Comments on: Camp stove generates electricity to charge gadgets http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 08:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: zarray http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1479886 zarray Tue, 17 Jul 2012 22:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1479886 My new tableu dose not have a spellcheque My new tableu dose not have a spellcheque

]]> By: cinerik http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478737 cinerik Mon, 16 Jul 2012 17:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478737 My Dad's house near Birmingham has solar panels on the roof now and, for most of the year, he generates enough to keep the meter rolling backwards.  He's fairly frugal and keeps the lights off in the rooms he isn't using, but he runs an (LCD) TV, fridge, chest freezer etc.  Cooking and heating is all gas though. My Dad’s house near Birmingham has solar panels on the roof now and, for most of the year, he generates enough to keep the meter rolling backwards.  He’s fairly frugal and keeps the lights off in the rooms he isn’t using, but he runs an (LCD) TV, fridge, chest freezer etc.  Cooking and heating is all gas though.

]]> By: Nathan Luedtke http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478655 Nathan Luedtke Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478655 To see actual product reviews instead of PR reports, you'll have to look at personal blogs and youtube. The stoves have been shipping for the past month, I got mine last week and just last night lit my first test fire. It works as advertised- the power unit pushes air into the fire, making extremely efficient, hot combustion, with VERY little smoke. I boiled a kettle of water in about 6 minutes. This is a really good stove for campers who don't want to hike in with fuel bottles- I can definitely see using this stove in the backcountry and not using any other fuel aside from twigs and sticks. To see actual product reviews instead of PR reports, you’ll have to look at personal blogs and youtube. The stoves have been shipping for the past month, I got mine last week and just last night lit my first test fire. It works as advertised- the power unit pushes air into the fire, making extremely efficient, hot combustion, with VERY little smoke. I boiled a kettle of water in about 6 minutes. This is a really good stove for campers who don’t want to hike in with fuel bottles- I can definitely see using this stove in the backcountry and not using any other fuel aside from twigs and sticks.

]]> By: Jabin Tangeman http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478651 Jabin Tangeman Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478651  sort of yes.. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1203647021/the-powerpot  sort of yes.. http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1203647021/the-powerpot

]]> By: Jabin Tangeman http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478649 Jabin Tangeman Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478649  yep you can.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1203647021/the-powerpot  yep you can.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1203647021/the-powerpot

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478541 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478541 Of course.  I've been in box canyons where even GPS doesn't work.  But even in the winter you can have days where you are above treeline getting baked by the sun from every direction (reflected sunlight). Of course.  I’ve been in box canyons where even GPS doesn’t work.  But even in the winter you can have days where you are above treeline getting baked by the sun from every direction (reflected sunlight).

]]> By: Dan http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478528 Dan Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478528 These guys have done an *excellent* job of getting their marketing out to the blogosphere.  I have seen it on every tech blog now, with a very positive report, but none have them have actually seen or reviewed the product.  Every post I've seen has the stock photo supplied by the company.   Did they have some special PR technique? These guys have done an *excellent* job of getting their marketing out to the blogosphere.  I have seen it on every tech blog now, with a very positive report, but none have them have actually seen or reviewed the product.  Every post I’ve seen has the stock photo supplied by the company.  

Did they have some special PR technique?

]]> By: Ryan Lenethen http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478512 Ryan Lenethen Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478512  Its like BluRay, which replaced DVD's, which replaced CD's (compact discs), which replaced 3.5" floppies, which replaced, 5.25" floppies, which replaced cassettes, which replaced reels, which replaced punch cards, which replaced I suppose physical mechanical manipulation... Which has all been made pretty irrelevant (unless you are a media company) by 16GB USB thumb drives for less than 10$ and fast online service.  Its like BluRay, which replaced DVD’s, which replaced CD’s (compact discs), which replaced 3.5″ floppies, which replaced, 5.25″ floppies, which replaced cassettes, which replaced reels, which replaced punch cards, which replaced I suppose physical mechanical manipulation…

Which has all been made pretty irrelevant (unless you are a media company) by 16GB USB thumb drives for less than 10$ and fast online service.

]]> By: Marc Biro http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478498 Marc Biro Mon, 16 Jul 2012 13:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478498 I agree to that. I rely on maps and a compass when backpacking, but always pack the phone (turned off) in case of an emergency, also understanding that I most likely do not have service. I think the real danger of packing a phone in the wild is the delusion of safety it creates. Dont expect to get service, and for heavens sake, learn how to use a compass and map as to avoid relying on a gps function.  I agree to that. I rely on maps and a compass when backpacking, but always pack the phone (turned off) in case of an emergency, also understanding that I most likely do not have service. I think the real danger of packing a phone in the wild is the delusion of safety it creates. Dont expect to get service, and for heavens sake, learn how to use a compass and map as to avoid relying on a gps function. 

]]> By: Lane Yarbrough http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478454 Lane Yarbrough Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478454 Or zomies spying your bright beacon of flame.  Or zomies spying your bright beacon of flame. 

]]> By: Lane Yarbrough http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478451 Lane Yarbrough Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478451 Yes, "Getting Away From It All" means exactly that to most.  Yes, “Getting Away From It All” means exactly that to most. 

]]> By: Lane Yarbrough http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478450 Lane Yarbrough Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478450 I agree. What about crank systems too, they seem practical.  http://www.soscharger.com/ I agree. What about crank systems too, they seem practical. 
http://www.soscharger.com/

]]> By: Lane Yarbrough http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478448 Lane Yarbrough Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478448 Calling for "help"  doesn't necessarily mean there's an emergency. Cell phones have created a whole new breed of "emergencies". What ever happened to "Going it alone"? Calling for “help”  doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an emergency. Cell phones have created a whole new breed of “emergencies”. What ever happened to “Going it alone”?

]]> By: Lane Yarbrough http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478446 Lane Yarbrough Mon, 16 Jul 2012 10:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478446 I agree. Also, you may not be able to burn wood at all in most areas, so good luck with that too. In some campgrounds campers aren't allowed to collect so much as a single twig of wood.  But it is strange that they use the term "mobile phone", instead of "mobile device", I love a good read out in the quiet. I agree. Also, you may not be able to burn wood at all in most areas, so good luck with that too. In some campgrounds campers aren’t allowed to collect so much as a single twig of wood. 

But it is strange that they use the term “mobile phone”, instead of “mobile device”, I love a good read out in the quiet.

]]> By: JontKopeck http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478431 JontKopeck Mon, 16 Jul 2012 08:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478431  Having piggy-backed a hypothermic man with a twisted ankle down a tractor trail to a waiting ambulance on my last camping trip, I can vouch for the fact that mobile telephones have a non-frivolous purpose when on these kind of ventures.  Having piggy-backed a hypothermic man with a twisted ankle down a tractor trail to a waiting ambulance on my last camping trip, I can vouch for the fact that mobile telephones have a non-frivolous purpose when on these kind of ventures.

]]> By: benjymous http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478424 benjymous Mon, 16 Jul 2012 08:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478424 My Dad has a solar panels for charging - he also has one of these.  In the UK, this wins hands down, as our feeble sunlight is rarely enough to get a good charge. My Dad has a solar panels for charging – he also has one of these.  In the UK, this wins hands down, as our feeble sunlight is rarely enough to get a good charge.

]]> By: Richard Morris http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478421 Richard Morris Mon, 16 Jul 2012 08:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478421 It is actually a more efficient type of stove. The rocket stove design consumes half the wood of a typical camp fire, the primary purpose of the electricity generator is to power a fan wich increases the air intake making it more efficient still. The 4W electric output is just a byproduct. So if your going to cook your food anyway there is no extra carbon produced. Keeping it running just to charge a phone is a different story though. Burning wood is long term carbon neutral as the carbon has been taken up by the trees. It is actually a more efficient type of stove. The rocket stove design consumes half the wood of a typical camp fire, the primary purpose of the electricity generator is to power a fan wich increases the air intake making it more efficient still. The 4W electric output is just a byproduct. So if your going to cook your food anyway there is no extra carbon produced. Keeping it running just to charge a phone is a different story though. Burning wood is long term carbon neutral as the carbon has been taken up by the trees.

]]> By: Crashproof http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478374 Crashproof Mon, 16 Jul 2012 04:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478374 Burning wood is bad for your health and the environment.  That's not going to stop campers from doing it any more than alcohol being a toxin stops people from drinking. Burning wood is bad for your health and the environment.  That’s not going to stop campers from doing it any more than alcohol being a toxin stops people from drinking.

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478372 Preston Sturges Mon, 16 Jul 2012 04:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478372 It's storage media in the form of a removable optical disk, often used as novolatile slow write, fast read secondary storage.  It’s storage media in the form of a removable optical disk, often used as novolatile slow write, fast read secondary storage. 

]]> By: bcsizemo http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478342 bcsizemo Mon, 16 Jul 2012 03:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478342 Well ultimately that $100 figure really depends on the quality of the components that are used.  Cheaper TEC modules don't stand up to thermal cycling as well as higher quality units, and even then there are varying levels of durability.   Circuit design, fan, parts quality, ect.. http://www.adv-engineering.com/production/cooling%20modules.html This company shows the lowest cycling units they have are rated for 5,000 cycles.  And while that's a lot, depending on the conditions that might only be 3 years of daily use.  (Thinking more about your clay oven setup than the portable stove.)  Obviously using one the 30k or 120k cycle units makes more sense, but at the same time affects the price of the unit. Well ultimately that $100 figure really depends on the quality of the components that are used.  Cheaper TEC modules don’t stand up to thermal cycling as well as higher quality units, and even then there are varying levels of durability.   Circuit design, fan, parts quality, ect..

http://www.adv-engineering.com/production/cooling%20modules.html

This company shows the lowest cycling units they have are rated for 5,000 cycles.  And while that’s a lot, depending on the conditions that might only be 3 years of daily use.  (Thinking more about your clay oven setup than the portable stove.)  Obviously using one the 30k or 120k cycle units makes more sense, but at the same time affects the price of the unit.

]]> By: Jocelyn McAuley http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478326 Jocelyn McAuley Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478326 heck with the burning wood- I want this to convert the heat thrown off my motorcycle, car, oven, kiln... heck with the burning wood- I want this to convert the heat thrown off my motorcycle, car, oven, kiln…

]]> By: twency http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478315 twency Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478315 "You'll be out in the sun all day anyway" That depends a lot on where you hike.  I've hiked about a quarter of the Appalachian Trail and encountered plenty of segments where the tree cover would significantly compromise the utility of a solar panel. “You’ll be out in the sun all day anyway”

That depends a lot on where you hike.  I’ve hiked about a quarter of the Appalachian Trail and encountered plenty of segments where the tree cover would significantly compromise the utility of a solar panel.

]]> By: max00 http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478310 max00 Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478310  Keeping one side relatively cool is somewhat important to keeping it working.  Keeping one side relatively cool is somewhat important to keeping it working.

]]> By: GlenBlank http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478299 GlenBlank Mon, 16 Jul 2012 02:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478299 There are lots of places in the developing modern world where people can afford perfectly decent meals, but they cook those meals over wood fires and get respiratory diseases from the wood smoke.   The big cookstove  HUGELY reduces wood smoke pollution, uses the wood much more efficiently,  AND recharges the mobile phones that everyone has due to their countries leapfrogging over land-line tech directly to mobile. You should perhaps update your stereotypes of 'these people.' There are lots of places in the developing modern world where people can afford perfectly decent meals, but they cook those meals over wood fires and get respiratory diseases from the wood smoke.  

The big cookstove  HUGELY reduces wood smoke pollution, uses the wood much more efficiently,  AND recharges the mobile phones that everyone has due to their countries leapfrogging over land-line tech directly to mobile.

You should perhaps update your stereotypes of ‘these people.’

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478284 Antinous / Moderator Mon, 16 Jul 2012 01:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478284 Oh, shit. Am I a zombie and I didn't even notice? Oh, shit. Am I a zombie and I didn’t even notice?

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478271 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478271 Probably better off with a solar power strip.  Strap it to the outside of your pack and your device should be recharged, assuming it is sunny of course, by the time you get into camp.  You'll be out in the sun all day anyway, might as well put it to use. Probably better off with a solar power strip.  Strap it to the outside of your pack and your device should be recharged, assuming it is sunny of course, by the time you get into camp.  You’ll be out in the sun all day anyway, might as well put it to use.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478269 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478269 Go read about places like Kenya where food isn't the issue, reliable power is.  People will travel for miles to go to markets where they can pay to recharge their phone.  People in these countries have jumped straight to cell phones because they never got rural phone lines but they never got many power lines either. Go read about places like Kenya where food isn’t the issue, reliable power is.  People will travel for miles to go to markets where they can pay to recharge their phone.  People in these countries have jumped straight to cell phones because they never got rural phone lines but they never got many power lines either.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478267 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478267 Even the home model could use some modifications to make it more practical.  Instead of just a usb power port I'd add two simple +/- terminals so you could jury rig a connection to anything.  Maybe you could connect it to the battery terminals of a device that has no usb power input.  It wouldn't be much power but it would be something. Even the home model could use some modifications to make it more practical.  Instead of just a usb power port I’d add two simple +/- terminals so you could jury rig a connection to anything.  Maybe you could connect it to the battery terminals of a device that has no usb power input.  It wouldn’t be much power but it would be something.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478265 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478265 Yes, not having a cell phone equals certain death. Yes, not having a cell phone equals certain death.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2012/07/15/camp-stove-generates-electrici.html#comment-1478264 SomeGuyNamedMark Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=171256#comment-1478264 Pretty extreme reaction for someone who supposedly doesn't care what others think. Pretty extreme reaction for someone who supposedly doesn’t care what others think.

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