Thorn Cycles Forum
Technical => Lighting and Electronics => Battery Charging from a Dynamo => Topic started by: Danneaux on January 27, 2012, 08:02:47 pm
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Hi All,
As a direct offshoot of my thread on dynohub-powered chargers ( http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3802.0 ), I am now wondering about your choices for...
1) the best computer by type and brand to take on-tour
...and...
2) the best dynohub-charged buffer battery.
Computer
At the end of a 17-hour day on rough roads, my hands are just toast and as a result, my handwriting is so bad even I can't read it. The solution for journal-keeping, GPS waypoint- and photo-transfer and Skyping home using public wi-fi is a small computer. Tablets seem to be coming on strong, and those who use them like them primarily for content consumption -- browsing the 'Net, eBooks, watching DVDs ripped to the hard drive, and minimal text input. When it comes to content creation and typing, something like a netbook with keyboard looks better. Solid-state drives lack the capacity of a conventional hard drive, but seem to have the edge in battery life and survivability.
As for specifics, I'd prefer something with a 10" screen to balance size and convenience and a larger small keyboard. I'm comfortable with a variety of Linux distros and those seem a better fit with a netbook's limited speed and memory, and have lower security concerns.
Buffer Battery
A good way to charge high-demand/high-drain devices (smartphones, GPS, computers) is to use a dynohub to either...
a) Charge the high-drain device while it is in the "off" state,
...or...
b) Trickle-charge a "buffer battery", a high-capacity rechargeable battery that is then used to recharge individual devices or power them directly.
Powertraveller's PowerMonkey Extreme ( https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkeyextreme/ ) looks like a great choice for a buffer battery, but the FAQ indicates it is not appropriate for the higher power requirements of a netbook ( https://powertraveller.com/faq/detail.php?id=000020 ). Instead, Powertraveller recommend a Minigorilla ( https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/minigorilla/ ).
So, fellow Thornites, what computer do you use on tour, and which buffer battery do you use to power it?
Thanks in advance!
Related links:
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/laptop-review
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1851027
http://forum.notebookreview.com/what-notebook-should-i-buy/362163-help-choosing-netbook-bicycle-touring.html
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&safe=off&site=&source=hp&q=best+netbook+for+bike+tourin&psj=1&oq=best+netbook+for+bike+tourin&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1682l13785l0l14815l28l27l0l16l7l0l294l2602l0.3.8l11l0&fp=1&biw=1296&bih=628&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&cad=b
Best,
Dan.
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Computer - after sticking with basic wired computers for 30 years I have now gone wireless. Cateye Adventure, great for touring. No faffing about with heart-rate or cadence, but it does have two distance settngs, temperature, altitude and calculates your gradient %.
Charger - I have an e-werk, and have only just received a Powermonkey Extreme. Future touring I plan to take an iPad so it shall give sufficient power. If I did carry a netbook (as I did to central Australia) most of the time I would rely on caravan park power supples. My daughter and her friend, on our recent tour of Tasmania, showed how resourceful you can be in finding power sources. They were the travelling power thieves to keep their essential smartphones running.
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Pete,
Have you found the iPad okay for typing? Do you use a plug-in keyboard, or one that appears on-screen?
Please let us know how the Powermonkey Extreme works on-tour; I'm really interested to hear how it works for you.
All the best,
Dan.
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Hi
I've only just got the iPad back in late December. It's a work iPad, so I'll be carrying it to and fro a bit in the panniers , together with the laptop :-\. I didn't use it a great deal on my tour of Tassie as I was kept busy, being the organiser and there with the family too; and there were not too many places where I could get on to wireless networks (it does not have a modem for broadband use). On quieter tours I may use it more.
I just used the on-screen keyboard so far and generally find it good to use....... except for the muck around to get numbers and symbols.
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Hi,
Hope you dont mind me jumping in here,
I am I suppose what they call a gadget geek, I like to think of myself as a 'early adopter of technology' but others disagree. :-*
I cant give a review of the ipad on tour but I have been using one from the day they were available, I use it extensively for work and pleasure.
The Powermonkey Extreme claims to be able to charge the iphone about 6 times and the ipad twice, I think that is quite amazing and as a result will be taking the ipad with me on tour.
However I have tried to read from the ipad and to be honest it's just a bit too heavy, especially if you are lying down and dont have a convenient partners head to rest it on...
As a result I am going to get a Kindle just for reading.
As far as typing goes it does the job ok but I have found that often I miss a letter or miss out a space because I move away too quickly from the keypad to the next letter and therefore don't register the touch.
The lack of a delete key is a bit of a pain as well having to use the backspace key instead to correct errors.
There is a facility to turn on/off clicking when you type which is irritating to others so I have it turned off, that may be why I miss keys occasionally.
It takes a bit of getting used to but when space and weight is tight it does a good job as a typing machine.
I dont have the 3G version which can connect to the internet through a sim card but I have a iphone 4s which very easily tethers to the ipad so i can use it as a internet tool, note this only works with the iphone 4s and not previous versions of iphone.
Taking the ipad with me is going to one of the pleasures of touring for me, I play scrabble with my Mum and a few other family members, we kinda keep in touch that way and I wil continue to play scrabble with mum from the darkest depths of Africa which she cant seem to get her head round just yet :D
With a dyna hub, a solar panel system, a little wind generator and a powermonkey along with the iphone to tether it to I see no reason that comms wont be any different out there...
In fact if I dont tell amyone they may not notice Im gone........
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wow this is fantastic but way way beyond me ;D ;D taking a computer on tour never i find it hard enough to start this one up.
nah a wee bit of musis on my dab radio does it for me lads but each to there own ;D
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It's a pity the Kindle 3G has such a wretched keyboard, because that would otherwise be the ideal touring device, capable of receiving mail and maps and using the internet in general, pleasingly light and very economical of power (if permitted to sleep when not in use), and with an excellent screen for use in natural light.
Andre Jute
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Its interesting Andre that the new Kindle is keyboardless, it has less funcionality it terms of internet access but does have wifi to download books etc.
At £89 it is also much cheaper and at that price is well worth putting in every tourers pannier.
I will be looking around to see if there are any language translation programs for it which will be useful for the traveller, I wonder if it will be able to download and display maps?
Ian
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Hi All,
As OP for this thread, I am still following it with avid interest -- especially as I am on the cusp of spending for some sort of netbook or tablet to take on-tour.
While looking in an electronics store yesterday, I came across an intriguing option that may be the best of all worlds...depending on whether I can get it to multi-boot into a Linux distro (dunno yet, I'm just starting to look at it)...
That is the ASUS EeePad Transformer or Tranformer Prime series: http://www.asustablets.us/
They appear to be a tablet when one wishes...or a netbook of sorts with a dockable keyboard. The combined package looks to be about the same as a netbook in form-factor and overall volume and weight, with remarkably good reported battery life. For consuming content, the tablet is a pip -- just lean back and swipe and tap on the screen. For content generation -- daily journaling, modest photo editing, website updating via uploads, the keyboard looks ideal.
I do need to look further into this option, and it does appear promising. Now, if only the colored e-ink in development could make it to market for 25+ hour battery life, I'd be set.
Thanks, Ian, for keeping us in the loop for your plans. Your approach sounds logistically reasonable and I'm on pins and needles, waiting to hear how it all works out. Are you planning some dry runs at your present location so you can uncover any bugs or drawbacks before heading off for Africa?
Best,
Dan.
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Looks nice that ee pad Dan, bit cheeky calling it an eepad ;)
I gave up netbooks/notebooks when I got the iPad, it hasnt the same functionality as a netbook but if your willing to change the way you interact with a PC then its nice to just have a tablet in your bag.
I think that eepad looks like a good alternative though, and that claimed battery life is very good.
At the moment Dan, my plans are entirely dependant on a work contract I am negotiating at the minute, if negotiations work out then I will work hard until end Aug and be able to purchase all the gear I need (I estimate £5k for the bike and gear, I have absolutely nothing yet) so there will be no dry runs, I will test out the camping gear in the garden but thats about it, i am going to cycle/train through France and Spain so that will be my running in period.
Once I get the ferry to Morroco then its game on.....
I will know in the next few days if the contract materialises, so its a tenterhooks few days for me at the minute.
Ian
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Boy, that's an uncertain place to be right now, Ian. I've been in similar spots and a person just wished it could be confirmed one way or another.
In any case, all support your way. Once off, I know it will be a grand adventure. Just stay safe and keep yourself well. It has been enjoyable taking your "pre-journey" with you; thanks for sharing your views and thoughts. As a "gadget guy" myself, the things you're considering are right up my alley, and I'm pretty sure I could continue the discussion indefinitely. :D
Oh! Just returned from the BestBuy electronics chain, where they had ASUS Transformer and Transformer Prime tablet-netbooks on display. Boy, are they sweet. Pricey for now. I must investigate further. See: http://www.trustedreviews.com/asus-eee-pad-transformer_Laptop_review Oh. It's Android based. I was kinda hoping for some flavor of Win7 so I could dual-boot into a Linux distro or virtualize it with Wondershare Time-Freeze to avoid problems in Internet cafes....
All the best,
Dan.
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I will be looking around to see if there are any language translation programs for it which will be useful for the traveller, I wonder if it will be able to download and display maps?
I have the Kindle 3G with the keyboard but on 3G, which you need for the maps, it's a current-hog. Also, the free 3G is tied to only one IP provider per country. In Europe it would be no problem, nor in most of the States, but in Africa? Forget it.
I tried the Kindle as a map generator around here (West Cork, familiar lanes) and the problem was the poor controls for moving around the map so you can orient yourself, and some of the Google Maps not being designed for bright sunshine conditions, and washing out in the sunlight. I think in any demanding situation (Africa) it would end up on a scale from frustrating to dangerous to lethally useless. I wouldn't even like to trust it as a backup to something sturdier and more competent. To see what I mean, take a Kindle out into your back yard and try to find out where you are.
I have an Android smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy Europa that I bought specifically as an emergency phone to keep on the bike. (Until I recently had heart surgery I didn't carry a mobile; I don't encourage people to call me and break my train of thought.) It's like the Asus tablet Dan is going on about but much, much smaller. But it is in fact a full service computer with the Android operating system. Because of its small size the thing is a bit frustrating until you get the hang of typing with your thumbs, but I managed to send a few messages from the hospital. But it has good maps and you can sling them around with wild abandon, and because of the colour they're more readable in bright sunlight than the greyscale maps on the Kindle, which theoretically should read much better in sunlight. However, the Europa has bluetooth which works well (I use it with my desktop Mac to transfer files), wi-fi ditto, and can set itself up as a wi-fi hotspot for other devices (tried it, works). As with all these devices, you'll need whatever chargers you have on the bike. My Europa goes on the charger every second day when the wifi/net is on, and the manufacturer's claims of hundreds of hours of standby is ponycar BS. But with a charger and adequate waterproofing, the Europa could be a back-up/emergency GPS/phone/email unit. The reason I mention it is that I paid only fifty Euro for mine, and they were available down to forty Euro, cheap enough to make it throwaway item. It's not an Apple iPhone but where you're going you can be murdered for an iPhone.
For those who insist on a good keyboard for whatever reason, the cheap Europa offers Bluetooth, as does the excellent, small, light latest model of Apple keyboard, the one set into a scroll of aluminium. I haven't tried the two together, but I imagine they could work and if I have to go back to hospital I'll take that setup. I in fact like the Europa for reading books on, so I see no reason its little screen shouldn't be good for working on if you have a good keyboard. This twists matters around, in that the keyboard will be the heavier and larger item, but so what, if your hands demand it. The keyboard is a bit pricey, but again so what. Or you can get a cheaper bluetooth keyboard. See the good one from Apple here: http://store.apple.com/ie/product/MC184LB/B?fnode=MTc0MjU4OTY
You can get the Samsung Galaxy Europa Manual here if you want to see what it will do: http://www.samsung.com/uk/support/model/GT-I5500YKAXEU
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By the way, I had an iPad 2 on order for the bike but just cancelled the order. Apple is bringing out an iPad 3 in a week or so, and if these things follow the usual pattern, it will soon be cheaper as well as more capable than the iPad 2, and there is some talk of Apple keeping the iPad 2 as well at a much reduced price.
Might be smart to wait it out, Dan. In a couple of weeks the Asus (which I've heard is the best of the non-Apple lot, especially for cyclists) might not look such a bargain.
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Might be smart to wait it out, Dan. In a couple of weeks the Asus (which I've heard is the best of the non-Apple lot, especially for cyclists) might not look such a bargain.
Absolutely right, Andre. It-it-it...felt so gooood in my hands, and I was doing the whiplash-doubletake thing in the store aisle, chanting "Waaaaannnnnnnt...Waaaaannnnnnnt..." in my mind, but I'm alright now.
I've had fun investigating alternatives, too. See:
http://lifehacker.com/5889158/turn-a-99-nook-into-a-fully-fledged-android-tablet-in-four-easy-steps
...and...
http://gizmodo.com/5867143/how-to-jailbreak-your-kindle-touch-with-an-mp3-file
That layered-color e-ink thing is just over the horizon. With it will come the battery life of my dreams.
Best,
Dan.
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Just looking at the iPad 3, there is no tech specs out yet but the rumour mill gives some idea of what to expect.
From what I can see most of the enhancements will be down to processing power and speeding up software as well as some camera and security upgrades.
To be frank, unless there are changes to the size, weight and battery of the iPad 3 I dont see that it will make a better touring device, it will become a much enhanced leisure and business device but not necessarily any better to take on tour. If I have the money I will still get it though, I have a neice thats allready eyeing up my current iPad.. :-[
The Kindle doesnt seem to do maps very well from what I can deduct, so I will take it purely as a reading device and maybe a language dictionary.
That Spot technology as you point out Dan looks a bit overkill for me not to mention overpriced, I am going to go with an iPhone and the trackmytour app suggested by bgp4 in another thread.
Im still looking at what GPS system to take, Garmin seem to have the market sown up and they have maps for most of Africa albeit at an additional cost, I really dont know which Garmin to get, there are loads of them and vary drastically in price from under £100 to over £350...
I just want a simple GPS to keep me on track and make sure I dont get lost or end up going the completely opposite direction for 25 miles and have to turn back ;)
Ian
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Computer and cache battery thoughts ...
If I could afford it I would say a MacBook Air 11" (small light powerful). Seems from reports to bear up well on rough terrain with the SSD drives and no moving parts. In fact I am going to start saving now! I have an ageing MacBook Pro but the new MacBook Air models are very powerful so that could be my upgrade path. Would serve well with an external high capacity hard drive for photos/video and for storing GPS maps and tracks if recording a route on a long trip. Power for such a scenario (charging camera batteries, gadgets, MacBook Air) would require a descent solar panel and substantial battery ... this one is waterproof, durable and rollable. 28 watt one looks good.
http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/rollable-solar-chargers.php (http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/rollable-solar-chargers.php)
The two PowerTraveller batteries you mention Dan require mains adapter to charge, or have I missed something? For a computer I don't think that the dynamo and The Plug 2 would provide enough power for the required cache battery for a laptop. The Impel 2 battery would ...
http://store.bruntonoutdoor.com/portable-power/portable-power-packs/ (http://store.bruntonoutdoor.com/portable-power/portable-power-packs/)
Coupled with the 12V input from the PowerFilm panel, the Impel 2 provides USB, 12V, 16V and 19V output to suit the MacBook Air and most laptops. It is also rugged and built for expedition use. Another solution would be a 12V dynamo instead of the solar panel?? Must look into that!
For smaller devices only (GPS (ianshearin - I have the Garmin eTrex 30 and find it fantastic), USB razor (saw one somewhere!!), iPod, charging standard AA and AAA rechargeable batteries - all USB powered items) I think the HyperJuice Mini looks good. It supports pass-through charging so you can have it connected to The Plug 2 and plug in your GPS or other gadget at the same time.
http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice-Mini-7200mAh-Battery-for-iPhone-iPad-iPod-USB-s/165.htm (http://www.hypershop.com/HyperJuice-Mini-7200mAh-Battery-for-iPhone-iPad-iPod-USB-s/165.htm)
Hyper Shop also produce higher capacity batteries for laptop charging which look interesting.
I will probably go with the solar panel/MacBook Air option. Lot more expensive but solid, reliable and rugged set up with the Impel 2 battery. The Plug 2 would be used for other gadgets.
I am a keen photographer so would need a solution that provides good computer and battery charging ability.
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Richard,
I'm so pleased you're looking into this topic, too. I figure if one of us misses something, the other will catch it, and we share similar interests about where we want to go with regard to on-bike gadget-charging, computers for biking, etc.
You wrote...If I could afford it I would say a MacBook Air 11" (small light powerful).
<nods> Yes, I lingered by that display for some time yesterday, looking and even holding. The leading edge on them is thin enough to shave with. Very nice, but the power requirements worry me a bit, and the price is beyond my means. It does look like a very desirable option if those barriers can be overcome. A drool-worthy device!Power for such a scenario (charging camera batteries, gadgets, MacBook Air) would require a descent solar panel and substantial battery...
Yes, solar is an appealing option 'cos it requires no additional work! I have not owned a solar panel, and my lack of direct experience has me wondering about the practical aspects:
1) A suitably high-capacity solar panel is rated at maximum output, under ideal conditions. How much power would be supplied on one of those flat-light, gray days, or when it is raining? Would there still be enough for a trickle-charge sufficient to make a difference or to directly power a device?
2) How best to array the panel while traveling? Atop the rear rack/rack-top load is the logical place, but what about angularity? There were many days in Nevada when I looked down and back in my eyeglasses mirror and saw a dark shadow in that same area (I was headed toward the sun at the time). How sensitive is the array to less-ideal positioning?
There is a man living by the river near me, who has an exceptionally large flexible-rollable solar array on his bicycle, used to power a boombox to ear-splitting levels. I would like to ask him about it, but he appears very antisocial and I'm not sure I could hear him over the noise (he has ignored the entreaties of path-users to turn it down). He had it perfectly aimed on a bright sunny day, and it looked to be producing power greater than I would need. That would be ideal!
The two PowerTraveller batteries you mention Dan require mains adapter to charge, or have I missed something?
You sent me scrambling to check, Richard; a good thing! It appears the powermonkey extreme can be charged initially via mains power so you conveniently start with a full charge. It can also be charged via an available solar panel or via USB, according to http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=charge+powermonkey+extreme+via+usb&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CGkQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecoark.co.uk%2Fdocuments%2F905.pdf&ei=qo9PT7vNEaOmiQK10bi0Bg&usg=AFQjCNEjgvzSY66jPsVmrap_kfS3rqgi4A&cad=rja which says...The powermonkey extreme charger (1) can be charged using either the international mains charger (3)*, solar panel (2) or via USB (4) from an alternative power source (e.g. a computer or powergorilla, solargorilla, minigorilla product
This is an appealing setup, but apparently does not produce enough juice to power most netbooks. That would require the minigorilla, which does indeed require mains power or a solar panel. No mention is made of charging it via USB, and this makes the prospect appear dim: http://www.brentozar.com/archive/2010/01/powertraveller-mini-gorilla-battery-review/ The lesson I am taking from all this is to read the specs and ad copy for all these devices carefully. Many can be read in several ways, and are often unclear so I go back a few times to check the claims. There have been some unfavorable reports about PowerTraveller products among tourists, but I am not sure if they reflect bad examples, or if the problems extend across entire product lines. See: http://www.goingslowly.com/gear/Another solution would be a 12V dynamo
It has been done, Richard, but the results are somewhat mixed. Drag seems to be higher, partly as a result of the output and partly as a result of the generator used (it is hard to beat a present Schmidt or Shimano hub dynamo or the late LightSpin in the drag department). There are ways to extract 12 volts from a 6v dynohub (i.e. running two halogen headlights, as was popular with randonneurs for years), and the unregulated output of a dynamo increases with speed. At this point I think the (nominal) 6v solutions are the most mature and offer the greatest compatibility with USB output with a minimum of fuss. However, like you, I'd like lots of available juice for my efforts. If some if good and more is better, too much is just enough!
I think the HyperJuice Mini looks good.
Me too! I have looked at it, and it certainly does have the power. One thing to keep in mind with such a small charging source (dynohub, solar panel) is the time-to-charge. A large-capacity buffer battery is terrific, and with a pass-through, it is possible to get a true buffer effect, with power being replaced as it is drawn off. The problem comes when one uses more than they can replace. Large-capacity batteries take a lonnnnnng time to charge from flat by our means (and apart from topping off via mains), so one can be without much reserve in the meantime.
My overall goal is to reduce the number of spare batteries I carry, and to keep power available to my gadgets. In the past, my mix of spare batteries and chargers weighed about 1.5kg -- a lot. And, once down, I had no way to recharge them except from rare mains sources. I did find it really paid to devote the last few days at home before departure to making sure the batteries were fully charged before leaving. The Tout Terrain The Plug 2 and the SON28 dynohub present a sea change for me, offering the possibility to recharge fewer batteries while away from the mains.
Apart from direct lighting, here is the direction I seem to be headed with my dynamo charging:
1) Use the Tout Terrain The Plug2 (TTTP2) to power my Garmin Oregon 400T GPS directly, relying on the internal AA cells (which cannot be charged in the GPS) for reserve power when stopped). As it happens, this won't occur often, as I generally use the GPS only sporadically to check my position, rather than running it continuously. However, there are times when it would be extremely handy to have it available continuously, so I am in-process on making a cable to allow it (the "State-named" Garmins require either a change of charging mode or a specially-wired cable to avoid going into data-transfer mode; I'm going with the cable and learning a bit about nonstandard USB wiring).
2) Use the TTT2 to top-off the embedded rechargeable batteries in my gadgets (cell phone, electric shaver, MP3 player).
3) Use the TTTP2 to charge AA/AAA cells to work as reserve power for my gadgets that use them (GPS, SteriPen, LED blinkys, LED headlight for camp use.
4) Use the TTTP2 to charge camera batteries (a special case for me and very problematic, as the chargers I have will need to be internally modified. I really want to charge my camera batteries, as shooting in HD video pulls them down very quickly, and I shoot a lot of stills every day as well).
5) Use the TTTP2 to top-off and maintain a level of charge in a buffer battery that would be used to power a netbook in camp for journaling, photo editing, and GPS track-transfer.
6) Use a solar array to supplement the TTTP2. To be honest, I can feel the drag of the SON28 when it is charging heavily and it would be nice to avoid that. I have thought about placing little flags on the wheels for wind-charging overnight in camp, but this has so far proven impractical (the bike has to be on its side; inverted would be better and I don't want to do that. Also, the charging SON28 requires an amazingly high effort to start it spinning from rest when it isn't being ridden. Once spinning, resistance drops due to magnetic hysteresis, but it is hard to start on its own...). The other problem comes from being in camp so little of the day. I basically start at first light, and by the time I stop for the night, it is nearly nighttime, and light levels are low. If I go solar, it has to be chargeable on the way.
The other problem I face that greatly complicates things is my extended time away from mains sources. If I stayed in a motel even once a week, I could top off a buffer battery and use that to tide me over, but I can't count on that. On the few times I've used formal lodging, I was grateful I remembered to pack a lamp-base-to-outlet adapter, as there weren't enough wall outlets in the room for all my AC chargers.
Keep the ideas coming! I'm surely interested to see how others would approach the problem!
Best,
Dan.
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1) A suitably high-capacity solar panel is rated at maximum output, under ideal conditions. How much power would be supplied on one of those flat-light, gray days, or when it is raining? Would there still be enough for a trickle-charge sufficient to make a difference or to directly power a device?
My understanding with the PowerFilm and Brunton panels (two of the best rated solar panels and used by scientific research when off-grid) is that sunshine is not necessity for it's productive generation of electricity. The new panels rely on UV radiation so can even charge on cloudy days (someone correct me if I am wrong!). I have not done any testing however ... input anyone with experience of these panels?
2) How best to array the panel while traveling? Atop the rear rack/rack-top load is the logical place, but what about angularity? There were many days in Nevada when I looked down and back in my eyeglasses mirror and saw a dark shadow in that same area (I was headed toward the sun at the time). How sensitive is the array to less-ideal positioning?
The panel will of course provide best performance when directly facing the sun/light. As above, angle may not be so important (of course I do not yet have any of these mouth-watering devices!). Just going by info on the internet. The idea then would be to get a panel of a suitable size physically that could be laid over your rear pannier bags, but of a size power-wise that can recharge your cache battery to meet your daily needs. Perhaps a 14 watt panel may fit the bill, and I would not go any lower than that. Using the 14 watt spec. the search is on for the smallest panel!
That would be ideal!You sent me scrambling to check, Richard; a good thing! It appears the powermonkey extreme can be charged initially via mains power so you conveniently start with a full charge. It can also be charged via an available solar panel or via USB, according to http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=charge+powermonkey+extreme+via+usb&source=web&cd=8&ved=0CGkQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ecoark.co.uk%2Fdocuments%2F905.pdf&ei=qo9PT7vNEaOmiQK10bi0Bg&usg=AFQjCNEjgvzSY66jPsVmrap_kfS3rqgi4A&cad=rjawhich says...This is an appealing setup, but apparently does not produce enough juice to power most netbooks.
I read it that it provides 5 volt USB output only. I think charging is by mains only?
http://travellingtwo.com/resources/laptop-review (http://travellingtwo.com/resources/laptop-review)
Lots of useful comments under this post too relating to touring with a laptop.
12V dynamo - It has been done, Richard, but the results are somewhat mixed.
OK, dumped the idea of a 12 volt dynamo system!
In summary I think that the discussion falls into two parts with the second part as yet relatively immature in terms of technology.
1: 5V USB powered device (happy with the numerous options to charge small gadgets using The Plug 2 as the source).
2: Laptop charging (12 volt solar panel/mains seems the only option at present).
I would consider the iPad 2 but it has no USB port (external drive for photos (see link below to what I use) but I notice that you can attach the Hyper Drive for iPad AND you can charge the iPad 2 from The Plug 2. mmmm... Need to look at iPad 2 apps that support the photography aspect.
http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive-iPad-Hard-Drive-s/183.htm (http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive-iPad-Hard-Drive-s/183.htm)
My overall goal is to reduce the number of spare batteries I carry, and to keep power available to my gadgets. In the past, my mix of spare batteries and chargers weighed about 1.5kg -- a lot. And, once down, I had no way to recharge them except from rare mains sources. I did find it really paid to devote the last few days at home before departure to making sure the batteries were fully charged before leaving. The Tout Terrain The Plug 2 and the SON28 dynohub present a sea change for me, offering the possibility to recharge fewer batteries while away from the mains.
5V USB
Agree - with some high quality rechargeable battery sets (Uniross or Sanyo Eneloop) and The Plug 2, problem solved. It would also provide power for the devices I already have ...
Head Torch - http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/headlamps/compact-tikka-2/tikka-core (http://www.petzl.com/en/outdoor/headlamps/compact-tikka-2/tikka-core)
Camera SD Card Backup - http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive-COLORSPACE-s/23.htm (http://www.hypershop.com/HyperDrive-COLORSPACE-s/23.htm)
Battery Pack I use for walking to charge camera battery - http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/freeloader-pro.htm (http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/freeloader-pro.htm)
GNSS Unit - uses GPS and Russian GLOSNAS system - http://www.garmin.com/uk/new-etrex-series#2 (http://www.garmin.com/uk/new-etrex-series#2)
Would do for charging rechargeable batteries and lots of other things too. Still looking for the best USB electric razor!
Laptop Charging
This seems at present to need a 12V system. The Plug 2 will simply not provide the watts required. That leaves solar panels or a wind turbine or mains supply. So off-grid remote tours will require solar or wind (US/European tours - mains top-up?). Solar panels are lighter so thats the way to go (excuse me why I think out loud typing!).
Panels are getting better and there are many new players so the efficiency should improve. I think we are approaching the launch pad of wide-spread solar generation acceptability. Finally!
If the world does not adopt the technology soon, then at least Thorn owners will be able to get through when electricity bills and petrol becomes too expensive!!! In fact may sell my car to buy all this exciting stuff!!!
Back to topic ... in my humble opinion from all my internet trawling, at present I would go for a Brunton or PowerFilm 14 watt or 28 watt depending on size rollable panel (weatherproof, relatively efficiency in relation to others in poor light, rollable, damage resistant, good reviews) and a Brunton Impel 2 (rugged and splashproof, provides standard USB power as well as 12V for camera batteries, 16V and 19V for laptop/MacBook Air/iPad 2, good capacity, good reviews)
http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/rollable-solar-chargers.php (http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/rollable-solar-chargers.php)
http://store.bruntonoutdoor.com/portable-power/portable-power-packs/impel2-trade-black/ (http://store.bruntonoutdoor.com/portable-power/portable-power-packs/impel2-trade-black/)
I have thought about placing little flags on the wheels for wind-charging overnight in camp, but this has so far proven impractical (the bike has to be on its side; inverted would be better and I don't want to do that.
Dan - already been playing with the idea but it would require the bike to be inverted unless you could use 2 Click-Stands to support the front wheel off the ground to allow the dynamo can spin freely?
Also, the charging SON28 requires an amazingly high effort to start it spinning from rest when it isn't being ridden.
The wind here would overcome any dynamo resistance I can assure you! Spin the wheel by hand and let the wind take over?!!!
Food for thought!
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Boy, this is fun! :) ;) :D ;D
Richard, I'm digesting your links and thoughts and pondering. I think your bold-faced summary of the two sorts of charging philosophies is a good one -- little gadgets are the easy province of the TTTP2...and then the Big Gadget (a computery thing...whether that be a laptop, netbook, tablet, or some sort of hybrid). It is just possible one might (eventually) top-off the right sort of buffer battery for the computer over the course of time, even using the TTTP2 or that and a Solar option.
The news of UV-based energy accumulation opens up all sorts of ideas. I want to look into this further.
<squints, casts appraising glance toward bike> Hmm. Lookin' at Sherpa in a whole new way for some of these ideas...
Where is my free lunch? Everyone tells me there's no such thing... ;)
Best,
Dan.
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Cache battery thought ...
Dan ... some more 'thinking-out-loud'. Might be repeating myself here!!!
I currently have the Globetrotter Pro setup that I have used successfully for backpacking trips to keep the camera battery and 5V USB devices going.
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/globetrotter-pro.htm (http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/globetrotter-pro.htm)
Just been having a closer look at a cache battery that could be used with the TT The Plug. My previous post listed the HyperJuice battery with 7200mAh capacity which I thought was pretty good. The PowerTraveller products look good, especially the PowerMonkey Extreme as the battery is rated at 9000mAh!
https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkeyextreme/ (https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powermonkeyextreme/)
The included solar panel would keep you going during non-cycling days, and the battery can be mains charged too. What I like about the Extreme battery is that it allows pass-through charging where you can charge the battery from The Plug while charging 5V USB gadgets (like the HyperJuice Mini), but it can charge TWO at the same time. You can keep your GPS going all day as well as charging another USB device or two AA batteries using a USB attached battery charger ...
http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/scotty-pro.htm (http://www.solartechnology.co.uk/shop/scotty-pro.htm)
The Extreme battery has automatic cut-off when the device is fully charged. It is also 'ruggedised' being rated at IP67 (dust proof and waterproof to 1m for up to 30 minutes). The reviews suggest that under-cloud performance is good. PowerTraveller are based in the South of England so I guess they have looked at the units low light performance and 'UV gathering' abilities in detail.
I would continue to use the Freeloader battery to charge the camera batteries (as it has a 9.5V setting for this, and a universal 'camcaddie' for all camera battery types), the Freeloaded Pro unit itself could be charged directly from The Plug or from the Extreme battery.
In short the waterproof construction and high capacity of the PowerMonkey Extreme battery gets my vote for the best cache battery for 5V USB devices.
Keeping to the original topic re. laptops, the other PowerTraveller PowerGorilla ...
https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powergorilla/ (https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/powergorilla/)
... and the SolarGorilla ...
https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/solargorilla/ (https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/solargorilla/)
... would keep your laptop in juice. Just a shame that the Powergorilla battery can'be be charged from the TT The Plug. That would be the bees-knees. Maybe one day!
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Hi, Richard!
I'm delighted you're continuing to evaluate buffer batteries for use with on-board charging schemes. I'm doing the same, with a little detour off to the side as I refine my take-along computer choices. I am beginning to conclude that a laptop/notebook computer with 10in screen may well be more useful to my needs than a netbook, and has the potential for nearly the same "battery economy" if I correctly enable the power-saving options and core-switching. I had seriously considered one of the Asus convertible tablets/netbooks, but those are Android-powered, rather than Windows or Linux. I usually make my own custom Linux distros and then virtualize other OSs within, so I can do what I want with them, or I virtualize my Windows installations and dual- or triple-boot to Linux as needed. A stripped-down and virtualized TinyXP or Win7 Starter/PuppyLinux-derived combo is not a bad way to go. Either work nicely to avoid picking up nasties when using free wi-fi at restaurants or cafes. Android can be hacked so easily, and does not as readily allow on-the-road photo editing and even some low-level video editing as Linux or Windows. A little Mac would be nice, but is more costly to reach the same ends.
I need a notebook (keyboard, available RAM) for content creation; tablets are perfect for consuming content.
Once I find the right notebook, then I can home in more accurately on my power needs.
That said, I agree with you completely on the power outputs you've referenced; it may sound a bit simplistic, but energy density is where its at and if some is good, more is better, and too much is just enough.
Already, I've found and enjoyed the benefits of pre-charging. In advance of each tour, every wall-plug in the house is full of something charging, and when I leave, everything is topped-off and ready to go. That same strategy is just as sound when it comes to a buffer battery. As you've pointed out, if you start with a brick of juice large enough to charge (and recharge) your toys, then there is less need for on-bike charging and it allows for layover days when you aren't riding. You're absolutely right -- solar supplementation helps on off-bike days (or as a a boost to other gadgets when the prime ones are being charged by the dynohub), but nothing beats the mains when it comes to filling the Big Battery Bucket quickly. That's why I've gone with three dedicated 1A USB wall chargers for when I'm near an outlet -- my toys charge in half the time they do from the .5A output of The Plug2 (with the PAT cord, The Plug2 just reaches the full .5A output at a lower speed, putting one in the "sweet spot" of max charging sooner).
The downside of a really big buffer battery (as with all high-capacity batteries) is if you're away from the mains and dependent only on pedal- or solar power to recharge them, it can take forever. It is a bit like filling a rain barrel with a teaspoon. Still, I really think a big buffer battery is the way to go and that's what I'm looking for as well.
I agree the ratings on the PowerMonkey Extreme look like the business. The one thing that makes me hesitate with PowerMonkey are persistent reports in user reviews of poor reliability. Apparently, their customer service is very good, but I am concerned about the apparent inconsistencies. The PowerGorilla looked like the logical choice for powering the travel laptop, but I ran into the same snag as you...it apparently can't be recharged from The Plug2.
We're so close to a the ideal "do-all" solution. If I were in charge, we'd have mini-laptops powering color e-ink screens with 18-20hr battery life, powered by a Baygen-like clockwork generator with a pass-through to charge a phone, MP3 player, and other gadgets in camp. Quanta computer already did something like this with a clamp-on hand-crank generator for their XO-1 laptop, developed by the One Laptop per Child Association, Inc).
I'm still wondering if Baygen/FreePlay might have something that could beat solar for camp use. Instead of a clockwork winder, if one could hang it from a tree branch and dump rocks into a fabric pouch and let gravity do the work, so much the better. My father's Baygen FreePlay (now FreePlay Energy) radio from 18 years ago works for a long, long time on just a few cranks of the clockwork generator. A really great solution would be a SONdynamo built into the rear hub so it could be powered-up in camp by cranking an overturned bike. I'm still playing with detachable spoke sails to use wind, but it is hard to overcome the SON28's high initial starting torque.
...some more 'thinking-out-loud'. Might be repeating myself here...
Not at all! Thinking aloud is one of the better ways to approach the problem of powering gadgets on-tour, and part of the process is revisiting prior ideas as new information comes to light. We know pretty much what we want and a general way to get there. The problem is there's no tailor-made perfect solution, and we all have (gadgets with) slightly different requirements that make a given solution more or less ideal. I think we've already gone quite a ways toward finding workable solutions, and I think we'll get there soon!
Great ideas, good research, and I appreciate your efforts and love the discussion; I'm really grateful someone else is interested in the topic and by looking for solutions together, we'll get there more quickly.
All the best,
Dan.
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Dan,
It's quite refreshing to find others who obsess even more than I about these things. :D.
I have the 11" MacBook, as well as a cheap NetBoot that I got primarily for touring.
So far, however, my setup has been iPad, Mac Bluetooth keyboard, and iPhone. I do have a new paper white kindle on order, and I will definitely take that on next tour. I also use the new Trent 11000 battery (they now have a 12000, 2amp output for the ipad), charges up the iPad at least once.
Pete.
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It's quite refreshing to find others who obsess even more than I about these things.
My goodness, you're in good company, Pete! And, in turn, I'm just tickled yet another person is interested in these things. If a person is into this sort of thing, it adds whole new dimensions of fun to cycling and touring.
Thanks for detailing your setup. I'm moving more and more toward an iPad with keyboard for my own bike-touring-computing needs. I put in long 15-17 hour days on bad roads, and my hands are often pretty well toasted by the end of the day and there's no way I can journal with a pen and paper (tried...even *I* can't read it afterwards). A keyboard is the way to go for me, though I have heard Apple has included a variation of the iPone's Siri voice-recognition engine in the latest iPad and that it will work reasonably well for transcription/dictation. I've gone through three or four versions of Dragon Naturally Speaking (voice recognition software) for Windows machines, and it had worked pretty unevenly. I finally got myself trained to speak "naturally" while making formatting commands ("Paragraph, Dear Fred, comma, paragraph..."), but it's recognition was sometimes really good and then moments later, it figured I was speaking Swahili rather than English.
I suppose I should also go the Kindle route. I always take a book, but limit it to one paperback for space and weight reasons, and then ration myself to one chapter a night in camp so I won't finish it too fast. It is kind of frustrating, and I get tired of dwelling on just a chapter a day (though it is not so bad with mysteries). With an e-reader like the Kindle, you're only carrying the equivalent of a single physical book...no matter how many "books" are stored in it's memory/library. Can't beat that.
That Trent battery is a pretty nice setup, too. Wonderful toys you have there, Pete!
I have a corker of an idea for on-road charging I will soon reveal; not quite there yet, but will be very, very soon.
Best,
Dan.
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I'll chip in with my 2 pence worth while I've got a few mins. My solution for my World tour may not fit the bill for cycling off-grid but hopefully it all adds to the conversation.
My goal on my Liverpool - Istanbul trip last year was to be power self self-sufficient. I had a shimano hub dynamo connected to the e-werks and that connected to the B&M cache battery. This went to whatever gadget I wanted to charge. A full days riding would usually charge the cache battery fully and it would charge one gadget from empty. I was using a Garmin Edge 705, an iphone 3g, a kindle 3g keyboard (still the best cycle gadget available for the price by a million miles in my humble opinion) a lumix TZ7 camera and a 99p usb li-ion universal charger. This unfortunately broke quite early on. It did work fine ,just very delicate construction. Add to this an aa/aaa battery charger.
The theory was great however in practice I was using my garmin all day recording my route and sometimes navigating. This took priority everyday and used at least 1/2 of the cache battery if not all. It didn't take long to realise my gadget use to power generation ratios were out of line.
As the tour progressed I spent less time hiding away from busy Western European land owners and more time camping and staying at much more approachable Eastern European farms and houses. I started to use mains electricty to charge everything overnight from then on.
Although I had a small notebook with me my goal was only to use that as and when I found mains power.
And so I have come to the solution/compromise for my next longer tour.
A power gorilla.
I too had read the somewhat unreliable tales but found a new one cheap on ebay and thought i would give it a go. I did get it to charge from the hub dynamo by setting the e-werks to 12v. However I believe it will take about a month to fully charge!
I did have an issue with my gorilla out of the box where it would not charge my laptop and the unit at the same time. I sent it back to powertraveller and they exchanged it. No problems since then.
My approach is now to top up the gorilla and laptop whenever I have access to mains power. And use the hub/ewerks/for the gps/emergencies. I don't think I will ever be anywhere for more than a week without passing some sort of power and I'm happy to compromise and adjust my power usage accordingly.
The power gorilla weighs 500g ish and will charge my laptop fully from empty or about 8 iphones.
I can leave the laptop mains power unit behind and just use the single gorilla unit and daisy chain from the gorilla to the laptop. It also charges from a car 12v socket. It fits into my Ortlieb bar bag with room to spare.
I may look into a solar panel to top it up but its not my priority.
Will it last without going wrong? I shall soon find out:)
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looks like powertraveller are up to something on the remote power and solar power scene (and a funny video)! Or just fancy marketing?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSd2sS3CdWI&feature=plcp
Waiting ...
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Reading this thread ... I'm struck how cyclists now want to take it all with them. It seems that we all need that trailer pulled behind, and a nice big one - just for the electronics! :D
How was it that cyclists ever toured before the cel phone was invented? That must have been crazy! Like getting away fer real.
Speaking for myself, I toted a iPad and cel phone with us on our 2200 mile summer tour. I've had three tries with the iPad and find something about them that just does not sync with me. First of all it bothers some deep core of me, that no matter if I cycled at twice the speed that I do and for 16 hours a day, I could not get the iPad, nor my 11" macbook air charged. Yeah, I know that it is a consctruct of my mind, to be self sufficient, but I like lying to myself that way and want to be ... self sufficient. That is why I dragged, and will continue to drag around, a cooking kit and food around, even though it was too hot to cook, and restaurants too tempting. So it is with gadgetry. I want to be able to get off the grid ... or die lying! ;)
We have ATT on the devices and found that the cel reception was so terrible much of the time that it was more trouble than it was worth. Next time the ipad stays home and if I take the 11" MacAir (which fits into the front grab pannier - while my 15 retina does not - though the retina is a much more powerful laptop with a longer battery life) I will make myself only use it once a week or so.
I've even had days where I thought I will leave it all at home - including the cell phone. Simplify. You know. But I know that just is not done nowadays. We escapee, only a little it would seem. Sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder if that does not take the soul out of "getting away".
This is off topic ... but a great read, written by a cycle tourist who really inspires me (and sometimes shames me too :) )
http://www.skalatitude.com/2012/04/just-traveler-on-bicycle.html
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Pavel
Yep ... we can all get carried away with the techie stuff. I will not be touring with computers etc. My main requirement started with the need to charge my camera battery. Other essentials would be for a camping light and head torch. I am trying to keep it simple!
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Pavel
Yep ... we can all get carried away with the techie stuff. I will not be touring with computers etc. My main requirement started with the need to charge my camera battery. Other essentials would be for a camping light and head torch. I am trying to keep it simple!
Well said 8)
KISS
Pete
;)
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Hands up! I haven't read all the thread so apologies if saying anything twice.
I survived on my old Samsung N220 10" netbook until I got to Malaysia with a few months left of my two years away.
I had done everything I needed to do on my sammy, I had converted it before I went to a 750gb/4gb SSD hybrid drive. This upped the speeed and gave me storage.
By the time I got to KL the sammy was beginning to get a bit worn out. SD crad slot wouldnt read usb slots were flaky and the touchpad too. It had seen a lot of use over 4 years so Im very happy with how long it lasted. It could all have been fixed fairly cheaply but the one thing I missed the most was a higher resolution screen. So I looked at a new laptop in KL.
£ for £ or rather ringitt for ringitt the Macbook Air 13" 256GB was the best value. £300 cheaper than the cost of the same device in the UK!!!
I hate apple with a passion but I thought I was being silly by not giving the mac a go.
In respect to touring there is one thing I really don't like about it. That is the way it connects to external hard drives. And you will need one pretty sharpish, especially as its recommended you don't use more than 50% of the drive!!!!!! (it's ssd)
If you want to pick the thing and the drive to move about it always seems to disconnect , if you close the lid, it unmounts the drive and you have to fiddle around in settings to remount it. I hate using it with an external drive.
It is of course super light, super battery and a bit more than average spec (now). The main thing that beats the competition is it has 2 x USB3 slots which was important for me as I have two USB3 hard drives.
Because its metal my hands feel strange when I use it. As soon as i pick up my well worn sammy it feels comfortable and a pleasure to use. I just don't enjoy touching the mac?? And the edges around the trackpad are very sharp. They wont cut you but they do poke you.
My power gorilla power bank will charge it according to power traveller but i need a magnetic adapter and it will only charge 3/4 of the battery. The magnetic adapters are meant to be very flaky and wear out very quickly.
I haven't used it fully on tour as I wasn't riding for the period I had it.
My ten ringitts worth :)
As soon as I find an alternative I will sell it.
That said....I believe a 12" macbook air is coming out to replace the 11" and 13" sometime soon (been rumoured for years) and if you are not worried about storage or silly external drive problems or weird touchy feely it might be a good option. Just don't buy it in the UK!
The sammy could
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Hi All!
Tout Terrain have sent me an example of their Cinq5 SmartPower Pack all-in-one buffer battery for testing and review, and I am currently wringing it out on the roughest of logging roads and wettest of Fall days and will test further going into the cold of winter as well as seeing how it handles exposure to the talc-fine alkali dust of the Great Basin. I'll be testing it with two SON dynohubs, a Tout Terrain The Plug 2+, a B&M e-Werk, a variety of AC wall chargers, and solar-accumulators for recharging.
I will reserve comment for my full, forthcoming review, but I can say already it is unique in being the most fully realized of the buffer-battery charging solutions I've seen in terms of included features. This is a category of device thin in the commercial market, and the majority of buffer-battery dyno-charging solutions including my own are home-grown. The other, main commercial competition is a B&M buffer battery intended to work best with their e-Werk charger, and it (the B&M battery) lacks almost all the features of the Cinq5.
I will be as eager as you to see if it fulfills its promise, but want my report to be the result of genuine testing and not just a "features" product listing.
Stay tuned.
Best,
Dan.
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Hi Dan --
Is this the item that you are testing and reviewing?
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cinq5-smart-power-pack-ii-prod32694/ (http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cinq5-smart-power-pack-ii-prod32694/)
http://shop.cinq5.de/Smart-Power-Pack-II/en (http://shop.cinq5.de/Smart-Power-Pack-II/en)
Thanks,
Dave
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Richie...
My Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone with folding Bluetooth keyboard, OTG (On-The-Go) cable, 3TB USB hard disk drive, and Anker 20,000mAh battery proved to be an ideal journaling solution and camera for me on my double transcontinental European crossing this summer. I used a single Joos Orange solar panel with integrated 5400mAh accumulator battery to recharge the phone at night, keeping the Anker for heavy usage and to extend my time between mains (re)charging, since AndyBG's bike was not equipped with a dynohub, charging interface, or buffer battery.
Mostly, I used a stylus and the SwiftKey Flow on-screen keyboard for writing and it all came out fine...or well enough to produce 283 single-spaced A4 pages of journal entries.
Now, I have the task of editing and transferring it all into an online daily blog, along with the 9,000 or so digital stills and full-HD videos, also taken exclusively with the phone. Things are delayed a bit as I whack down the tasks that accumulated in my absence; the most pressing has been painting the vacation cabin at the Coast so it will hold up against the coming 175kph storm winds of winter.
When it comes time to replace the phone at the end of my contract, I'm seriously thinking of going up a size to a "phablet" -- phone the size of a small tablet...I use it least for talking -- with something like the Samsung Note 4. The screen is just a bit larger, but may incur pocket-fitting issues that make it less suitable than the S4-size I'm using now. It will take some hard consideration, but I did find myself wishing occasionally for the Note 3's greater daylight readability, longer battery life and slightly larger screen, though not enough to splash out for one that isn't contract-subsidized.
I found it awfully nice to have so many truly useful gadgets in one small device...enough that I never used the other, dedicated devices I brought with me (excepting the Garmin GPS). Perhaps a smartphone would work well as your next on-bike computing solution, Richie. The voltage/current requirements sure make life easier than with a netbook. I'm putting my own very nice and barely used netbook up for sale for that very reason.
All the best,
Dan.
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Dave asked...
Is this the item that you are testing?
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/cinq5-smart-power-pack-ii-prod32694/
http://shop.cinq5.de/Smart-Power-Pack-II/en
Yes it is, Dave, though mine differs in appearance by having a transluscent cover over the plug/front-facing white LED and also included the rubber mounting bracket, allowing it to be fitted to handlebars, a seatpost, stem or frame tubes.
Part of the reason for delay in posting my review is to wring it out in harsh conditions and to also test the claimed capacity over time and with a variety of high-draw, high-drain gadgets in actual touring use -- more demanding than my tests on the workbench at home.
As noted elsewhere, I am also testing for review the Tout Terrain/Cinq5 Shift:R trigger shifters for Rohloff hubs equipped with the external shift-box. Same rigorous testing applies there as well. These are really innovative products, and it will take awhile to see how all features work in practice over time and in a variety of real-world conditions. Most reviews I have seen were "impressions" based on handling the components indoors or using them on shorter test-rides. I want to see how they work in the real world, and on one of our Thorn bicycles.
Best,
Dan.
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Paval that woman is one weird dude.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBaqJK-w78U&feature=youtu.be
seriously could not be in her company for very long she would drive me insane.
anto.
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Part of the reason for delay in posting my review is to wring it out in harsh conditions and to also test the claimed capacity over time and with a variety of high-draw, high-drain gadgets in actual touring use -- more demanding than my tests on the workbench at home.
Therein lies the value of this forum. The opinion of a single person who has actually used a product is worth dozens of first-impression "reviews".
I look forward to your (usual) comprehensive and well-written review, no matter how long it takes.
- Dave
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Cheers Dan,
I think their are two Richies.
One wants to be totally self sufficient in the event of a nuclear war. I own a Nomad so that's that covered, I can carry anything.
The other wants to be as uber minimal as possible. This second me is having a hard time coming out from behind the first. :)
I will soon be in the fortunate position (if all goes well) to be spending the next decade travelling in some form or another.
Because of this I will probably still be carrying a laptop with me, however I do want to go off on side trips and explore the other Richie.
I left all my stuff in Tehran when I went to Pakistan and India. Just one small rucksack, no laptop, only my point and shoot camera. It was fantastic, however it was also the only part of the journey that I lost photos and videos. Even though I backed them up to SD cards and posted them home the cards are corrupt and wont read. I've tried Recuva and all the other programs and the partition ones to get them working again but no joy. Of course these photos where my favourites of the whole trip! I have them in reduced size but not full. The videos have gone though :(
** if travelling to less developed countries take a stash of Original brand memory cards. Every card I bought in Pakistan had a problem.
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Technophobes look away now :)
https://batmantorobben.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/dsc00800.jpg
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Nice collection.
Which bit did you take?
;D
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Technophobes look away now :)
https://batmantorobben.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/dsc00800.jpg
wow thats unreal is there any of that lot out of date that your throwing out if so i 'll have it.
jags.
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By the end of the tour this is what I had amassed :)
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pretty impressive 8)
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this photo cam about this morning because my ex-girlfriend sent me a picture of a friend with a load of stuff laid out on the bed and she said it reminded her of me.
I then thought it would be funny to put all my stuff on the bed and send a picture back.
I then knew I could ruffle a few feathers on the Warmshowers Facebook page. There are so many opinionated people over there unfortunately :(
Just mention helmets, weight, or technology and people are just dying to tell you that your doing it all wrong :)
it was kind of an experiment and the opinions I got from all sides where as expected.
About half of the gear in the photo no longer works. And the other half was bought along the way, At my last country I did have 95% of this with me though. The rest I posted back at various times and I also gave a few things away and threw a few things away.
I thought it was as much a reflection on me as anything else.
and too any one who says you don't NEED this much stuff.
I agree 100% :)
BTW it except the Macbook it all fits in a small ortlieb front pannier and weighs about 10kg.
The camera I took the picture with isn't in the picture :) That doesn't fit in my TECH bag.
So nice to be back on the Thorn Forum where different opinions are observed and discussed rather than shouted at and seen as WRONG!
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That is a serious load of gear. I imagine that most eventualities were covered by it, apart the 'Back to the Future' stuff that is. Not so long ago you'd have needed a car battery and a herd of yak to have powered and pulled that lot. I've often thought that with regard to tech-type stuff we all make a bit of a trade off in terms of what we want in terms of functionality, portability and weight and what we feel is most convenient and comfortable to use. I was rather liking Dan's minimalist set up but find myself drawn to chucking in an 11" Macbook air for good measure. Then there's the kitchen sink, my satphone, Batphone, Dr Who transponder, Thorn Tardis and......! ;)
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I'm going to do a list and stick it up on the blog.
dan's smartphone and extra storage defo covers all the bases.
I havent read all the thread but I'm imaging a spare battery or two may help.
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I was brousing utube came across hubl2 look like a great bit of kit.but then again i still cant get the hang of my vista >:(legend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNQuhjFBapA
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJmhKT-Fe18.
this guy knows his stuff.