http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Phone charging & touring en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 15:38:12 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-35728 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:21:04 +0000 Nelly 35728@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Apologies I realise this thread is old, but a friend who was at Glasto this year recommended this for HTC/iPhone etc - not solar/dynamo, but understand it works as described - i.e. 4+ charges for your smartphone.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003PFCEGA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&amp;m=AH656DYJZD6JZ">Trent ultra pack phone charger</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32443 Mon, 30 May 2011 13:02:47 +0000 cb 32443@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have one of these:</p> <p><a href="http://www.maplin.co.uk/stylish-solar-charger-with-led-light-389253">http://www.maplin.co.uk/stylish-solar-charger-with-led-light-389253</a></p> <p>I only paid about £7 for it though, I think it was on offer, but to be honest, it was the word "sylish" in the name that had me sold.</p> <p>It was OK when I had a simple Nokia, but it can only provide about a 1/4 to a 1/3 charge of an HTC desire. If I'm away from the mains then I tend to just try and not use my phone! Flight mode or switch it off. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32442 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:47:40 +0000 chdot 32442@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is cheaper -</p> <p><a href="http://www.paddedshorts.co.uk/2010/08/the-bicycle-usb-charger" rel="nofollow">http://www.paddedshorts.co.uk/2010/08/the-bicycle-usb-charger</a></p> <p>But still not cheap. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32441 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:44:05 +0000 ruggtomcat 32441@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>you want one of these <a href="http://www.paddedshorts.co.uk/2009/10/e-werk/" rel="nofollow">http://www.paddedshorts.co.uk/2009/10/e-werk/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32438 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:33:46 +0000 Smudge 32438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I was thinking of putting it either inside my map case on top of the bar bag or cable tied on top of the luggage on the rear rack.<br /> My phone will hold charge for a couple of days so it realistically has over two days to top itself up. Will see how it (and the weather!) goes. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32435 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:24:31 +0000 crowriver 32435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/FreeLoader-Freeloader-Globetrotter-Solar-Charger/dp/B00175EAQW">Freeloader Globetrotter</a> seems to work, but in Scottish weather it's necessary to have the additional Supercharger larger solar panel, which can attach to the top of your rear panniers while riding. The battery pack holds its charge quite well. </p> <p>It's recommended to charge your phone and the Freeloader up at home before going, then you can top up with solar power en route. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32434 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:22:53 +0000 steveo 32434@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I need to do some tests to find out just how (in)efficient it is. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32433 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:18:34 +0000 chdot 32433@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I've got one of these. </p> <p><a href="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/200609690338" rel="nofollow">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/200609690338</a></p> <p>Does work, but quite inefficient in terms of converting energy. </p> <p>I've only used it with NiMh batts - 2.4v to 5v. </p> <p>Might be better with non rechargeables. </p> <p>But it is billed as 'emergency' - useful until you get to the next 13A socket! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32432 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:17:31 +0000 steveo 32432@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Smudge where are you attaching it? I considered rigging something up to my trunk bag but decided against it and just got a battery back up thingy. Getting a dynamo hub built up for next winter but won't have it in place for the next time i go a wandering. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32431 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:10:13 +0000 chdot 32431@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This was a related thread -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2385" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=2385</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32430 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:05:33 +0000 wingpig 32430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Useless rubbish.<br /> Ours really struggled to acquire charge from the sun. It worked from the mains and so only functioned as a small spare battery for the times when my actual spare battery also ran out (or hadn't been charged). It didn't help that the Nokia connector was loose-fitting, requiring absolute stillness to attempt to recharge the phone from the monkey. I still need to acquire a mini-USB&gt;stupidHTCminiUSB converter to prevent it being even more useless now that I've changed phones. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32429 Mon, 30 May 2011 12:05:33 +0000 chdot 32429@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That should work for you. </p> <p>I got a really cheap solar set that didn't live up to its claims. </p> <p>Just noticed this (know nothing about) -</p> <p>"The Solar Monkey is the successor to the highly acclaimed Power Monkey Explorer"</p> <p><a href="http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/powertraveller/solarmonkey-solar-charger" rel="nofollow">http://www.ethicalsuperstore.com/products/powertraveller/solarmonkey-solar-charger</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3066#post-32424 Mon, 30 May 2011 11:51:20 +0000 Smudge 32424@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>As I was asked on another thread... (Take a bow Steveo)</p> <p>I'm away touring next week (starting at Thurso/JoG and taking a scenic meander south which will probably end up at Falkirk area and should hopefully incorporate Cullodden, Glenfinnan and other historical bits and bobs en route, all going to plan!) and I'm aiming/hoping to use solar to charge my phone. (I know, I know, it's Scotland and I'm daft).</p> <p>It will be an experiment as I haven't tried it before but I'm using a powermonkey explorer as a sailing friend has one and raves about it.<br /> I'll let you know how it goes, assuming I remember!</p> <p>Anyone else had experience of these or similar? </p>