Goto Chockstone Home

  Guide
  Gallery
  Tech Tips
  Articles
  Reviews
  Dictionary
  Links
  Forum
  Search
  About

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

  Shop
Chockstone Photography
Australian Landscape Photography by Michael Boniwell
Australian Landscape Prints





Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 21
Author
OT: New gadget charges mobile phones over campfire
ClimbingNT
21-Jun-2011
9:47:09 AM
Was reading the news today, and came across this useful invention. I know of a heap of people who take USB powered devices on climbing/hiking trips, and either bring extra batteries, solar panels, etc.

What I think makes this more useful than solar, is that you can charge your devices overnight when you already have a fire available, instead of having to down tools during the day to charge your device via solar. It also is more practical if its raining, overcast, etc. Not so practical in areas with firebans.

Would be pretty cool if they could use this same technology, and incorporate it into a cup/canteen that you can slot a water bottle into. That way it would be less bulky and awkward to carry. If someone could make one of those, I would consider buying one.



New gadget charges mobile phones over campfire.

A Japanese company has come up with a new way to charge your mobile phone after a natural disaster or in the great outdoors - by heating a pot of water over a campfire.

The Hatsuden-Nabe thermo-electric cookpot turns heat from boiling water into electricity that feeds via a USB port into digital devices such as smartphones, music players and global positioning systems.

TES NewEnergy, based in the western city of Osaka, started selling the gadget in Japan this month for 24,150 yen ($284), and plans to market it later in developing countries with patchy power grids.

Advertisement: Story continues below Chief executive Kazuhiro Fujita said the invention was inspired by Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami that left 23,000 people dead or missing, devastated the northeast region and left hundreds of thousands homeless.

"When I saw the TV footage of the quake victims making a fire to keep themselves warm, I came up with the idea of helping them to charge their mobile phones at the same time," Fujita said.

The pot features strips of ceramic thermoelectric material that generate electricity through temperature differentials between the 550 degrees Celsius at the bottom of the pot and the water boiling inside at 100 degrees.

The company says the device takes three to five hours to charge an iPhone and can heat up your lunch at the same time.

"Unlike a solar power generator, our pot can be used regardless of time of day and weather while its small size allows people to easily carry it in a bag in case of evacuation," said director and co-developer Ryoji Funahashi.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/mobiles/new-gadget-charges-mobile-phones-over-campfire-20110621-1gchj.html#ixzz1PrYAXJYe
widewetandslippery
21-Jun-2011
10:05:41 AM
How cool would it to get one of these things to charge drill batteries. A summer of fires and retro bolting Arachnus and Auto da fe.
grangrump
21-Jun-2011
10:12:16 AM
But you won't be allowed to use it at Arapiles...

StuckNut
21-Jun-2011
10:16:19 AM
What I find works well - is to turn the f---ing phone off once you leave the carpark!

This saves a surprising amount of battery life and has the bonus effect of allowing the user to fully enjoy the feeling of being outdoors and 'away from it all'! Your hiking/climbing partners will also thank you.

Using this method you should still have ample battery charge when/if the phone is needed for emergency use without lugging extra crap around ;-)
widewetandslippery
21-Jun-2011
10:40:34 AM
On 21/06/2011 grangrump wrote:
>But you won't be allowed to use it at Arapiles...

No one messes with a man with a fire powered angle grinder with a masonary disc on it. Imagine "Fisting Punks" 20 30m: the 4" crack splitting the wall 4m left of punks in the gym. Start above the large fire pit.
ClimbingNT
21-Jun-2011
11:18:11 AM
Stucknut - I get what you are saying about taking phones with you. We dont get this kind of luxury anyways, as there is very little reception out of town.
The gadget would be useful when your out climbing/hiking/whatever for charging your camera, GPS, torch, etc

You will be suprised with what you can buy these days that can charge through USB.

Gavo
21-Jun-2011
11:39:11 AM
not a bad idea when people dont have cars.. dont know how good solar is for phones at the moment.. or how accessible it is in terms of price?

StuckNut
21-Jun-2011
11:49:43 AM
On 21/06/2011 ClimbingNT wrote:
>Stucknut - I get what you are saying about taking phones with you. We dont
>get this kind of luxury anyways, as there is very little reception out
>of town.

Yeah - just havin' a light hearted dig at the peeps who cant seam to do without cyber socialising for more than 10min!

I'm with Vodafone so my phone is basically useless once I leave the city limits too, makes the decision to do without easy!

hangdog
21-Jun-2011
12:57:02 PM
On 21/06/2011 Gavo wrote:
>not a bad idea when people dont have cars..
Yeh but if nobody had cars who would you bludge a lift from to get to the crags. Most of the people who dont have cars seem to be very happy sitting in the back of mine having a nice snooze on the way home from the bluies.
pecheur
21-Jun-2011
1:18:13 PM
On 21/06/2011 Gavo wrote:
>not a bad idea when people dont have cars.. dont know how good solar is
>for phones at the moment.. or how accessible it is in terms of price?

Test it: http://www.technuts.com.au/products.php?product=Solar-Phone-Charger

For $16 buy two (or three)!

Interesting the battery is smaller than that of the HTC Desire, however with two ...
ClimbingNT
21-Jun-2011
1:22:19 PM
I had something similar for charging my camp light. The plastic surrounded melted in the NT sun, and now no longer works.

Go figure!
widewetandslippery
21-Jun-2011
1:22:24 PM
Can some one who has an idea let me know if its possible to rig one of these up for drill batteries. I know of a couple of people who would come climbing just to light fires and charge batteries.

jkane
21-Jun-2011
5:17:14 PM
On 21/06/2011 StuckNut wrote:
>What I find works well - is to turn the f---ing phone off once you leave
>the carpark!
>
>This saves a surprising amount of battery life and has the bonus effect
>of allowing the user to fully enjoy the feeling of being outdoors and 'away
>from it all'! Your hiking/climbing partners will also thank you.

What! You mean you don't climb whilst wearing a bluetooth earpiece? Imagine if you missed an important work call just because you were doing something pointless like rock climbing.

Phil S
21-Jun-2011
6:10:51 PM
On 21/06/2011 hangdog wrote:
>sitting in the back of mine having a nice snooze on the way home...

Were you listening to country music again, Peter?
Maybe they weren't sleeping - maybe they were dying.

shortman
21-Jun-2011
7:13:33 PM
On 21/06/2011 StuckNut wrote:
>Yeah - just havin' a light hearted dig at the peeps who cant seam to do
>without cyber socialising for more than 10min!
>
>I'm with Vodafone so my phone is basically useless once I leave the city
>limits too, makes the decision to do without easy!

Which is why he is always stealing my phone to check crackbook. He even made me take it up to the top of the mount where reception is better and made me sit there and wait whilst he checked his 56 messages.

How are ya Jase?

shortman
21-Jun-2011
7:29:28 PM
And on this topic. A very reputable paper (mX), today announced a t-shirt that charges phones will soon be available. It is designed for festival goers and uses a piezo to turn sound into battery charging energy.

So this got me thinking. If people constantly had large fires and large parties at the Pines then climbers could become a very energy independent group. Imagine the possibilities.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Is our ridiculously large fire and group rendition of "Survivor" offending you and keeping you awake?"

"Yes"

"Do you realize that all this ruckus is actually powering your precious little toilet lights?"

"Ah....no. Carry on then"


I can see it all unfolding in the not so distant future.

hangdog
21-Jun-2011
8:49:38 PM
On 21/06/2011 Phil S wrote:
>On 21/06/2011 hangdog wrote:
>>sitting in the back of mine having a nice snooze on the way home...
>
>Were you listening to country music again, Peter?

>Maybe they weren't sleeping - maybe they were dying.

I only play Leonard Cohen on long drives from the Bluies. Good thinking music. Maybe they were dead and thats why they didnt offer petrol money.

pezz
21-Jun-2011
10:23:51 PM
On 21/06/2011 Gavo wrote:
>not a bad idea when people dont have cars.. dont know how good solar is
>for phones at the moment.. or how accessible it is in terms of price?

goal zero have a few neat looking solutions

although im not that clued up on solar, so it could well be junk

StuckNut
21-Jun-2011
10:57:32 PM
On 21/06/2011 shortman wrote:

>Which is why he is always stealing my phone to check crackbook. He even
>made me take it up to the top of the mount where reception is better and
>made me sit there and wait whilst he checked his 56 messages.
>
>How are ya Jase?

Me? Nah - that would mean I had friends! I turn my phone off and disappear for a weekend and no one even notices ;-)

Eduardo Slabofvic
21-Jun-2011
10:59:43 PM
How much energy could be generated if everyone took mallets to the Pines and started hitting people who make too much noise? There would be such a melee that much energy would be produced. You could probably climb at night under the light

 Page 1 of 2. Messages 1 to 20 | 21 to 21
There are 21 messages in this topic.

 

Home | Guide | Gallery | Tech Tips | Articles | Reviews | Dictionary | Forum | Links | About | Search
Chockstone Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | Landscape Photos Australia

Please read the full disclaimer before using any information contained on these pages.



Australian Panoramic | Australian Coast | Australian Mountains | Australian Countryside | Australian Waterfalls | Australian Lakes | Australian Cities | Australian Macro | Australian Wildlife
Landscape Photo | Landscape Photography | Landscape Photography Australia | Fine Art Photography | Wilderness Photography | Nature Photo | Australian Landscape Photo | Stock Photography Australia | Landscape Photos | Panoramic Photos | Panoramic Photography Australia | Australian Landscape Photography | High Country Mountain Huts | Mothers Day Gifts | Gifts for Mothers Day | Mothers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Mothers Day | Wedding Gift Ideas | Christmas Gift Ideas | Fathers Day Gifts | Gifts for Fathers Day | Fathers Day Gift Ideas | Ideas for Fathers Day | Landscape Prints | Landscape Poster | Limited Edition Prints | Panoramic Photo | Buy Posters | Poster Prints