Altoids Battery Backup Supply - Captivate Accessories

I am now taking orders for these.
Send me a pm stating that you would like to order one and what exactly you would like, I have the options posted below. I will order the materials as soon as 10 people have said that they will take one. Being unemployed I can't order the parts before I have confirmed buyers. I won't take any money from you until I have the parts in hand, I just need a pm saying you will buy one.
Options:
Circuit and Battery Holder (No Case) - $25
Circuit, Battery Holder with Case - $27
Circuit, Battery Holder with Case and Installation - $30
Shipping:
USPS Flat Rate - $5
Any other method will have the price calculated at the time of shipping. The weight is less than two ounces if you would like to estimate costs.
USPS first class to Los Angeles is between $0.75 - $1.15
Potential Options:
Solar Powered with Lithium Battery - $85
I have not tested this yet. If someone would like it I can build it but beware that charging with solar could take a long time.
Lithium without solar - $55
Charging would be done with any usb mini charger.
As of right now, Paypal would be the best way to pay. Just send me a PM if your interested and I will give you my Paypal email.
I've attached some pictures of the semi-finished product. I used scotch tape and a folded index card to secure the circuit temporarily while any shipped versions will use double-sided tape and solder.
It will work with rechargeable or alkaline batteries. After testing using two batteries, it just does not have enough capacity to really make carrying this around worthwhile. With two rechargeable batteries it only provided 30-40% of a full charge. So, unless specifically requested, the design will now be done with three batteries.

Hmmm, probably not a device you want to leave in your pocket when boarding a plane!

G35tr said:
Hmmm, probably not a device you want to leave in your pocket when boarding a plane!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you would have a problem as long as you don't try to hide it. Worst case they would want to x-ray it and make you hook it up to verify what it is.
Typos and other gibberish courtesy of Swype

So wait, turn an altoids tin into a USB charger?
2 AA batteries can charge the phone to capacity? Any idea how many times?

gunnyman said:
So wait, turn an altoids tin into a USB charger?
2 AA batteries can charge the phone to capacity? Any idea how many times?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. This is essentially a USB power source for whatever you need it for. It is capable of providing up to 500mA of current. So any device that demands more than that will not work. For our phones, that just means it charges slower than the wall wart but the same speed as a USB port on your computer.
I put some of the math up in the first post. Theoretically it could charge it 1 time but I have a feeling it is about 60-75% of the capacity. I'm testing that theory today.
So far, it has taken the phone from 40% to 63% in 50 minutes. I'll see where it stops and add that to the first post.

gunnyman said:
So wait, turn an altoids tin into a USB charger?
2 AA batteries can charge the phone to capacity? Any idea how many times?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the original developer and kit:
http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/
Basically you are converting 3V to ~5V. If you use 2-2500mAH batteries then you wind up with enough juice to charge the phone about 2/3 of the way (67%).
check out the FAQ on the link above.

Is there room for 4 batteries in the case, rather than 2? I have a good amount of NiMH AAs that I wouldn't mind using, but keeping 4 might let me get more run time between charges.

jdsemler said:
Is there room for 4 batteries in the case, rather than 2? I have a good amount of NiMH AAs that I wouldn't mind using, but keeping 4 might let me get more run time between charges.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is definitely possible to fit four batteries. I have changed the default design to use a set of three batteries but I do have a two battery holder left that I can use for those people who want to carry an extra set of batteries.
I can't make one with a four battery holder because if someone put alkalines in it, it could fry the chip.

hockeyrcks9901 said:
It is definitely possible to fit four batteries. I have changed the default design to use a set of three batteries but I do have a two battery holder left that I can use for those people who want to carry an extra set of batteries.
I can't make one with a four battery holder because if someone put alkalines in it, it could fry the chip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is that? Do you mean if someone tried to charge the alkalinene batteries through the chip?
If you wired series pairs in parallel so you had 3 volts and 5000 mah would that work?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Does the price include the Altoids mints? j/k Cool idea.

Dani897 said:
Why is that? Do you mean if someone tried to charge the alkalinene batteries through the chip?
If you wired series pairs in parallel so you had 3 volts and 5000 mah would that work?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would fry the chip if four alkaline were put in series. It is possible to do two sets of series in parallel but putting batteries in parallel is very risky. If you replace the batteries with ones that are not perfectly matched, the batteries may be severely damaged and can even "explode". So I'm not going to risk damaging anyone's phone by putting batteries in parallel.
With my tin, I carry an extra set of batteries in the tin and change them when they get low.
back2honda said:
Does the price include the Altoids mints? j/k Cool idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If someone wants them, I have no issue sticking them in a zip-lock but I can't guarantee the safety if eating them after the seal on the package has been broken.

Added an option for lithium without solar and edited shipping costs.
Typos and other gibberish courtesy of Swype

Related

Portable Rechargeable Charger

I am not a big fan of extra batteries. The idea of doing a battery pull and replace another is not pleasing.
I got a rechargeable charger at Best Buy, an Energizer charger for $19.99. Provides 6 hours of talk time. They also have a $39.99 charger for 12 hours of talk time.
I find this to be a great alternative for extra batteries.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Those are certainly good options which don't require you to reboot or buy a charger to charge your batteries. Luckily the Evo boots much quicker than the Pre.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk
I picked up a 5,000 mAh dual USB charger at Costco for $15. I don't know why it was so cheap (it will completely charge my phone ~3 times). It was a few months ago so YMMV.
any idea who makes this? I have a 2000 mAh one, but would like a bigger one.
gthing said:
I picked up a 5,000 mAh dual USB charger at Costco for $15. I don't know why it was so cheap (it will completely charge my phone ~3 times). It was a few months ago so YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found one by Brando http://usb.brando.com/usb-power-station-5-000mah-_p01468c035d15.html
Found this on ebay looks like a knockoff of the brando http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...370391817008&ff4=263602_263622#ht_3088wt_1137
I've been using this forever:
http://www.amazon.com/New-IMP500-Ge...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1276186919&sr=8-9
I use it on all of my electronics and it holds a charge for weeks in between use
I just found out they have an 8800mAh one - just ordered that sucker!
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-IMP880-Generation-External/dp/B002YFDRHW/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_a
rutter9 said:
I've been using this forever:
http://www.amazon.com/New-IMP500-Ge...9?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1276186919&sr=8-9
I use it on all of my electronics and it holds a charge for weeks in between use
I just found out they have an 8800mAh one - just ordered that sucker!
http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-IMP880-Generation-External/dp/B002YFDRHW/ref=pd_bxgy_e_img_a
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that 8800mAh one is kick ass.
lol but i'll settle with my Energizer one. Used my Best Buy gift card when I pre-ordered the Evo.
But these are definitely better than extra batteries IMHO.
Is there any place that has these things(either the 5000 or 8800 maH) in a store like best buy or something because I'm not a fan of buying off the internet
kenny111008 said:
Is there any place that has these things(either the 5000 or 8800 maH) in a store like best buy or something because I'm not a fan of buying off the internet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure you can find one somewhere. Just not the Trent Imax brand most likely. You can get energizer ones at BB.
i know i went to best buy and looked at the energizer 2000 maH one for 39.99 but for anyone that has it how much does it recharge your battery? because when i had my G1 the porrtable charger only filled it up about 30%(im talking about the portable charger sold at t-mobile)
I bought the IMP880 portable charger, 8900 mAh. I like it, although I haven't really used it much yet. But it should in theory be able to charge my phone about 5 times. It's not very big, or to heavy (to me) but it does have some heft. I wear cargo pants, so I just keep it in a pocket with me where ever I go.
kenny111008 said:
i know i went to best buy and looked at the energizer 2000 maH one for 39.99 but for anyone that has it how much does it recharge your battery? because when i had my G1 the porrtable charger only filled it up about 30%(im talking about the portable charger sold at t-mobile)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would charge it a little over 1 time. How come you don't buy things online? Generally you pay about 40% extra at stores.
mistersquirrle said:
I bought the IMP880 portable charger, 8900 mAh. I like it, although I haven't really used it much yet. But it should in theory be able to charge my phone about 5 times. It's not very big, or to heavy (to me) but it does have some heft. I wear cargo pants, so I just keep it in a pocket with me where ever I go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
does the IMP880 come with a microUSB adapter as part of the original package or is that something that has to be bought separately off New Trent's website?
nimshy said:
does the IMP880 come with a microUSB adapter as part of the original package or is that something that has to be bought separately off New Trent's website?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aw crap, I wrote up a reply to this earlier today on my phone, and then before I submitted it I did something, and my internet task got killed forgot about it. Yes it does come with a microUSB adapter (as well as a miniUSB and a USB splitter, and some proprietary thingy). There are 2 outputs (USB and D/C out) and one input (D/C in for charging). There's one hard button, for power or to check the power level (have to hold down on the power buttron for 4 seconds to turn it on/off), and 4 tiered power LEDs for power level.
There's a USB cable that comes with the charger is a special one that the other end is a female plug and the micro, mini, and proprietary adapter things are male, and so are interchangeable with the cord that comes with the charger, although the data cable that comes with the phone will work, and mine is actually longer than the cable that came with the phone (if that matters)
rutter9 said:
I've been using this forever:
New Trent IMP-500 5000mah - Amazon link removed
I use it on all of my electronics and it holds a charge for weeks in between use
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly added this to my Amazon cart last week when it was $33. It went up to $43 in a couple days and I unfortunately pulled the trigger at the higher price. Looking forward to getting this in the mail today. I'll monitor the price over the next couple of weeks so I could hopefully request a credit from Amazon.
This is what i use http://store.goal0.com/index.php?p=product&id=12 , may be a little overkill but it gets the job done, I can charge my phone almost 50 times from empty to full... its also great for laptops, and small microwaves(j/k) kinda pricey but well worth it if you find yourself in the middle at the bottom of the grand canyon a lot, or the middle of the Atlantic ocean....
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I have one of the energizer ones, It never does a "Full" charge to the phone, it tops it off to about 60-70% and then when the phone dies some more, it will have a little more juice to give the phone. Not exactly as advertised, but I keep it in the car for an emergency battery so it works great for that, and for note I dont have the 19.99 energizer one I have the bigger more expensive one. Also, they are put together worse then most remotes, I split mine within a week from just dropping it into the door pocket of the car.
DINLONG said:
any idea who makes this? I have a 2000 mAh one, but would like a bigger one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here it is: http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop...TF8&s=electronics&qid=1277406229&sr=1-2-spell
Specs:
Input: DC 5.0V 500mA/1A
Output: DC 5.0V 500Ax2
Built-in Li-ion Battery 3.7V/5000mAh(19Wh)
For use with Adaptor KBC L2ADU only
I don't know if it has been discontinued or what - it's not easy to find online. $46.99 is also much more than what I spent.
This one looks awesome though: http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-IMP880-External-Battery/dp/B002YFDRHW
I've used this unit for years now -
http://www.amazon.com/APC-UPB10-Uni...1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1277431415&sr=8-1-fkmr0
works great, and usuallly charges my phones fully twice..
-mark
pinkxpinkii said:
I am not a big fan of extra batteries. The idea of doing a battery pull and replace another is not pleasing.
I got a rechargeable charger at Best Buy, an Energizer charger for $19.99. Provides 6 hours of talk time. They also have a $39.99 charger for 12 hours of talk time.
I find this to be a great alternative for extra batteries.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have this: http://www.buy.com/prod/motorola-p7...k/q/listingid/76445460/loc/111/203472669.html
It doesn't hold that much power, but it's cheap and convenient. Enough for one charge, or somewhere close to it. I also have a little mini to micro USB adapter, as the charger itself has a mini port.

Batteries/Chargers (Portable, Car, AC, etc...)

The Nitro battery is model number BL-49kh. Not many cheap OEM options out there right now, but an "official" spare can be purchased from AT&T store:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-ph...ssoryBucket&q_sku=sku5520227#fbid=aQi6sm_4Fs8
Here's a few charger options...
Portable Chargers
Duracell Portable USB Charger
Car Chargers
Motorola Vehicle Rapid Charger
Kensington HIGH Current car charger
Hybrid Chargers
Boxwave AC/Car/Airplane USB Charger
More charging options
Alright, it seems the Ebay seller "smarthan" has some good deals on batteries and standalone battery chargers.
Official P930 battery + microUSB cable + standalone battery charger for $30
and
Official P930 battery for $15
red_solo_cup said:
Alright, it seems the Ebay seller "smarthan" has some good deals on batteries and standalone battery chargers.
Official P930 battery + microUSB cable + standalone battery charger for $30
and
Official P930 battery for $15
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's looking good...i like the bundle one. I definitely will need a spare battery n battery charger
dose anyone know if they have a stand alone wall charger for the batterys if i was to buy a few extra i have found my self at times away from home for days and my car can never keep the charging to a nice level
tokie_ said:
dose anyone know if they have a stand alone wall charger for the batterys if i was to buy a few extra i have found my self at times away from home for days and my car can never keep the charging to a nice level
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Tokie, for your car, u can use something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Universal-Car-Charger-Pc-2ca/dp/B004YZI1T4
One of the ports will have a 1.5amp output and will suffice to charge your battery quickly.
And if you have a tablet or wanna go ultra crazy in charging your battery n burning it U can use something like this:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364269
That one has a 2.1amp output as well, enough power to burn a hole in your phone's battery LOL!!
aquariuz23 said:
Well Tokie, for your car, u can use something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Energizer-Universal-Car-Charger-Pc-2ca/dp/B004YZI1T4
One of the ports will have a 1.5amp output and will suffice to charge your battery quickly.
And if you have a tablet or wanna go ultra crazy in charging your battery n burning it U can use something like this:
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0364269
That one has a 2.1amp output as well, enough power to burn a hole in your phone's battery LOL!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill let youknow once it comes in lol 2.1amps haha will my incuerence cover that in case of a fire
I use 2.1 amp in the car and it charges pretty fast even while streaming spotify or radio through bluetooth with screen off. It helps to get through a day of heavy usage without swapping a baterry.
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda premium
For those of you who are getting an external battery charger, will you let me know if it manages to charge the batteries to 100%? I currently use a universal battery charger, which worked great for my other phone batteries (would charge them quickly and fully, so when I popped them into my phone, it showed 100%), but for whatever reason, when I try to externally charge my Nitro's battery, no matter how long I leave it or put it back on the charger, it will only reach 88% or so. Then I have to fill up the rest by putting the battery in the phone and charging through USB. I know it's not my battery (I have two, and they both do it), so I'm just curious if other external battery chargers might be better. Let me know if it works for you! If it does I'll get whatever kind you have. I'd be super grateful, thanks!
I'm getting a legit LG battery charger specifically for the nitro. It'll take me about 2 weeks to get it (coming from LG itself in Korea) but when it gets here I'll try it n will let u know how it goes.
Sent from my LG-P930 using XDA App
itiskonrad said:
For those of you who are getting an external battery charger, will you let me know if it manages to charge the batteries to 100%? I currently use a universal battery charger, which worked great for my other phone batteries (would charge them quickly and fully, so when I popped them into my phone, it showed 100%), but for whatever reason, when I try to externally charge my Nitro's battery, no matter how long I leave it or put it back on the charger, it will only reach 88% or so. Then I have to fill up the rest by putting the battery in the phone and charging through USB. I know it's not my battery (I have two, and they both do it), so I'm just curious if other external battery chargers might be better. Let me know if it works for you! If it does I'll get whatever kind you have. I'd be super grateful, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Btw Itiskonrad, where did you get your batteries from? Is it from that ebay seller or you got it from somewhere else? Just curious, cuz I've been searching everywhere, but nobody else sells it but that guy.
aquariuz23 said:
Btw Itiskonrad, where did you get your batteries from? Is it from that ebay seller or you got it from somewhere else? Just curious, cuz I've been searching everywhere, but nobody else sells it but that guy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ordered 1 extra battery AND the battery/batterycharger/cable from the ebay seller I mentioned earlier.
The batteries seem legit, they last just as long and have identical plastic casings. However, the two batteries I bought from ebay have a different sticker/label on them. They do not have the "FCC" markings on them or any other american legalese on them.
As far as the charger goes, it works great. I carry a battery in my wallet, one in the phone, and one in my backpack. I really like the peace of mind!
I also got mine from that Ebay seller. I'm confident it's legit. The build is identical, and it maintains charge and behaves exactly the same as the one that came with my phone. It's just probably the battery for the Asian Optimus lte, hence no fcc and different labeling. I'm not worried, and I'm pretty careful about batteries.
@red solo cup, do you know if the charger manages to bring the battery to 100%, ie, when you pop it in the phone and turn it on, do the battery stats actually say 100? My current charger brings it to around 90%, which is not bad, but if I'm going to buy another charger, I'd like it to max out the battery completely =) Thanks!
I have not checked Battery Monitor Widget immediately after putting in the battery, so I cannot absolutely confirm that the battery charges to 100%. However, I have noticed that the battery in the notification area was completely full, including the little "nub" on the left of it.
I will check this out when I get back from work tonight.
If the nub's full, it's at least at 95% I'm pretty sure.
Damn, I don't mind getting it from him, but he posted that it will take almost 20 days to a month for the item to get to me! That's frigging much too long for shipping something overseas. Things I get in China or HK doesn't even go beyond 2 weeks the longest.
red_solo_cup said:
I ordered 1 extra battery AND the battery/batterycharger/cable from the ebay seller I mentioned earlier.
The batteries seem legit, they last just as long and have identical plastic casings. However, the two batteries I bought from ebay have a different sticker/label on them. They do not have the "FCC" markings on them or any other american legalese on them.
As far as the charger goes, it works great. I carry a battery in my wallet, one in the phone, and one in my backpack. I really like the peace of mind!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked and the LG charger does indeed charge the battery up to 100%
@aquariuz: I really cannot recall how long shipping took as I ordered the battery on the 15, and the battery+charger on the 21st. I was away for the holidays, but by the time I got back to my place on the 28th they were both in my mailbox.
You're the best! Thanks a bunch! Ordering mine ASAP! =)
24v input
Has anyone found any dual USB (2.1a and 1a) with 12 - 24v input? I run crane and sadly in most of our cranes the Cig Lighter socket is running 24v.
I have a few 12 - 24v input single USB chargers with 1amp out but.. I'd love to find a dual. I have to run my speakers and charge my phone or mp3/RADIO -- seeing as how Optimus doesn't have a FM tuner
keenz said:
Has anyone found any dual USB (2.1a and 1a) with 12 - 24v input? I run crane and sadly in most of our cranes the Cig Lighter socket is running 24v.
I have a few 12 - 24v input single USB chargers with 1amp out but.. I'd love to find a dual. I have to run my speakers and charge my phone or mp3/RADIO -- seeing as how Optimus doesn't have a FM tuner
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found this on amazon. The specifications specifically state: "Input: 12-24V DC; Output: 5.0V DC 2.1Amp" Plus it is only 5.99+free shipping.
I have this and the specs on kensington's website state "Input: 10V-18VDC, Output (30pin/USB): 5VDC-3100mA.", So I assume that will not work.
so if i have to buy a car charger, what is the MAX specs i can use for the LG OPTIMUS LTE?

Best portable battery?

Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with portable battery packs. I don't mean extended batteries either. I mean the universal usb charger kind that packs several thousand mAh.
I'm looking to get one for a nine hour flight, and I want to know what is a good brand.
Luuthian said:
Hi all,
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with portable battery packs. I don't mean extended batteries either. I mean the universal usb charger kind that packs several thousand mAh.
I'm looking to get one for a nine hour flight, and I want to know what is a good brand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't answer your question, but a lot of planes have a USB/charging input now. I know when I fly Air Canada, they have it.
I have had an Energizer XP18000 for about 3 months now and it has surpassed my expectations.
It holds 18000 mAh of power and will charge my Gnex and my Xoom at the same time (need to order a special tip for the Xoom/non standard device). I use it for long train rides to keep my phone topped up.
When watching HD video over 4G my battery level will drop about 1-2% every half hour, so it is not charging as fast as the wall charger, but it is enough to keep you from having a dead battery when you get to your destination. With my usage I can go 3 to 4 days and never need to look at a wall outlet.
The size is about as big as a external hard drive. There is also a wall charger that has a good size power brick in the middle of it. You can remove it when you don't need the wall charger, but I keep everything in one small bag so all I have to do is set it down next to an outlet and top up the external battery, then fold the cord into the bag and pull out what ever cord I need when I am on the move. It works just fine with the original Samsung usb charging cable.
I picked mine up from Amazon but you might be able to find a better deal if you look hard enough. They make a smaller model too that is only 8000 mAh.
I always keep it in my bag and it works so well for me that I don't even need the extended battery and leave 4G on all the time.
http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/products/xp18000/
Beautiful. Thanks Dante. And yeah, I heard some planes have USB chargers now. Unfortunately I'm not flying with them. I live near YVR, but Air Canada is having a bunch of problems with their workers right now. Last thing I need is flight delays or bad service.
I did a ton of research before buying mine. I wanted a pocket sized one, that had large capacity (enough to fully charge the phone twice), and could charge a device at a full 1 amp. After much research, I bought the original version of this one:
http://www.newtrent.com/store/iphone-external-battery/iphone-battery-imp50d.html
Mine has less markings and I believe both ports on mine are 1 amp, where as the new one has one 500mA and one 1A port. Mine was also like $55, this one is on sale for barely over $40, an even better deal.
It is very powerful - 5,000 mAh will charge the phone 3+ times - much bigger than other "pocket batteries", fits in a pocket nicely (I wear cargo pants) because it's skinny, like a deck of cards. Fairly light too. Only complaint is that I bought it before MicroUSB became the new standard, so it charges with miniUSB instead.
I carry a retractable mini-usb cable, and a retractable microUSB cable, in an altoids tin, in in my pocket with it. Works great, can charge my friends phones at the same time as me. Had it for 2 years, still going strong!
There are newer designs they have now too if you look at their website.
It does take a long while to charge - 8 hours to charge fully or so if you charge off a 500mAh USB port, because it's a huge battery! a lot less maybe 4 hours if you charge off a high speed 1A charger.
i was looking at this one http://www.amazon.ca/Anker-8400mAh-...UTF8&coliid=I3IVVC4G6YETK&colid=1ILTNQ88L4FE5
it has a 2amp 5v port, this can charge a transformer prime with the screen off.
I got this one recently:
http://www.amazon.com/Anker-SlimTal..._1_2?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1335035472&sr=1-2
Its (much) smaller than my Nexus, has a built in micro-usb cable, and charges via micro-usb as well. While it doesn't have the capacity of those listed above (only 3200mAh), it was only $20 and the size really does let you take it everywhere.
It can fully charge it the phone from dead about 1.5 times.
I bought mine due mainly to the fact that it includes the micro-usb cable that hides away when not in use. It has a standard USB port as well for charging other items, but the appeal of only having to carry one item and no extra cable sold me.
My only complaint is that the built in cable could be a bit longer.
It has a flashlight too... lol
Been researching this topic lately and found that Anker's 10,000mah external battery is looking the best
Sent from my i9250 (GSM) Galaxy Nexus.
[email protected]
I use the Veho Pebble and it's fine for my needs. I get 2 charges out of it.
after hours of my own research I also bought the Anker Slimtalk. I dont travel enough to need one that is huge and can charge my phone 8 times. This seems small enough to toss in my pocket and not bother me since its so thin and light. For $20 and the convenience of having its built in micro usb cable sounds like a perfect little invention to get me through the day.
If I traveled more I would of probably got the Energizer XP8000. Their tip program is awesome. Free tips for life but really its $2 shipping each. if you want this device to charge a whole bunch of things it can. My Acer netbook, EVO 3D, girlfriends RAZR, 3DS, bluetooth, iPad 2, Nook, and the list goes on. I've been trying to ask New Trent for almost a week if their products would be compatible with the Energizer Tip program but found that contrary to what I've read their customer support is terrible, but their prices are better than energizer. So they loose out on the sale since over the last few times of researching has allowed me to find the Slimtalk which for the price and for my needs is perfect.
Curb71 said:
after hours of my own research I also bought the Anker Slimtalk. I dont travel enough to need one that is huge and can charge my phone 8 times. This seems small enough to toss in my pocket and not bother me since its so thin and light. For $20 and the convenience of having its built in micro usb cable sounds like a perfect little invention to get me through the day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly why I went with it. Even while traveling I'm generally within range of a car or home charger, especially now that pretty much everyone without an iPhone has a micro USB charger somewhere.
I just wish it had a built in AC adapter as well but I'm sure the size would increase by quite a bit. Someone (iGo maybe) makes one like that but it only has about an 1100mah battery if I recall.
I found something here in the Netherlands, and I'm not quite sure if you guys in the US have the same thing..
The thing this has going for it is it's portability. It fits in your pocket, and if you don't mind a big lump in your pockets, it even fits together with your phone.
Click over there <<< to check out the dutch website of duracell. It basically is a battery with a socket plug on it, and 2 USB outlets.
Tech. info:
Output voltage: 5 volts DC
Input voltage: 5 volts DC, max. 1 amp
Capacity: 1800 mAh
Offcourse, this is the dutch version, with the dutch socket plug, but maybe there's an US version as well?
Thanks for all the info here guys. I have that crappy Black and Decker Pocket Power from a few years back, that well, isn't living up to the charge these days, so I need something else.
Still a bit too many options, but I'm sure I'll find one that works the best.

What is your power bank?

Hi All! So this is my first time starting a new thread so I hope I'm doing this right. I couldn't really find a thread specifically for battery banks or battery backups so I thought I'd start one.
I was wondering what is everyone's method of backing up/recharging your battery for your cellphones? For me, the battery that comes with my phone is enough to get me through the day usually and I just charge it every night while I sleep. If I go on trips, I use the Rav Power 10000 mah battery bank. I find this a bit bulky but it works great and lasts many charges before I have to recharge again.
Everyone's taste and preferences are different so I'm seeing what other options are out there that may be lighter in weight. I'm thinking of getting their smaller one, the 5200 mah, and have this in my backpack or car for just in case.
Any mini reviews of what you have would be great :good:
Wow, cool gadgets, I need to get a bank for just-in-case emergencies. Thanks Currently i use a solar powered charger, which is really slow and somethings doesn't work as desired. Looks similar to this http://www.amazon.com/External-Univ...=8-4&keywords=solar+powered+cellphone+charger
Ive bought one at sunsky from china battery about 4000mah, but it was year before, now there is a better.
I used to have a bank that looked like a GBA SP, with foldable screens. In the screens were two solar panels, which charged the battery of, I think, about 2000mAh or something like that. The thing is now broken though. Still looking for a nice (affordable) replacement
Mine is Anker 5600
I use the Belkin 4000, size similar to a ext HDD and look nice, pocketable too
http://www.techhypermart.com/belkin-f8m160ak-portable-battery-pack-4000.html
Charger considerations
Hi,
I need advise for the following:
Charger A (Li-polymer battery) output : 5V, 1A
Charger B (Li-polymer battery) output : 5V, 500mA
Device input: 5V, 750mAH (Li-ion / Li-polymer)
When using Charger A, some people comment that it will limit the current of 750mAH for the device and the device's battery should be fine since both the charger and device are at 5V. However, some people comment that this will shorten the battery life of the device since it will perform a 'quick charge' using 1A.
When using Charger B, some people comment that the device will draw more current than it can deliver and causes it to heat up and reduces the charger's life. However, some people comment that Charger B will extend the battery life of the device since it performs a 'slow charge'.
I also read that USB pins on the charger denotes if the charger is a PC or a dedicated charger. If it is a PC, the device will limit the drawing current. If it is a dedicated charger, the device will draw more current to charge itself.
I am confused as to who is right and which charger should i be using.
Can someone enlighten me ?
Thank you very much.
bought this one from Ebay, has not yet arrived, therefore I cannot tell if its good or not.
but for its price its quite a good bet, 12000mAh for 33 bucks (on sale until tomorrow)
not able to post links, just type w ww. before the following
ebay.com/itm/12000mAh-External-Power-Bank-Battery-Charger-iPhone-3-4S-iPad-3-2-Blackberry-/280947027345
Zagg sparq 2.0 highly recommended
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda premium
I recommend Anker 5600 is very good for that stuff.
Hi, I use choiix power fort 10Wh http://www.coolermaster-usa.com/product.php?product_id=3001 it have 2700mAh and it's small and looks very nice. It can give one full charge for my SGSIII
I went on a trip this year and searched for a good bank, and this showed up.
http://www.sayes.co/20-powerbank.html
I tried it and it was really good, it has lots of adapters and it's cheap =P
I was able to order a RavPower 5600mAh on sale a while back ago, that was posted on slickdeals. here. I am pretty happy with the performance of the little backup, it defiantly gets the job done. My only complaint is that the body gets scratched up easily.
I was comparing the Ravpower and the Anker 5600 and they both look exactly the same except that both are branded with their logos. So I'm wondering if they're from the same manufacturer. Going to have to do some more research. However my current Ravpower power bank I do have is working great and I love this thing for trips.
I'm also thinking of getting a solar one for my 3day emergency/bug out bag. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Green Ranger said:
I was comparing the Ravpower and the Anker 5600 and they both look exactly the same except that both are branded with their logos. So I'm wondering if they're from the same manufacturer. Going to have to do some more research. However my current Ravpower power bank I do have is working great and I love this thing for trips.
I'm also thinking of getting a solar one for my 3day emergency/bug out bag. Thanks for all the suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, can someone please let me know if they are the exact same manufactuers, except for the company logos on them? I am deciding between the two. Also, what do you guys think of their 2600maH stick version? Which manufactuer would you go for over the other and why? I am very interested.
I'm using a "Scosche SolBAT II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger" which I bought off Amazon for something ridiculous like $15 last year.
I bought it for hiking mostly as an emergency charger. I use a Huawei phone as a GPS out in the wilderness, and the GPS app (Androzic) is quite power intensive. I have also used the same device on an iPhone and an iPod touch. The Huawei phone will receive a full charge from this battery, but the iDevices will only go to around 75%.
The solar cell on the back of the battery isn't all that efficient and will take about two days to charge the internal battery, but having it there gives you more options should an emergency occur while in the wilderness. A half hour charging in full sunlight would provide enough power for a short call or a couple of texts to family or emergency services.
The device comes with suction cups and a small carabiner, so it can be stuck to the inside of your car window or clipped to the back of your rucksack. The device is lighter and smaller than the average smartphone and can be fully charged by USB in about three hours. Interestingly, the device has a LOT of bad reviews on Amazon, so maybe they simply sent me a good one.
I also have a very cheap and nasty handcrank USB charger from dealextreme which can be used to add a bit of juice to the solar battery pack at night or in cloudy weather or can directly charge the phone in an emergency. It's a little flimsy and takes a fair bit of cranking to get enough juice for even one call, but it weighs nothing, cost about $2 and is cheap insurance out in the boonies.
My list of power equipment for the phone/GPS and the iPod Touch for a multi-day walk are as follows:
Short Micro USB cable x 1
iPod USB cable x 1
Scosche SolBAT II battery/charger with alloy carabiner
DX hand crank battery charger
Total weight is less than 200 grams
nottellingeither said:
I'm using a "Scosche SolBAT II Solar Powered Backup Battery and Charger" which I bought off Amazon for something ridiculous like $15 last year.
I bought it for hiking mostly as an emergency charger. I use a Huawei phone as a GPS out in the wilderness, and the GPS app (Androzic) is quite power intensive. I have also used the same device on an iPhone and an iPod touch. The Huawei phone will receive a full charge from this battery, but the iDevices will only go to around 75%.
The solar cell on the back of the battery isn't all that efficient and will take about two days to charge the internal battery, but having it there gives you more options should an emergency occur while in the wilderness. A half hour charging in full sunlight would provide enough power for a short call or a couple of texts to family or emergency services.
The device comes with suction cups and a small carabiner, so it can be stuck to the inside of your car window or clipped to the back of your rucksack. The device is lighter and smaller than the average smartphone and can be fully charged by USB in about three hours. Interestingly, the device has a LOT of bad reviews on Amazon, so maybe they simply sent me a good one.
I also have a very cheap and nasty handcrank USB charger from dealextreme which can be used to add a bit of juice to the solar battery pack at night or in cloudy weather or can directly charge the phone in an emergency. It's a little flimsy and takes a fair bit of cranking to get enough juice for even one call, but it weighs nothing, cost about $2 and is cheap insurance out in the boonies.
My list of power equipment for the phone/GPS and the iPod Touch for a multi-day walk are as follows:
Short Micro USB cable x 1
iPod USB cable x 1
Scosche SolBAT II battery/charger with alloy carabiner
DX hand crank battery charger
Total weight is less than 200 grams
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a nice list of equipment. How is the solar powered charger coming along?
tgmeyer said:
Yeah, can someone please let me know if they are the exact same manufactuers, except for the company logos on them? I am deciding between the two. Also, what do you guys think of their 2600maH stick version? Which manufactuer would you go for over the other and why? I am very interested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly i went with pricing. I assume if they look the same they are from the same vendors/manufactures but different brand/company. Reviews for both sound very good too. Ravpower had a promo going on a while back and i tend to see them pop up from time to time on slick deals. The stick might give you one charge but since it looks smaller than the rest, it may be the easiest and lightest to carry around. I say get a decent sized one. Anywhere between 5600mah to 10000mah so you can go through a few charges without needing to charge again.
I have a 6600 mAh(well, in my experience it's not true, more like 4-4.5k), but I rarely use it after I bought a tablet with a fullsized usb port in it.
solar charger
I was looking for a solar charger. I bougth one but it crashed in two days. Therefore I returned it and now I am waiting for another one. In the place I live there are few options

Can our phones charge safely from a 6V USB charger?

Like the title says, can the typical smartphone (I'm actually asking for Galaxy Nexus specifically) safely charge from a 6V USB charger?
I'm asking because I want to make an Altoids portable USB charger for my GNex during travels. I've Googled a few results with mixed results. Some people built such a charger with a 4-AA battery setup, which means there will be 6V in the circuitry. However, some people have added a 5V regulator to the setup, while some have not. Those that have added it, sometimes reported insufficient voltage to charge the phone.
Basically, do I need the 5V regulator to safely charge my phone in this particular setup?
I know I can buy such a charger that is mass produced, but I want the satisfaction of a DIY product and appear to be the coolest hipster geek with my Altoid charger
Use Ni-MH rechargeable battery. Their voltage is 1.2V each, resulting in 4.8V in total.
If you use 4 Ni-MH battery with 5V regulator, it won't work. Voltage regulators are only good for stepping down, otherwise there will be improper operation.
I never understood portable chargers...with no disrespect to the OP, why wouldnt you just buy another battery or two? They are smaller and easier to travel around with than a portable charger without the voltage risk of running out of spec.
tincbtrar said:
I never understood portable chargers...with no disrespect to the OP, why wouldnt you just buy another battery or two? They are smaller and easier to travel around with than a portable charger without the voltage risk of running out of spec.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The spare battery idea is a good one but I think one of the drawbacks to that idea is how to recharge the spares once they are dead. Energizer, Duracell and a host of other battery makers sell rechargeable power packs for not a lot of money.
I would hate to see you build one and have it short and catch fire or damage your phone not to mention the acid leaks from discharged batteries.
Edit. Just saw this in another thread. I bet a lot of us have rechargeable AA's lying around or since the are fairly inexpensive it may be worth picking some up.
http://www.batteryspace.com/battery...ndbeltcliponoffpowerswitch-rohscompliant.aspx
tincbtrar said:
I never understood portable chargers...with no disrespect to the OP, why wouldnt you just buy another battery or two? They are smaller and easier to travel around with than a portable charger without the voltage risk of running out of spec.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No disrespect taken. Like the ol' fried chicken guy said, where would I suddenly charge my batteries once they're out of juice? I could throw a portable charger in the car, and then go buy some cheap AA's during traveling. If I'm out of country, my charger simply won't even work (I think), due to plug incompatibilities.
Mind you, I have a Verizon Gnex, so I could use all the juice I can get my hands on. Especially during vacations, I'll likely be using the GPS, camera, and various other travel aid apps (Yelp, for one) that would likely drain my batteries a lot faster than I could imagine.
Back on topic: The NiMh idea is a good suggestion, but then I'd only be limited to using rechargables. I've seen the link to that commercially made portable charger before, but my ultimate goal is to go the DIY route. Also, the description of that item has the exact problem I'm trying to tackle, so that one is no better than something I throw together from radioshack and some Altoid tins.
mengsuan said:
Use Ni-MH rechargeable battery. Their voltage is 1.2V each, resulting in 4.8V in total.
If you use 4 Ni-MH battery with 5V regulator, it won't work. Voltage regulators are only good for stepping down, otherwise there will be improper operation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some AAs are 1.2v, while most are 1.5v off the shelf now. It is possible to use a 5v regulator to make sure the voltage does not go higher than 5v to protect your device. If the voltage drops below 5v it will simply stop charging as you need at least 5v +/- 3% or so.
What would be better is if you bought a dc-dc step up converter. This way you can use a single lithium battery (3.7v) or about 3 AAs (4.5v). The step up converter will take that 3-4v and bring it up to 5v or higher (adjustable).
Here's a dc-dc step up converter (http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PCS-LM2577...682?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cca94d2ca)
These are what most portable chargers use anyway. They step up the voltage to probably 6-7v? then bring it back down to 5v with a regulator. The reason why they step up the voltage to around 6-7v is to maintain amperage.
http://m.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/ETC-CPK008GSTA
what about using one of these to charge the spare. Love mine.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
I recently got this because I had a lot of spare eneloops lying around. In 90 mins I get about 20%. For whatever reason when the phone stops charging, I can plug it into my friend's One X and his phone will continue charging where as the Nexus will charge for maybe another minute and then stop, not sure whats going on there but otherwise its a very good product.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/eneloop-stick-booster-supplies-emergency-power-to-your-portable/
rptw said:
I recently got this because I had a lot of spare eneloops lying around. In 90 mins I get about 20%. For whatever reason when the phone stops charging, I can plug it into my friend's One X and his phone will continue charging where as the Nexus will charge for maybe another minute and then stop, not sure whats going on there but otherwise its a very good product.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/12/eneloop-stick-booster-supplies-emergency-power-to-your-portable/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was about ready to jump all over that until $40 gave me a slap in the face
I really liked what I read, but I don't think I can justify $40 on it.
rice923 said:
I was about ready to jump all over that until $40 gave me a slap in the face
I really liked what I read, but I don't think I can justify $40 on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
34$ and free shipping on ebay, but i actually got it as a gift straight from japan
6V batteries can't make a voltage regulator give out 5V, let alone if you use 4,8V batteries (4x1,2V).
A Voltage Regulator needs to have its input 2,5V minimum above the output voltage (5V+2,5V=7,5V).
You'd be better off (and more stable using either 6 1,5v batteries (or 7 1,2v NIMH) and a voltage regulator.
If you are "too near" of the desired output voltage as soon as the batteries discharge a little the voltage will drop (specially if you use 500mAh batteries) and the phone will no longer charge. Better off being above voltage on the batteries. 6x1.5v=9v, after a lot of discharge,6x1.25v=7,5V will still make the regulator output 5v. (Also don't be "too far" above the voltage or most will be dissipated by the regulator).
You'd be better off using a DC-DC converter which will convert power in any form to the form you wish. Example= 1,5vx500mA=0,75W=5vx100mA (well, allways with some efficiency loss, but way less of voltage regulator).
I've seen different devices, at 5V, charging at different currents. My Samsung will require a minimum of 500mA to charge. My Nexus, with a 1000mA (1A) charger will still discharge (although at a much slower rate than when not connect). Even with the device poweroff you wouldn't be able to charge it with AA batteries.
Or EVEN Better. An external LiON rechargable 7800mAH battery that, fully charged, will charge my Nexus 7 two times

Categories

Resources