Author Topic: Battery-charging: Reviews, tests, comparisons of commercial chargers  (Read 5675 times)

Danneaux

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Hi All,

The German site Future Bike (Fahrrad Zukunft) has some nice reviews and comparisons of hub dynamo chargers. The models being tested were current at the time of publication and include many models still on the market today. The articles are written by Andreas Oehler, a mechanical engineer at Schmidt, known for their SON dynohubs.

Issue 11, April 2010, "Socket on the Way [Road]" Part 1
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/11/steckdose-unterwegs/
Google-Translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/11/steckdose-unterwegs/&usg=ALkJrhjEjmIo0ufFG-wMf3hlngjmF3wS2g

Issue 12, July 2010, "Socket on the Way [Road]" Part 2
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/12/steckdose-unterwegs-2/
Google-translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/12/steckdose-unterwegs-2/&usg=ALkJrhiSrVFa48fU-xGFEN202vHyIhq15w

Issue 13, April 2011, "Socket on the Way [Road] Part 3
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/13/steckdose-unterwegs-3/
Google-translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/13/steckdose-unterwegs-3/&usg=ALkJrhgBywgenLxHJ1fCtXcIrTH0tQ0arA

Best,

Dan.


Andre Jute

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Re: Battery-charging: Reviews, tests, comparisons of commercial chargers
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2013, 07:27:21 am »

LightCharge Hub Dynamo-powered Bicycle USB Charger

Another charger. No battery so I don't imagine it will be much chop for touring. More attractively packaged than most but a bit pricey when compared to a Nano lamp with the same facilities built-in. http://www.bicycles.net.au/2012/09/lightcharge-hub-dynamo-powered-bicycle-usb-charger/

Danneaux

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Re: Battery-charging: Reviews, tests, comparisons of commercial chargers
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2013, 07:35:15 am »
Thanks for posting that, Andre. I wish it would go up to a half-amp output; a quarter-amp ain't much, and is going to extend charge times considerably (and isn't up to USB standards).

All the best,

Dan.

Andre Jute

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Re: Battery-charging: Reviews, tests, comparisons of commercial chargers
« Reply #3 on: January 02, 2013, 10:50:59 am »
Reading between the lines, that one does something clever, in that it permits you to use both the lamps and the charger at the same time. and many devices, like phones and GPS, don't really require, or even appreciate, a full half-amp; lipo batteries survive longer with trickle-charging. Think about running two lamps off the hub dynamo: its a clear indication that there is an excess of power not required by the lamp, and starting at a pretty low speed. Alternatively, if you put a voltmeter into the circuit of your SON, you will discover that the voltage can hit peaks of 35V, which is what accounts for the way hub dynamos would chew globes on sports bikes back in the days before LEDs; what is happening is that the hub, being a constant current device, has only two other means of getting rid of the excess energy of speeding, by heat (for which there is not enough resistance) or by the voltage rising. This device offers a more productive outlet for speeds starting well under 10mph with a Shimano dynohub and a bit over with a SON. Not saying that alone makes this an attractive solution -- it's too much for too little, I think -- but it's cleverer than at first strikes one. And you have the option buy switching off either the lamps (in daytime) or the charger to direct all the current to the other one.

This time last year the LightCharge would have looked like a bargain...

Andre Jute

rifraf

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Re: Battery-charging: Reviews, tests, comparisons of commercial chargers
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2013, 05:59:07 pm »
Hi All,

The German site Future Bike (Fahrrad Zukunft) has some nice reviews and comparisons of hub dynamo chargers. The models being tested were current at the time of publication and include many models still on the market today. The articles are written by Andreas Oehler, a mechanical engineer at Schmidt, known for their SON dynohubs.

Issue 11, April 2010, "Socket on the Way [Road]" Part 1
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/11/steckdose-unterwegs/
Google-Translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/11/steckdose-unterwegs/&usg=ALkJrhjEjmIo0ufFG-wMf3hlngjmF3wS2g

Issue 12, July 2010, "Socket on the Way [Road]" Part 2
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/12/steckdose-unterwegs-2/
Google-translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/12/steckdose-unterwegs-2/&usg=ALkJrhiSrVFa48fU-xGFEN202vHyIhq15w

Issue 13, April 2011, "Socket on the Way [Road] Part 3
Original German: http://fahrradzukunft.de/13/steckdose-unterwegs-3/
Google-translated English version: http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://fahrradzukunft.de/13/steckdose-unterwegs-3/&usg=ALkJrhgBywgenLxHJ1fCtXcIrTH0tQ0arA

Best,

Dan.


No way could I meander through all that waffle.
Do me a favor and let me know how my choice of E-werk stacked up?
In fact maybe dont.
I'm happy with my choice and unless there is a vastly superior alternative I"m not much interested.
After countless hours spent waiting in campground bathrooms/laundries and kitchens I think my E-werk is cheap as chips now I can forget about having to rely on charging from a wall socket.