Cycling UK Forum

When going camping for a few days, how do people charge their GPS units and mobile phones? I searched these boards and found mention of a power monkey which needs to be plugged in, a solar device but the sun never shines for long when I'm out cycling and I've been to Millets and was offered something where you have to pull a string repeatedly for five minutes to get ten minutes talk time on the phone. I can manage without my phone but navigating without my GPS device would feel almost alien to me now. What to others use?

I have a battery pack like the one in this listing http://stores.channeladvisor.com/newsou ... U-BU-CU-TK
It holds four AA batteries

I also do top-up charges in cafes and pubs!

My mobile will last for a few days on a full charge anyway - more so if I turn it off some of the time. If I was away long enough then I would ask a nearby camper/van on hook up if I could charge it, or take it to the washroom (often sockets for hair dryers) or ask in the reception. Though a couple of spare charged batteries are probably lighter and more compact than a charger anyway.

For things like GPS and camera, well ours all run on AA's. Our GPS hasn't been cycle camping yet, but I'm guessing it'd last a couple of days? The camera tends to get through a set of batteries about every 3 days on holiday I think. so for a trip of say upto a week I'd just try to pack enough charged AA NiMH batteries to last us the week, I can always buy some alkaline or Lithium AA batteries if necessary.

Beyond that I'd look to taking a small battery charger and using that as above.

If using a hub dynamo, then using that in the day to charge stuff seems a possibility. A quick Google pops up a few possibilities

I take a GPS that runs on AA, a fistful of charged spares, and a small charger that I use if/when I get to a campsite with an available power point. I've not been reduced to buying duracells yet. The camera also runs on AA.
I don't take a phone, so no problem there.

Thanks for the suggestions. My camera is an EOS digital which only takes it's own battery, my GPS is a Gramin Edge which only takes it's own battery but maybe I can do without my phone I'll probably buty the charger, get what I can from cafes and receptions but if the worst comes to the worst I could always spend a night every few days in a YHAS or B&B!!

I don't have a GPS, the phone I arrange to switch on between set times every night, eg 7 to 8pm. Like that the battery should last 2-3 weeks.
I tour to get away from the 21st century!

Power Monkey do an Explorer kit which includes a battery pack unit which will charge my mobile phone twice at least and my iPod and other stuff including AA or AA batteries in a seperate unit. It come with a Solar panel to recharge the main unit, loads of connectors (more are available to suit almost any gadget) and a mains charger to get the unit fully topped off at home. The only problem is it does not have enough power to charge certain phones, although it does most. My SE 902i charges perfectly.

John Lewis do a solar charger that does most phones and iPods. I'm thinking of one for my next trip.

it's called "Solio Universal Hybrid Charger"

a friend has one and says they are very good.

If you want to go solar then this would be a good bet http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=227205. Because you can charge it up before you leave and then it will be fully charged for when you are ready for the first use. It will charge anything that will plug into a USB connector to charge + loads of phone connectors. You do not need to worry to much about the sun being out as any form of sun light will work, but strong sun light is better. You would need to make sure it can always see day light so it is charging the internal battery while you are cycling. Put it in a clear plastic bag on your rack would be perfect.

It really depends on how long you are going for and how long you stuff runs for with out being charged and whether you need to use it all the time. Personal I would just take my phone which will last for about 4 days and I use it a lot at work.

All the best.

Peter

Hub dynamo......

bridge rectifier..

voltage regulator....

simples.......

If you go down the hub dynamo hub route, you may also want to limit the current just in case. It is do able, but it would be a little expensive unless you already have a hub