4 phone chargers for emergencies - battery energy storage
An emergency like Hurricane Sandy really took it home: it can run out of juice when you need your phone the most.
Charging boxes or spare external batteries help extend the battery life of your phone, but these devices end up running out of power as well.
Enter an emergency charger that does not rely on a working power supply, a generator, or a car to charge the phone.
We tested four products that can be used to charge any USB
Compatible devices to see how they work.
Target Zero Lighthouse 250 lanterns collect electricity by hand
Start the generator like Eaton BoostTurbine 4000.
MyFC PowerTrekk relies on disposable fuel cells to provide energy.
All three batteries include an internal battery.
Charge the energy storage.
Use of Target Zero Nomad 7 solar panels (obviously)
Solar panels, but no internal batteries.
We use each emergency charger to charge the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy s4, using the power of the internal batteries and devices in each charger-
Ability to generate.
Each device tested can work to provide additional power when it is powered off.
Each model has pros and cons compared to other models.
Check out our comments on four cases of charging your smartphone.
For more tips, read "How your electronic device can help in an emergency ".
"The most common equipment we have tested is the target Zero Lighthouse 250 lantern (
$80, above)
By hand-
Starter generator that can work in any case-
As long as your crank arm sticks out!
Its internal battery is the largest in the test device and it includes a complete USB charging cord.
The Lighthouse 250 is unique among these four devices, and it also offers lights: Dimmable white LED lights and flashing red lights, which may help with emergency signals on the road.
The battery capacity of the Apple iPhone 5S is 1440, so the battery charged at Lighthouse 250 s 4400 should be able to charge the 5S about three times.
IPhone 5S battery when the battery of the charger runs out-
Life indicator will increase by about 1% every 5 minutesWhat you do.
This is not the most portable charger, though;
Of course, it won't slip into the back pocket or computer box easily.
But it offers a lot of value if you are driving or hiking.
The same $80 Eton BoostTurbine 4000 has a large internal battery (4000mAH)
And use the hand crank to work, so you can use the hand crank to generate electricity in any case.
It also provides a convenient batteryLevel indicator.
But since there is no LED light, it is not as versatile as Lighthouse 250.
In addition, its charging cable is not indispensable and therefore can be lost.
We found it more difficult to turn than the Lighthouse 250.
From the front, this charger can be folded into a small rectangle, so it is easier to carry than the Lighthouse 250.
Foldable target Zero Nomad 7 solar panels ($80)
There is no internal battery, so you can't charge it until you use it, although you can string several panels together for more power.
Nomad 7 is handy when the sun shines, but it becomes less useful on nights or cloudy days.
Therefore, its efficacy is limited in case of emergency.
About the size of Eton BoostTurbine 4000, myFC PowerTrekk ($150)
With internal 1100mAh battery.
It works fine, but the fuel pack that needs to be consumed for the job
So it's not as useful as the other devices we test.
The cost of each fuel cell is about $4, which is said to provide 5-
According to myFC, plus watt-hour power is enough to charge a standard smartphone.
But you need to carry fuel cells with you when you travel.
And it's not cheap.
All of these products are for your USB as an emergency device-
Compatible electronic devices during power outages.
The Target Zero Lighthouse 250 lantern is the most versatile equipment we have tested and can complement your emergency facilities very well.
Just make sure to practice with the device of your choice before a real emergency occurs, so you can have confidence in how it is used.
Be sure to keep charging if it has an internal battery. —
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