Charging devices while hiking
 

As some may know,I like to go camping from time to time.
Now,a problem I suffer while hiking out on the hills is my devices keep running out of power.

Im going to be undertaking a project to solve this problem,All my devices obviously need electricity,I've have used spare batteries,power banks etc to try and keep them running but sooner or later they all run out.Solar chargers are a waste of time and money in my opinion when you need sun most it´s either raining or other circumstances that makes it impossible to charge with them (even in a sunny day it takes too long to charge and input that charge into my devices)....Batteries are good but very encumbering. I have looked for alternatives but they are either too expensive or far too large to carry around.

One thing that I always have with me,even on the longest treks is fire in some form or other so with that in mind, I've been fascinated by the idea of producing electric from a camp fire.I know, the efficiency will probably be poor but its possible.
So, with inspiration from a project I seen on YouTube using T.E.Gs (Thermoelectrical generators ) I'm thinking of building a 'cheap' teg charger.

My main goal is to produce a 5v usb from a (self cooling) gadget.Ive ordered the generators from eBay and was wondering if anyone has any experience or advice on this issue?

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

No problems, they work O.K., but not much current unless you get a large temperature between hot and cold junction.
Why not try a wind up generator, you could cannibalise a cheapo windup torch quite easily.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

What a ruddy good idea,thanks for that :)
I've also ordered a few 0.9v-5v to 5v usb step up modules so in theory I only need to create a couple of volts and the module should do the rest and stablise the current to 5v (I think/hope) :confused:
I was thinking of using hot water boiled on the campfire and normal air temperature water out of my water bottle (difference of approx 70+ degrees) to create a current using them T.E.G things.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

The single led torches knock out about 1.5v at 20ma, about a fiver at H***b**se last I saw. There are bigger ones about which will supply more current.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

There are wind up charging devices specifically made to charge phones or USB devices.
eBay sell them. £16 post free.

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Best solution to me is stop going hiking, it saves yeh money also.:D

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I bet Edmund Hilary didn't need electricity to climb Everest.
The outdoor life is all about getting back to nature and going without luxuries.
I learnt the hard way over 55 years ago living in a tent in winter, no hot water or 'leccy and a big rough sergeant major shouting in my lug 'ole at five am calling me horrid names because I was still not up and shaved.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Russell, they don't know they are born these days :D

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I've thought about wind up chargers and after messing with a old torch I have and a doctored charging cable it turned out to be as useful as a astray on a motorcycle...Plus I've spent £25 on components from EBay already ;)

Trust you to come up with the logical solution to my dilemma :D

Reminds me of that status quo song about being in the army :D

My old phone would be more encumbering than my Idevice tho M :D
Attachment 48696

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Been there, done that, would have got the T-shirt but they didn't have them in those days:D

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and a lot less useful :)

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Where have you been there and done that Barrie?
Climbed Everest or slept in a tent in winter with a sergeant shouting at you?
I wanted to climb Everest after it was first done but my boss wouldn't give me time off work. I was serving my apprenticeship and he said it was a better option.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Never even considered Everest except to admire it from the air - and it was Flight Sergeants that were the bane of my early life - and mid-life period:)

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

My TEG's and step up modules came today and after sourcing a couple of heat sinks from some old Pc towers i made this contraption:-

Attachment 49243

I know,it's a quality build and you probably think i bought it but i can assure you i made it :D

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Well done you!
I would not have a clue where to begin.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Is flamestower.com any good?

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Cheers M,It works (charges phone) but it's still rather heavy so not really practical.

It would be if I could justify the $99 to Mrs E :D
it's the same principle....that device probably costs about $10 to make.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

50,000mAh BACKUP BATTERY USB PORTABLE POWER BANK For IPHONE,IPAD,ANDROID DEVICES | eBay

Is something like this no good for you?...it looks very portable and doesn't cost the earth.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Sorry for the delay in replying M,you know how it is, life getting in the way and what not.
Its a good economical device but i have my doubts about its efficiency (probably cheap for a reason ;)).

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

It's OK Jason....Thought it was worth bringing to your notice.
I'm sure Aldi was selling something like this recently and it was about a fiver less.
What makes you think it is an inefficient device(only asking so that I can inform myself....even though the likelihood of me requiring something like this is remote)?

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

i have a 10,000mAH one, works a treat, will charge a couple of decent phones and a tablet on one charge.

for redundancy/resilience, I'd rather have 3 x 10A ones than one 30A one. I'd also suggest that whilst modern top spec phones are good all in one devices, having a basic phone such as an old nokia 6310 where the battery lasts a week easily and then a seperate GPS using would be more efficient at battery utilisation and if one device runs out you still have the other to either call for help or navigate your way out would be a more sensible choice.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I bought the one Margaret suggested a few weeks ago for my cleaner, she doesn't drive therefore she can't charge her phone driving between jobs.
She was very impressed with it so I bought one for myself.
There may be a time I need it when I'm not at home or in my car.
They are very light and take up hardly any space in a pocket and I'm sure they would be easier to cart up a mountain than any fancy gadget.
If making an electronic device for educational purposes was the aim, well done lad.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Russell, that is very good to know.....that they work well.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

My phone is the Nokia 6310...the battery charge lasts forever.
Ok it isn't a fancy phone, but I can ring someone and I can send texts, which is all i really want from a phone.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I don't believe that 50Ah, it looks far to small. To many of these devices lie about their capacity. It's a Chinese thing, they write on the box whatever people want to see on the box.

Also with it's stated charge rate of 5V 1000mAh it would take about 3 days to charge from flat

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I've just checked mine Neil. It has a more credible 2000mAh. Both input and out put DC 5V 1 amp. Probably true to say it's a bit less output, it must loose something in the process.
It does a good job or recharging the iPhone.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

What's wrong with a solar cell backpack?

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Cheers for the input folks,I always carry two old Nokia's (one in the car and another in my rucksack).As you say,the batteries seem to last far longer than the modern devices.

I've also knocked together another charging device from a battery pack off a CB radio I bought using a (£1) 12v cigarette usb charger and I'm planning on using it with a multi usb (it might work :D).At the minute it charges my iPhone at a rate of 2% per minute so it'd take about 50mins to charge fully from flat.
Attachment 49329

The contraption using TEG's was really only a little project to see if I could knock something together to charge my devices if all else failed and all I had was a stream and flint and steel but sadly it's too heavy to lug about and the chances of that are slim to none :D

I'll grab one of them powerbank devices too (just as a back up),hopefully it'll hold a charge and won't need charging if left for a few days without use and if it isn't too heavy it can stay in my camping kit permanent.

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Do they sell them in poundland Frank? :D

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What a horribly rough contraption that is and a waste of the battery from the handheld

Have a look at this ebay video to show you inside one of those supposedly 50,000mAh powerbanks is a 4000mAh battery

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Surely this item is not 'as described' and you would be right in opening a dispute against the trader....Possibly get a refund.

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The Chinese who make them don't care about such things. The old saying if it sounds to good to be true it probably is should often be applied. It is a physical impossibility for a unit of that size to contain a 50,000mAh battery at the moment.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Not really a "waste" it came with two when I bought it.
Besides,I've still got it and I could use it but I've wired a small 12v supply to the handheld for when civil unrest hits.
Hopefully that will last longer and the "waste" also doubles up charges my pencil batteries without lugging a big charger about.

Think I'll pass on the Chinese import and go with a uk version ;)

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Check out the Anker range of chargers AccyX on Amazon. There will be one there to suit your needs.

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Any that say 50000mAh that are only about the size of a mobile phone are lying about the capacity no matter where you buy it from.

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It's the functionality that matters Neil not the numbers. The Anker one I have has one Smart use and two universal. I can recharge ipad, phone and camera if need be all at the same time. 3 times each off one charge. Rated at 1200mAh

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

It's the functionality that matters Neil not the numbers. The Anker one I have has one Smart usb socket and two universal. I can recharge ipad, phone and camera if need be all at the same time. 3 times each off one charge. Rated at 1200mAh

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

You see when you understand these things it makes a difference.
I don't understand them, so I find it very hard to judge if what a seller is telling me is true...and whether what I really need is one with a high mAh spec...the mAh means absolutely nothing at all to me...it just might as well be in chinese.
All I want to know is ...will it effectively charge my device in the absence of having a mains power supply?
If the answer to this is yes, then that will do for me!

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Have a look at this one Margaret.

Search Veho Pebble Smartstick Plus Ayrton Senna Limited Edition Portable Power Bank | Maplin

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Aldi have one on their specials this Sunday at £5.99....Ok so it is 2600 mAh(whatever that means - I really haven't a clue.....and anyway if Neil says this may not be the true spec then it really is pot luck).
I don't really need one of these as I rarely use my phone and if I take my Ipad mini anywhere I usually make sure it is fully charged.
But thank you for the information, it might be useful for someone who needs one of these.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

That's a sensible number so is probably true. Think of battery capacity as a jug of water (ok really that would be watt/hours but it's a good enough analogy). You are using that big battery to fill the little battery in your phone/ipad/camera. If the jug of water is bigger it can fill more small glasses.

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Thank you Neil for your explanation, it helped a lot. Had my dear old dad been around he would have explained it to me

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Sorry for bumping a old thread,I thought I'd make folk aware of this offer from EE.

If your a mobile customer (or know someone who is) you can text POWER to 365 (texts cost 35p).
Once you've sent the text you'll receive a code which to give at any EE store to get the power bar.

"It's worth noting that when the deal first launched back in April, while most people were sent a code immediately, some found it didn't arrive for a few hours, so you may need to be patient." EE customer? Get a 'free' £20 power bar portable - Money Saving Expert

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

I got myself a power bar from the EE shop and I also got a power bank from a popular auction site.
The EE power bars also have a torch function making them ideal for camping etc.

Attachment 49550

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Well now you're sorted!

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Have you read the terms and conditions for your hire of the power bar? You will have to return it in 18 months or pay for it. It's quite a good service if you often find yourself somewhere with an EE shop as you can swap your current flat powerbar for a charged one in the shop.


T's&C's in this link

http://ee.co.uk/content/dam/ee-help/...ons_300315.pdf

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

No,as usual,I didn't read the T&C.
I can assure you though, I won't be returning it or paying for it...


...add it to the list of my "dodgey activities" ;)

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

this showed up ..

11 best portable chargers to use on the move

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Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

Cheers for the heads up S,fortunatly,my power bar isn't effected by this recall but others may well have a potential fire risk in their home :eek:

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

BioLite KettleCharge | 10W Personal Scale Generator
BioLite CampStove | Burn Wood, Cook Meals, Charge Gear

Although it may be cheaper to simply carry a few of the power packs.
I use a big 12ah one and it charges several phones etc.

Re: Charging devices while hiking
 

It isn't yours, it belongs to EE