Comments on: Sandy: charging phones with wood stoves http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 21:52:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575906 wrybread Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575906 Your snark is deeply misplaced. Having just returned from NYC where there was a total blackout in all of lower Manhattan but still cell reception if you found the right spot, I'll tell you that yes, absolutely, cell reception is pure survival. Its a link to tell people you're ok, to find out information about what's going on, when you'll get power back, how your friends are doing, and conceivably to get help if you or someone needs it, etc. Your snark is deeply misplaced. Having just returned from NYC where there was a total blackout in all of lower Manhattan but still cell reception if you found the right spot, I’ll tell you that yes, absolutely, cell reception is pure survival. Its a link to tell people you’re ok, to find out information about what’s going on, when you’ll get power back, how your friends are doing, and conceivably to get help if you or someone needs it, etc.

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575905 wrybread Wed, 07 Nov 2012 08:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575905 Out of curiosity, have you confirmed that it works well? I bought one, don't remember the brand name, and its absolutely pathetic. I can leave it on my dashboard in full sun that would cook a potato and it takes a full week to charge. And are you sure that it works on cloudy days? That would make it the only solar panel I've ever heard of that does... I went on a long bike ride with a couple of thousand people who were using these things (the AIDS Lifecycle bike ride from SF to LA) last year, and in talking to lots of people who had them, it seems that none of the ones with integrated batteries would charge the batteries in any reasonable amount of time (i.e. less than two days in full California summer sun). What got the best reviews were the somewhat larger panels that plugged directly into the cellphone. Out of curiosity, have you confirmed that it works well? I bought one, don’t remember the brand name, and its absolutely pathetic. I can leave it on my dashboard in full sun that would cook a potato and it takes a full week to charge.

And are you sure that it works on cloudy days? That would make it the only solar panel I’ve ever heard of that does…

I went on a long bike ride with a couple of thousand people who were using these things (the AIDS Lifecycle bike ride from SF to LA) last year, and in talking to lots of people who had them, it seems that none of the ones with integrated batteries would charge the batteries in any reasonable amount of time (i.e. less than two days in full California summer sun). What got the best reviews were the somewhat larger panels that plugged directly into the cellphone.

]]> By: James Hardy http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575413 James Hardy Tue, 06 Nov 2012 19:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575413 I assume AGW is Anthropogenic Global Warming. If so then I have to tell you that burning wood doesn't particularly affect the net carbon in the air, since it is made from the CO2 in the air captured in photosynthesis, so you just end up returning the CO2 that was in the air a few years ago when the wood grew. The big problem is the fossil fuels, that returns the CO2 to the air from the Carboniferous period (when the earth was much hotter and giant amphibians roamed the earth). The hand crank would also release CO2 (from respiration), but again not a net contributor since it comes from what you eat which ultimately comes from CO2 captured in the fairly recent past I assume AGW is Anthropogenic Global Warming. If so then I have to tell you that burning wood doesn’t particularly affect the net carbon in the air, since it is made from the CO2 in the air captured in photosynthesis, so you just end up returning the CO2 that was in the air a few years ago when the wood grew. The big problem is the fossil fuels, that returns the CO2 to the air from the Carboniferous period (when the earth was much hotter and giant amphibians roamed the earth).

The hand crank would also release CO2 (from respiration), but again not a net contributor since it comes from what you eat which ultimately comes from CO2 captured in the fairly recent past

]]> By: sarahnocal http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575356 sarahnocal Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575356  Did you see that she said even a cloudy day will charge it?  Did you see that she said even a cloudy day will charge it?

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575307 wrybread Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575307 Isn't it still flotsam if it floated to shore, but has ceased floating? It really is astounding how much of that there is by the way, especially along the East River. There's a distinct high water line formed by construction debris, most of which would burn nicely. And to Saranocal: I've used a hand crank gizmo to make power before, and they're also inefficient, and the problem with its brand of inefficiency is that you have to sit there cranking a dial instead of warming yourself to a nice flame and chit chatting over hot drinks... But don't get me wrong, I'd love to have one of those too. Isn’t it still flotsam if it floated to shore, but has ceased floating?

It really is astounding how much of that there is by the way, especially along the East River. There’s a distinct high water line formed by construction debris, most of which would burn nicely.

And to Saranocal: I’ve used a hand crank gizmo to make power before, and they’re also inefficient, and the problem with its brand of inefficiency is that you have to sit there cranking a dial instead of warming yourself to a nice flame and chit chatting over hot drinks… But don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have one of those too.

]]> By: anansi133 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575246 anansi133 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575246  Mummies, OTOH, burn quite nicely once you get them started.  Mummies, OTOH, burn quite nicely once you get them started.

]]> By: anansi133 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575243 anansi133 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575243  if it's jetsam, then it may have washed ashore and possibly dried out. Flotsam would definitely be pretty wet since it's still floating.  if it’s jetsam, then it may have washed ashore and possibly dried out. Flotsam would definitely be pretty wet since it’s still floating.

]]> By: sarahnocal http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575238 sarahnocal Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575238  Really? So you don't think that a hand crank charger is infinitely better? http://www.21st-century-goods.com/categories/Hand-Crank/Hand-Crank-Cell-Phone-Chargers/  Really? So you don’t think that a hand crank charger is infinitely better?

http://www.21st-century-goods.com/categories/Hand-Crank/Hand-Crank-Cell-Phone-Chargers/

]]> By: Mladen Kalinic http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575234 Mladen Kalinic Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575234 Charging phones.... that's pure survival by anyone's standard Charging phones…. that’s pure survival by anyone’s standard

]]> By: sarahnocal http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575233 sarahnocal Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575233 And you are the people that do believe in AGW, right? And this is a reasonable solution to you? Open burning of wood to charge a CELL PHONE??? YOu all do know you can get solar cell phone chargers, or even HAND CRANK ones, right? http://www.21st-century-goods.com/categories/Hand-Crank/Hand-Crank-Cell-Phone-Chargers/ And you are the people that do believe in AGW, right? And this is a reasonable solution to you? Open burning of wood to charge a CELL PHONE???
YOu all do know you can get solar cell phone chargers, or even HAND CRANK ones, right?
http://www.21st-century-goods.com/categories/Hand-Crank/Hand-Crank-Cell-Phone-Chargers/

]]> By: dwig http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575125 dwig Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575125 To clarify on the BioLight -- I believe it does have a battery to run the fan. Once it's going, the battery recharges and extra power is used to power the USB out port. You can also run it in reverse -- plugging it in to a power source to charge the battery prior to use. (I just got one recently and found that the fan worked out of the box. I have not had a chance to try it in the real world yet, though.) To clarify on the BioLight — I believe it does have a battery to run the fan. Once it’s going, the battery recharges and extra power is used to power the USB out port. You can also run it in reverse — plugging it in to a power source to charge the battery prior to use. (I just got one recently and found that the fan worked out of the box. I have not had a chance to try it in the real world yet, though.)

]]> By: Guillaume Filion http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575111 Guillaume Filion Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575111  AFAIK, there's no battery in the BioLite, it's just a fan and some electronics powered by a thermocouple.  AFAIK, there’s no battery in the BioLite, it’s just a fan and some electronics powered by a thermocouple.

]]> By: huskerdont http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575105 huskerdont Tue, 06 Nov 2012 14:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575105 Looks like something out of a William Gibson or Bruce Sterling novel. Looks like something out of a William Gibson or Bruce Sterling novel.

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575051 acerplatanoides Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575051  zombies are too soggy to burn without adding liquid fuel  zombies are too soggy to burn without adding liquid fuel

]]> By: Alteris http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575047 Alteris Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575047 but thats only if the Biolights batteries are charged right? "USB Cord (for internal battery charging)"  but thats only if the Biolights batteries are charged right? “USB Cord (for internal battery charging)” 

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575041 acerplatanoides Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575041 National Guard got served. Coffee.  National Guard got served. Coffee. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575034 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 06 Nov 2012 07:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575034 Isn't jetsam, let alone flotsam, generally too wet to burn? Isn’t jetsam, let alone flotsam, generally too wet to burn?

]]> By: wrybread http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1575020 wrybread Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1575020 I'm not sure what exactly your point is, but if its that burning wood is an inefficient way to generate power, let me tell you as someone who's STILL stuck in NYC after Sandy that there's *plenty* of wood to burn all over the street. Both of the flotsam and jetsam variety. In other words, efficiency really doesn't matter much in this type of situation. This is such a brilliant idea it almost brings a tear to my eye. The Solar 1 Club on the East River was also kicking some serious phone charging booty after the storm, even though there wasn't a whole lot of sun to go around: http://www.solar1.org/ I’m not sure what exactly your point is, but if its that burning wood is an inefficient way to generate power, let me tell you as someone who’s STILL stuck in NYC after Sandy that there’s *plenty* of wood to burn all over the street. Both of the flotsam and jetsam variety. In other words, efficiency really doesn’t matter much in this type of situation.

This is such a brilliant idea it almost brings a tear to my eye.

The Solar 1 Club on the East River was also kicking some serious phone charging booty after the storm, even though there wasn’t a whole lot of sun to go around:

http://www.solar1.org/

]]> By: j9c http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574930 j9c Tue, 06 Nov 2012 04:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574930 Oooh contraire! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_13" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_13</a> Wait, sorry that's just uranium ore. Edit: URL looks weird when I post. Here's the same from an URL-shortening utility: <a href="http://socuteurl.com/bubblywoofwoozers" rel="nofollow">http://socuteurl.com/bubblywoofwoozers</a> Oooh contraire!
http://www.amazon.com/Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_13

Wait, sorry that’s just uranium ore.

Edit: URL looks weird when I post. Here’s the same from an URL-shortening utility: http://socuteurl.com/bubblywoofwoozers

]]> By: Nicky G http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574880 Nicky G Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574880 While I managed to get out of NYC on one of the last trains out of there on Sunday afternoon, this is precisely the reason why I got a dynamo on my Brompton folding bicycle along with iDevice charging system plugged into said dynamo. I was thinking more along the lines of "Angry Birds during zombie apocalypse," but this is also a good scenario. While I managed to get out of NYC on one of the last trains out of there on Sunday afternoon, this is precisely the reason why I got a dynamo on my Brompton folding bicycle along with iDevice charging system plugged into said dynamo. I was thinking more along the lines of “Angry Birds during zombie apocalypse,” but this is also a good scenario.

]]> By: knappa http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574868 knappa Tue, 06 Nov 2012 02:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574868 It took until Sunday or so for us to get a clear sunny day after the hurricane. It took until Sunday or so for us to get a clear sunny day after the hurricane.

]]> By: spocko http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574835 spocko Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574835 1.21 gigawatts! Great Scott!  Marty: Doc, you don't just walk into a store and-and buy plutonium. 1.21 gigawatts! Great Scott! 
Marty: Doc, you don’t just walk into a store and-and buy plutonium.

]]> By: BarBarSeven http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574832 BarBarSeven Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574832 In some neighborhoods in NYC right now folks are comparing the walls of trash to the piles that faced Wall-E in his eponymous film.  Also some folks are so powerless in the aftermath of the storm they are burning furniture for heat. The future is… NOW! In some neighborhoods in NYC right now folks are comparing the walls of trash to the piles that faced Wall-E in his eponymous film.  Also some folks are so powerless in the aftermath of the storm they are burning furniture for heat.

The future is… NOW!

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574826 nixiebunny Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574826 They're doing that already, using the charging exercycles built for Occupy Wall Street. They’re doing that already, using the charging exercycles built for Occupy Wall Street.

]]> By: Michael Smith http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574820 Michael Smith Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574820 Okay I am impressed. My phone charger outputs 700mA at 5.1V Thanks. Okay I am impressed. My phone charger outputs 700mA at 5.1V

Thanks.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574815 travtastic Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574815 They should use this other thing I have heard of and/or used! Inefficient hipsters! They should use this other thing I have heard of and/or used! Inefficient hipsters!

]]> By: adralien http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574809 adralien Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574809  Ask and you shall receive... their website under tech specs for the camp version: Max continuous: 2W @5V, Peak: 4W @5V. So 400mA continuous and 800mA if you can get it snorting. Good enough for most phones.  Ask and you shall receive… their website under tech specs for the camp version: Max continuous: 2W @5V, Peak: 4W @5V. So 400mA continuous and 800mA if you can get it snorting. Good enough for most phones.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574810 Antinous / Moderator Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574810 Not even close to the temperature of Mercury. Phoenix has only been 91° for the last two days. We've been 95°. Not even close to the temperature of Mercury. Phoenix has only been 91° for the last two days. We’ve been 95°.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574806 Donald Petersen Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574806 I've been expecting the Professor and Gilligan to have rigged up a dynamo attached to a bamboo exercycle to charge New Yorkers' phones (and heathfully burn off them calories to boot).  Has the technology since regressed from that of the typical 1960s castaway? I’ve been expecting the Professor and Gilligan to have rigged up a dynamo attached to a bamboo exercycle to charge New Yorkers’ phones (and heathfully burn off them calories to boot).  Has the technology since regressed from that of the typical 1960s castaway?

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/11/05/sandy-charging-phones-with-wo.html#comment-1574803 ocker3 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=192348#comment-1574803  I've just bought a solar-powered phone charger (with one of just about every type of connector included) from Energizer, it even works on cloudy days, and everything fits inside a ziplock back that came with it. I don't normally go camping long enough to need this if I've charged my phone, but for extended trips or days where I was caught out, it looks nice.  I’ve just bought a solar-powered phone charger (with one of just about every type of connector included) from Energizer, it even works on cloudy days, and everything fits inside a ziplock back that came with it. I don’t normally go camping long enough to need this if I’ve charged my phone, but for extended trips or days where I was caught out, it looks nice.

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