iPhone - external battery top-up?

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by Z-man

A drawback to many of the case battery packs is that you loose your 30-pin connector, so if you connect your iphone to a stereo/speakers/stand via the Apple 30-pin connection, you have to take the case off.

-Z-man.

Yes, that's true, but I found that to be a benefit. The micro USB is everywhere. My house was full of such chargers from my blackberry days. Connect to stereo via 3.5mm jack for Pandora, etc., so hasn't been an issue here.

YMMV, of course.

[jyl]

I doubt I'll find a place to recharge at the overnight stop (camping). I'll bring the wall charger from the iPad which charges an iPhone quickly, at worst I'll end up killing an hour charging up at a coffee shop en route.

I'm going on a ride tomorrow, I'll measure just how much % of battery Cyclemeter drains in 30 miles, then I'll know how many recharges I will need to get out of whatever battery pack I end up with.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

But it weighs only 1.3 lbs. versus the 7.5 lb SLA battery.

The 12V x 5Ah SLA battery weighs 3 pounds, 1 oz. It has 60 Watt-hours of capacity.

The iPhone battery is about 7.5 Watt hours. So the 5Ah SLA will get you about 8 full charges.

A 2Ah weighs about 1.5 lbs and will get you 24 Watt-hours, or a bit over 3 charges.

5 Watt Solar Panel 0.8 Kg, 1.76 lbs, 11.5" x 10", mount on top of rear bike rack. Total is about 3.25 lbs and the iPhone will never go dead!

$19 Solar Panel (You can remove the aluminum to save weight!)
$17 Battery
Blocking Diode $0.50 (put between the + wire on the solar panel and the battery + to prevent overnight discharge)
$6 Waterproof Cigarette lighter socket

$42.50 and you'll have something that will actually work!

[red-beard]

John, are you humping the gear on the bikes? If no, then what I'm suggesting above will really work for you, minus the solar panel.

[red-beard]

Here is the thing you want!!!

Resync™ (Black): Brunton - Lanterns, Solar Power, Headlamps, Binoculars, Scopes, Compasses

9Ah, 5VDC, 45 Watt-hours, USB connector

Buy it on evil-bay

NEW Brunton Sync Power Reservoir System Green Save Batteries Backpacking Hiking 080078010057 | eBay

Weighs 10 oz - it will recharge the iPhone about 6 times

[Z-man]

The battery pack I have is called myCharge. myCharge | Portable Power Solutions. I have the portable power bank 6000. It is a little thicker than my iPhone, but weighs less than the phone itself. Can definately keep you going for more than 3 days. Small, light and powerful - perfect for you needs, IMHO...

-Z-man

[jyl]

2:46 hours ride time, 3:15 total time, 47 miles, had Cyclemeter running about 3:00, iPhone settings all my normal (BT off, GPS on, WiFi on/should've had it off, cellular data on, minimal Location Service or Notifications).
Used up 40% of my battery.
So in theory my battery will last 8 hours. Turning off WiFi will help, but riding in areas of weak cell signal will hurt. To get through the ride, w/o using an outlet, I'll need at least 2 full recharges, 3 would be nice. Suggests a 6,000 mah battery. I'll check out the ones you guys just posted. Thanks!

[TimT]

Build a Minty boost!

They claim

Using a slightly larger solar cell (6v/250mAh) you can generate enough power to fully charge an iPhone in about 5.5 hours and an iPod Touch in 4 hours.

[jyl]

I happened to see an Iomega 6600 mAH battery at an airport store, for $80. So far, two and a half charges of the iPhone and the battery still has 3 LEDs lit of 4. This is going to work great. Thanks!

[red-beard]

Any more details? I checked Iomega's website and didn't find anything.

[notmytarga]

Originally Posted by TimT

Build a Minty boost!

They claim

That is not the original Minty Boost ( MintyBoost Kit [v3.0] ID: 14 - $19.50 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits )
obviously a good match for your needs as it is what Ollie Whalley used to finish the Tour Divide in 16 days (2745 miles of bikepacking down the continental divide)

Hell - just use his whole setup as sweetly described with links here:
Ollie Whalley's Tour Divide Gear List | Divide Bound

[Adam]

I know it's a little more bulky, but I have a Hyperjuice. It's not bulky enough that it would stop me taking it on a pushbike ride, though.



Review here.

I bought it for a long Sydney to Los Angeles flight and it ran my iPad (at high brightness) the entire trip, while playing movies and torrents and it still had enough power left in it to charge two iPhones (iPhone4), watch more movies etc in the transit lounges and during domestic flights further north. Like the review says, I laughed at the folks at the terminals, all huddled around the wall sockets charging their stuff, while I had mine in my bag, plugged in and charging quicker than they could. By the time I arrived at my hotel in Portland (a 24hr trip from Melbourne, btw) it still had around 25% charge left.

It's something like 16,000mah capacity. I don't know the electrical stuff, but it charges my iPads (iPad1 and iPad3 also) almost as quickly as the 10W Apple charger in the wall socket does. I use it at home, plugged into the wall socket to charge my phone and other USB devices, but I take it on the road with me if I'm going away for a weekend, as I can charge anything with it. It's superb! It has the USB plug, as well as a DC out plug and came with a Magsafe connector, so you can run laptops off it as well.

Cost me around $140, but I've already had my money's worth. It's a great device.

[jyl]

Sorry - it is an "IOGEAR" product. Brain fade on my part.