The Powerpot 5....anyone tried it yet?

[druid189]

http://powerpractical.com/collections/generate/products/powerpot5-thermoelectric-generator

According to the site:

The PowerPot combines the benefits of a lightweight cooking pot and a portable USB charger. Power any of your mobile devices all while heating up a meal on your trusty backpacking stove or campfire. It even comes in handy as a backup charger for a power outtage [sic] or another emergency.

• 1A on-demand USB power for mobile devices
• Real-time power meter for optimal charging
• Works over any stove or heat sources ( including open flames)
• 1.2 Liter hard-anodized aluminum pot for cooking

Seems a lot cheaper than the BioLite Stove. Anyone use this?

 

[sideways]

Same problem as with the biolite stove... it's only charging while you are actively cooking, adds weight and when all said and done only works as a charger. I'd rather have a redundant phone than a redundant charger. Another option is standardized replaceable batteries.

Power output is also a problem. I would not want to stop and boil water for 4 hours (or however long it takes to fully charge a modern high power smartphone) when my battery dies or try to build a fire quickly to charge my phone in a time sensitive emergency. If keeping multiple devices powered or the high draw entertainment gadgets powered is a consideration you can forget it. You wont have time to do anything but boil water all day.

I carry USB charging cables and USB to mains power sockets on my person. In the vehicles I have 12V to USB sockets so I can power any USB device. There is also a jump starter battery pack that can deliver enough 12V output to charge my phone multiple times. While off the beaten track I carry a second cellphone with a prepaid chip in it and important numbers programmed into it... and my gadgets are off anyway so there isn't a need to charge them often.