Is there such a product, similar to this http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/104630 with a usb port for charging a device, that runs off your own rechargeable batteries, so when you go camping you take with you one charger, and a pack of eneloops, and as each battery dies, you put a new one in, and then recharge them all when you get home..
Does something like this exist, and if so what's a good one to get?
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Just did a search on eBay and something like this turned up:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/320797263365
Less than $2 delivered & it takes 2x AA battery. 5V 0.5A output although I am not sure whether rechargeable batteries can provide enough input voltage.
A other one
http://compare.ebay.com.au/like/300792168251?ltyp=AllFixedPr…
Scotty version looks better made.
Hmm it says it can charge iPhone so that's promising… Just need to find out from someone who has used them to see if they are any good. I don't want to kill my phone or my shiny new eneloop batteries with something dodgy
Yeah AA batteries are only 1.5V arent they? So if you put 4 together would that make 6V and be enough to charge an iPhone?? My electronics is not that good.
I thought rechargeable AA's only output 1.2 volts, so you'd need 4 batteries to output 4.8V
Plenty of 'emergency' chargers that even run off a single AA. They all have circuitry that boosts voltage to 5.
Riczter, give me a tick and I'll find you the link to the one I own that works well with 1.2 volt batts.
Legend cheers mate
Damn, now I'm going to need more eneloops haha
There's an ocean of the 2AA version like the one scotty linked on ebay. Here's the 3AA variant: www.ebay.com.au/itm/Emergency-USB-Battery-Charger-3AA-Flashl…
Be aware that like the one scotty linked these things only charge at the usb dictate rate (500mA), but they do the job.
Seller also sells the white version for the same price.
Mine arrived quickly and without drama. If you're willing to pay an extra couple of bucks there is another seller (albeit with a much lower sales volume) with a 99.6 rating.
Can you get any that charge at 1A or 2A for iPad? Or can AAs just not cut it.
Cheers for that. So you need to buy special 18650 batteries for those? They don't run off standard AAs and Eneloops?
Yes to the first question, no to second, but lithium batteries come with issues, not the least being a permanent capacity loss of about 20% per year when stored or maintained at anywhere near full charge.
Especially if charging a phone, I recommend that you stick with the charger I linked and your Eneloops.
The key is to connect it well before your phone battery is flat, thereby using it more as a supplement than as an outright 'charger'.
Depending on the current drawn by your tablet as you use it (varies depending on brightness of display and the CPU usage of apps in play), this strategy will still work, but it may just mean your tabs battery percentage goes down more slowly.
Hope that all helps.
I'm hoping there is as I've got heaps of spare eneloops and i really need a backup power supply for my nexus 4