...
On Sun, 18 Jan 2004 08:32:44 +0000, Zog The Undeniable <[email hidden]>
Quoted message said:
I thought about rigging up a dynamo to charge a mobile, but even ignoring losses in rectification, the 3W output is barely adequate to charge my (small) phone.
I have a pack of NiMH batteries connected to my dynamo to provide a standlight. When I want to charge the phone, I simply disconnect the dynamo and hook up the phone's car charger to the battery pack. (I found that my phone car charger accepts 6v input - Sony Ericsson, 5.2v @450mA charge) OK it drains the batteries, but as they're only providing standlight and the occasional second front beam it doesn't really matter.
Chris ------------------------ I have no sympathy for idiots. I have every sympathy for the innocent.
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip. I can take various battery chargers/AC adapters and charge up the devices at camp sites along the way but I know from experience this is not always practical. And the GPS, in particular, drains a lot of power and is likely to need charging everyday even if I'm very careful about how much I use it.
Quoted message said:
I was wondering if anyone had experience using alternative methods of charging such as dynamo or solar power, whether they're likely to be any good and, if so, are there any on-line sources?
I bought a solar charger from the Gadget Shop and a dynamo charger from Carphone Warehouse, both for my Nokia 3330, on a camping trip. Neither seemed to work properly and I have since given them away.
Neither seemed to work properly and I have since given them away.
To people you didn't like? ;-) -- Mark, UK. If you give me six lines written by the most honest man, I will find something in them to hang him. - Richelieu
I am planning a three week cycling trip and will take with me a number of battery operated electronic devices such as mobile phone, digital camera, GPS receiver, PDA all of which will need recharging several times during the trip.
[Tongue in cheek mode - ON]
Jeez! Whatever happened to cycling tours that you need all that electronic stuff?
Map, compass, notepad (a PAPER one!)and pencil, 35mm camera and some change for the phone is all you need.
Get away from all that stuff for a while, the phone rays have obviously affected your brain.
Have a great trip anyway and be sure to write up a report for us when you get back.
