Comments on: COMPANION: Solar crank charger, radio, light all in one http://inhabitat.com/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/ Green design & eco innovation for a better world Thu, 23 May 2013 21:03:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: vlpronj http://inhabitat.com/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/comment-page-1/#comment-70794 vlpronj Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:45:05 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/10/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/#comment-70794 ccrane has solar powered battery chargers ccrane has solar powered battery chargers

]]> By: g234 http://inhabitat.com/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/comment-page-1/#comment-66311 g234 Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:24:12 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/10/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/#comment-66311 I've got a few Freeplay devices and they are by far the best of the pack in terms of hand-powered radio & lighting. There are cheaper ones out there but "you takes your chances." One of the most useful is the Indigo room lantern. This has a cluster of LEDs with a brightness control and will run for a couple of hours at the high setting (which lights up a room nicely) or a couple of days at the lowest "night-light" setting, which is quite sufficient to find one's way around in a dark room at night. There is also a separate switch for a reading light that is a single large LED focused downward and is indeed strong enough to read by. Comes with an AC mains charger that uses so little power it doesn't even register on the Kill-a-Watt plug in power meter. Available at REI for about $40 and worth it. I’ve got a few Freeplay devices and they are by far the best of the pack in terms of hand-powered radio & lighting. There are cheaper ones out there but “you takes your chances.”

One of the most useful is the Indigo room lantern. This has a cluster of LEDs with a brightness control and will run for a couple of hours at the high setting (which lights up a room nicely) or a couple of days at the lowest “night-light” setting, which is quite sufficient to find one’s way around in a dark room at night. There is also a separate switch for a reading light that is a single large LED focused downward and is indeed strong enough to read by. Comes with an AC mains charger that uses so little power it doesn’t even register on the Kill-a-Watt plug in power meter. Available at REI for about $40 and worth it.

]]> By: gmoke http://inhabitat.com/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/comment-page-1/#comment-66081 gmoke Fri, 11 Jan 2008 04:00:00 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/10/freeplay-companion-phone-charger-radio-and-flashlight-all-in-one/#comment-66081 This is indeed a nice machine but I wonder if it also charges standard size batteries, AA for instance. That would make it even more versatile. I've had a solar/dynamo flashlight/radio that was modified to charge AA batteries since before Y2K. I use it as my bedside radio and once even thought about getting it manufactured before deciding I wasn't really a businessman. You can see video of the device, including a schematic of the wiring modifications, at http://solarray.blogspot.com/2006/03/solar-video.html Videos of some of my other solar prototypes and experiments are at http://www.youtube.com/gmoke In fact, solar/dynamo radios were dropped into Afghanistan by US forces before the invasion and NATO continues the practice with a model that even includes a small LED light. These solar/dynamos don't charge removable AA batteries, just the internal hard-wired battery, according to my best information. They could be modified to do so and I've tried for over a year to contact someone in NATO, Afghanistan, or Washington who might be interested in the idea. No luck. The solar/dynamo could fit into what I call a solar swadeshi, see http://solarray.blogspot.com/2005/05/solar-swadeshi-hand-made-electricity.html for more, especially if such an initiative was linked to the memories and traditions of the Pashtun Gandhi, Badshah Khan. Solar IS Civil Defense - a solar/dynamo to power the light, radio or cell phone, and extra set of batteries you are supposed to have on hand in case of emergency. With a solar/dynamo you have access to power day or night, but sunlight or muscle power as long as the sun shines, you have the strength to turn the crank, and the batteries can hold a charge. This is indeed a nice machine but I wonder if it also charges standard size batteries, AA for instance. That would make it even more versatile.

I’ve had a solar/dynamo flashlight/radio that was modified to charge AA batteries since before Y2K. I use it as my bedside radio and once even thought about getting it manufactured before deciding I wasn’t really a businessman.

You can see video of the device, including a schematic of the wiring modifications, at
http://solarray.blogspot.com/2006/03/solar-video.html

Videos of some of my other solar prototypes and experiments are at http://www.youtube.com/gmoke

In fact, solar/dynamo radios were dropped into Afghanistan by US forces before the invasion and NATO continues the practice with a model that even includes a small LED light. These solar/dynamos don’t charge removable AA batteries, just the internal hard-wired battery, according to my best information. They could be modified to do so and I’ve tried for over a year to contact someone in NATO, Afghanistan, or Washington who might be interested in the idea. No luck.

The solar/dynamo could fit into what I call a solar swadeshi, see http://solarray.blogspot.com/2005/05/solar-swadeshi-hand-made-electricity.html for more, especially if such an initiative was linked to the memories and traditions of the Pashtun Gandhi, Badshah Khan.

Solar IS Civil Defense – a solar/dynamo to power the light, radio or cell phone, and extra set of batteries you are supposed to have on hand in case of emergency. With a solar/dynamo you have access to power day or night, but sunlight or muscle power as long as the sun shines, you have the strength to turn the crank, and the batteries can hold a charge.

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