hand crank flashlights?

[runningboar]

I have a sony multiband radio that uses 4 batteries, a portable cd player that uses 2, and a gerber led task light that I read by that needs 1. So a charger that charged 4 batteries every couple of days would be fine, it looks like one of the commercial ones would be more than adequate. I knew these were getting popular but looking around on the web there are lots to chose from.:thumbup: Chris

 

[SkunkWerX]

If you use the current highest true capacity AAs, then:

2,700 MAH capacity battery
Multiplied by 4 batteries
equals 10,800 MAH capacity
divided by 900 MAH charge per hour
equals 12 hours
multiplied by 1.25, for various types of loss
equals 15 hours to fully charge, with a charger like mine.

Yep, thats what they are looking like, 15 hours if starting at 0%.
Consider, hopefully, they will never be at 0% charge, so with that fudge factor , maybe 12 hours? 10 hours? Full day no matter how you look at it.


Found this one, more expensive , but looks low drag.
They are saying 8 hours to full charge, but, depends on batteries capacity.
They are using 2000ma AA's.
3.6v 400ma output.

http://store.sundancesolar.com/poso4aafosob.html

Bottom Line: There are solutions floating around out there.
It's going to boil down to how much solar panel area you can to live with.

 

[SkunkWerX]

I have a sony multiband radio that uses 4 batteries, a portable cd player that uses 2, and a gerber led task light that I read by that needs 1. So a charger that charged 4 batteries every couple of days would be fine, it looks like one of the commercial ones would be more than adequate. I knew these were getting popular but looking around on the web there are lots to chose from.:thumbup: Chris

Chris, yep, it's amazing I hadn't looked in while.

Even if you go with 2500ma Nimhs they carry good capacity, last longer and have a little lower price tag.

Man, I remember not long ago 2200ma was about the limit for Nimhs.

Looks like you only need to research the pros and cons and at least have choices out there! good to go. Shopping time! :thumbup:

 

[mete]

AA NiMh batteries started out at 900 mAh but are now up to 2700 ! Technology is wonderfull !!..Back to the original question. www.ccrane.com has a couple of wind up lights including one made by the inventor of the wind up system Freeplay, which has 7 leds so there is a significant amount of light. They also carry other Freeplay items such as radios .