not if you're someplace where you can't use a wall charger. kind of the entire point of it.
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Hydrogen Fuel Cell Phone Charger 'Upp' Launches in UK Apple Stores
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not if you're someplace where you can't use a wall charger. kind of the entire point of it.
No thanks.
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You can buy chargers for $35 that will charge your phone 4-5 times and it never needs a new cartridge. These things are pointless as hell.
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You can buy chargers for $35 that will charge your phone 4-5 times and it never needs a new cartridge. These things are pointless as hell.
Where do you find such high-capacity batteries?
Looking at e.g. http://www.zbattery.com/zbattery/batteryinfo.html it appears that the D cells provide 13-16 Wh under their load test; from http://ww2.duracell.com/media/en-US/pdf/gtcl/Product_Data_Sheet/NA_DATASHEETS/MN1300_US_CT.pdf, it appears that at a 2 W drain, the capacity would be closer to 3 Wh [ 1.4 hours before voltage drops to 0.8V ]. So if you used 3 D cells to provide ≈5 W of charging, you'd get about 10 Wh out of them. 9 of those ought to be roughly equivalent to one cartridge, but a lot heavier.
Doesn't sound so bad. Would come in handy when I go camping. At the moment I just switch my phone off but it also means I don't get to shoot video or check my emails or messages.
Last time I went hiking I couldn't be informed a relative was injured so... yeah.
I know there are solar chargers, a friend has one but they haven't been so useful in the UK!
Last time I went hiking I couldn't be informed a relative was injured so... yeah.
I know there are solar chargers, a friend has one but they haven't been so useful in the UK!
If it works in sub-zero temperatures that could give it another advantage over battery powered emergency chargers, so Kenton Cool and Ranulph Fiennes might find a use for it.
Obviously, none of the people making comments has ever been on an extended camping trip.
I can recall being away from all technology while canoeing through the Okefenokee Swamp for several days. That was prior to the cell phone / smart phone, and no service would have been available there - since it isn't there today.
Same goes for a mountain climbing expedition. Sailing around the world might be another matter since solar power is probably a better choice there.
I can recall being away from all technology while canoeing through the Okefenokee Swamp for several days. That was prior to the cell phone / smart phone, and no service would have been available there - since it isn't there today.
Same goes for a mountain climbing expedition. Sailing around the world might be another matter since solar power is probably a better choice there.
I would recommend a solar powered battery instead like one of these for $20:
http://www.amazon.com/Poweradd-Apollo-Constructed-Emergency-Charging/dp/B00DLUYSPO
http://www.amazon.com/Poweradd-Apollo-Constructed-Emergency-Charging/dp/B00DLUYSPO
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so basically you charge it in order to charge stuff
Yep: For the cost of this thing you can charge your phone for 10 years with a regular charger.
Yes, and the fossil fuel that was burnt to generate the electricity you use to charge your devices just regrows on a tree.
No, I think what they are saying is that there are many more convenient solutions. I can buy 100 AA batteries and a battery operated USB charger for about $60. Not to mention there are hand crank options as well for about $20. Both of which are probably a hell of a lot lighter than this thing as described. Lets also assume that when you are camping, you are camping, fishing, hiking.... not talking on your phone for hours.
Uncompetitive future flop if requiring wide acceptance.
If only a niche product this seems very inexpensive.
If only a niche product this seems very inexpensive.
Have you ever tried to charge one of those gizmos from the attached solar panel? Invariably you'll discover that the solar panel can only achieve between 1/4 and 1/2 of a charge on the battery, no matter how long you leave the thing in the sun. There's just not enough panel to charge the included battery.
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Never going to fly at that price
The fact that you can't re-charge the cartridge at home via a simple method is a deal breaker. Locating a sore & coughing up another $9+ is way high & inconvenient to say the least.
It also looks rather large to carry in your pocket. I just hear, "Are you excited to see me, or is that your hydrogen iPhone charger in your front pocket?"
The fact that you can't re-charge the cartridge at home via a simple method is a deal breaker. Locating a sore & coughing up another $9+ is way high & inconvenient to say the least.
It also looks rather large to carry in your pocket. I just hear, "Are you excited to see me, or is that your hydrogen iPhone charger in your front pocket?"
Lol, this reminds me of the PAX Vaporizer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef3LWfZycJ8
Though I'm sure the PAX is much more fun to use
Though I'm sure the PAX is much more fun to use
Sure. You can buy 100 (cheap) AA batteries and the associated USB box for somewhere around that price. But do you want to *carry* 100 AA batteries with you everywhere? (They weigh in at a touch over 5 lbs *loose*.)
The big battery drain for people who are "camping, fishing, hiking..." isn't talking on their phone, it's using the phone as a GPS. Something you just *might* want to have handy (and have power for) if you're out doing those things and you get lost, or catastrophe strikes.
$26 for my 10,400 mAh RAVPower - provides 5 VDC at 1 ampere for a week's time starting from fully charged. A second outlet provides 2.1 amps for Apple products. The size is about the same as my WD Passport portable hard drive.
You don't. Charging the main part of the device just gives it a bit more charge. You are perfectly able to just use the cartridges, no need to charge the device itself beyond, as they say, plugging it in for a bit after it's been dormant for a while.
Negative. Well, sort of. The cartridges are most likely collected and sent back to a central processing place where they are topped up, effectively recycling them. Using your own hydrogen to top them up brings all sorts of problems, which is why they don't let you do that. Getting the exchange points to top up your cartridge rather than just swap you a new one can't happen because:
a) Requires extensive staff training
b) Would take time whereas a simple swap is effortless
My opinion, but yeah. I don't think this is a good product, I just can't help but provide answers or make corrections where I feel they are needed.
This post sums up perfectly why this is a super niche idea:
Im not saying I would carry 100 batteries with me but that I could and it would cost a lot less than thing thing + refills. You could also buy a handheld or watch based GPS with is also small and power them for weeks with just a few of those batteries.
I know I am nit picking, but this just seems like tech that is kinda cool, but ultimately a bit overboard.
Then why would I need to charge a phone anyway? Take a simple gps with some batteries (or one of the aforementioned $35 cheap battery packs).
Or just burn the tree.
I kid.