Power, batteries and Gadgets..for ADV riding.

**Waihou Thumper** · 17th December 2009, 11:58

Hey there inspired Adventure riders and accomplished travellers...

I have been looking at ways to power devices on longer trips and thus saving the need to carry a large quantity of batteries or neccessitate buying new ones along the way.
I stumbled on this from the UK and as it happens Dick Smith has these in stock, resonable priced to compred to the UK pound...
They have a good reputation and will serve most needs, if not all.
The main thing I was looking for was the ability to recharge my camera batteries. This will do it, it can charge the AA from the sun and I can swap them over for the days riding.
As you can see from the brochure it has a number of applications.

For my Ipod, and GPS, it is being charged whilst riding. Well, actually the GPS is running off 12V only, when I stop it continues on the 12V until I disconnect it from the bike.
This is where the Freeloader comes in handy. I can then play with the GPS without having any batteries in it, because it can be powered from the USB connection. That is handy..

For the helmet camera, I run NiMH batteries and when these are flat they can simply be hot swapped with fully charged batteries and away I go...
The device will also keep my phone fully charged as well.

I know this might not appeal to all, but when you are camping or really ADV riding away from civilisation, this could be handy. Best of all, it is free power

I think it could be a great way of supplying power to your gadgets out there. I will be looking at a way of riding/charging, it could be connected to the bike in some way and chrge the batteries as I ride. Strap it to the back of the bike somehow, it is nice and small and very lightweight.

I will be interested in your comments folks...

Oh, the price for these....$79.99 and $39.99, not too bad.

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**Eddieb** · 17th December 2009, 13:46

Interesting as batteries are something I have to keep in mind with how many gadgets I have.

Haven't read through the pamphlet but how long would it take to charge a set of AA's? Mine take about 14 hours in the charger at home, thats a long time to get constant sunlight. If the batteries are only half charged will that impact their usable life?

**Waihou Thumper** · 17th December 2009, 14:00

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Interesting as batteries are something I have to keep in mind with how many gadgets I have.

Haven't read through the pamphlet but how long would it take to charge a set of AA's? Mine take about 14 hours in the charger at home, thats a long time to get constant sunlight. If the batteries are only half charged will that impact their usable life?

A fully charged FreeLoader battery can deliver up

to 75% full charge to the two batteries supplied.

This means that it can deliver a good enough charge to keep using a device.
If you have some on charge all the time, then keep 'hot swapping' the drain factor shouldn't be an issue.
If you get some high quality ones that is...As for the phone etc, no problem as the solar charger can run it from full charge and top it up I guess...
I will do some more research, but given what is out there, it is again, 'what you pay for' etc....\

I added a video from You Tube....

**.chris** · 17th December 2009, 16:21

I have solved this particular problem with USB
I made an effort that any tech based device that I buy, phones/ipods etc all charge via usb. So I have wired up a cigarette lighter adapter to USB on the bike, so the navigation/cellphone/ipod can be charged on the go.

The only one I have not sorted is the digital camera, but the batteries last pretty long on those and can be charged at night, but all the essential gear I have charged via the usb system, which seems to work great.

**Padmei** · 17th December 2009, 16:26

Originally Posted by c.h.r.i.s

I have solved this particular problem with USB
I made an effort that any tech based device that I buy, phones/ipods etc all charge via usb. So I have wired up a cigarette lighter adapter to USB on the bike, so the navigation/cellphone/ipod can be charged on the go.

.

Is the adapter ready made available off the shelf or did you make it up. If so how?

**Willdat?** · 17th December 2009, 17:09

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Electronics...-260389358.htm

one of these and a clever fulla like you should get it sorted Padmei!

PS if you can't you could add one of these...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-260503484.htm

**Monstaman** · 17th December 2009, 17:48

We bought a cigy charger set which has ipod, nokia, sony Eric and all sorts for $20.00, it has a retractable cord as well, bloody go kit.

Bought it from Ripco straight off the shelf!!

**.chris** · 17th December 2009, 18:15

Originally Posted by Padmei

Is the adapter ready made available off the shelf or did you make it up. If so how?

One of these wired to a switched 12v accessory port
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView....e&form=KEYWORD

Then this one
http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView....e&form=KEYWORD

With these usb thingeys make sure you get a half decent one, the cheapies do not have a fuse, and can wreck your devices

**Padmei** · 17th December 2009, 18:55

Cheers guys. I will be able to run my ipod & Gps from the 12v outlet.

**Squiggles** · 17th December 2009, 20:45

My mate has one, its a fooken awesome wee gadget

**Waihou Thumper** · 18th December 2009, 07:26

Guys, thanks.
I have thought about it and yep, for the cost etc...
It is too bloody much!
I have seen a good video on you tube about making a solar charger for phone, ipod etc...
It seems relatively easy to make, it could be a winter project, the guy uses the cheap garden lights and connects them in parallel, solders, bags them and has a ready made charger just like that.
I am no expert or sprky but I reckon I can give it a go and have some fun...
I like the idea of getting free power...albeit a little....

for the meantime I am going down this path for the AA batteries and powering anything USB...

**Padmei** · 18th December 2009, 19:06

While we're on the subject of gadgets has anyone come across a mp3 player that has bigger buttons for use with gloves? I had a look in dickie smithies & they all looked around the same.

BTW talking tonite with a guy who's setting up a J Car shop in Nelson - prob eventually lead onto shops in the lower Syth Island. This Aussie company takes over from what Dick Smith used to sell before they turned into a computor & TV shop. They will be stocking all the electronic components & gadgetry for projects, work & toys etc so that will be fun. Who knows what will be coming out of the lab...

**Eddieb** · 18th December 2009, 19:28

Have a gander on the jaycar.co.nz website, they have a full on line searchable catalogue of their googies, plus pdf's of their monthly brochures and offers.