hand-crank battery charger (hack video) - any good reason why none for sale?

Minni · Sep 23, 2011

The below guy was able to turn a laptop battery plus circuit board into a hand-crank battery charger.

So my question is, since it can be done, why aren't hand-crank AA battery chargers available for sale, so I can buy one to recharge my Duracell NiMh batteries for use in my Cree lantern during blackouts?
..and maybe Eneloops too, if I get them.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/200...ked-flashlight-into-battery-charger-video.php

Amix · Sep 23, 2011

I imagine there's not much demand for it.

If you have the space to carry around a hand-crank battery charger, then you might as well just carry around a few extra AA batteries instead and save yourself all that cranking.

Minni · Sep 23, 2011

Amix said:
I imagine there's not much demand for it.

If you have the space to carry around a hand-crank battery charger, then you might as well just carry around a few extra AA batteries instead and save yourself all that cranking.

I wasn't speaking of mobile use, rather blackouts at home.

UberLumens · Sep 23, 2011

Its the crank that stops them.

Crappy plastic gears that strip and break after 2 minutes of cranking are what most of them use.

To use metal gears or even a gearing system to give you some extra mechanical advantage are cost prohibitive for mass production.

The batteries and circuit are the easy part believe it or not.

pjandyho · Sep 23, 2011

I don't think anyone would want to sit there for a couple of hours cranking up their batteries. Would you? Using a solar charger sounds more practical. Could always charge it in the day for use at night.

Quality · Sep 23, 2011

I don't think that its necessarily all that hard to to mass produce a hand crank charger if a company were so inclined.

IMO the problem is that such a product, while useful and awesome to some, would not sell in quantities high enough to sustain production.

dosei-45 · Sep 23, 2011

Minni said:
So my question is, since it can be done, why aren't hand-crank AA battery chargers available for sale, so I can buy one to recharge my Duracell NiMh batteries for use in my Cree lantern during blackouts?[/URL]

Have you not even looked? I went on Amazon and did a search for "hand crank charger"...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000Y9H0W8/?tag=cpf0b6-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003ZVVE4C/?tag=cpf0b6-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BYROUQ/?tag=cpf0b6-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050VHYJ4/?tag=cpf0b6-20

Personally, I think the solar units make a lot more sense.

Quality · Sep 23, 2011

To be fair dosei-45, he did ask for a hand crank charger that charges AA batteries. Perhaps there is a way to rig one of those chargers that you linked to do so, but they are all cell phone/usb device chargers.

I suppose he could just plug the hand-crank charger into a usb powered battery charger?

Check out this one.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000LQL3JU/?tag=cpf0b6-20

Also this one has Radio, Flashlight, USB+Crank+Solar charging.

http://www.amazon.com/FR160BL-Microlink-Self-Powered-Weather-Flashlight/dp/B001QTXKBA/ref=pd_cp_e_pw_4

dosei-45 · Sep 23, 2011

Quality said:
To be fair dosei-45, he did ask for a hand crank charger that charges AA batteries. Perhaps there is a way to rig one of those chargers that you linked to do so, but they are all cell phone/usb device chargers.

I suppose he could just plug the hand-crank charger into a usb powered battery charger?

I thought that was exceedingly obvious...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004UAG776/?tag=cpf0b6-20

Quality · Sep 23, 2011

Thanks Captain Exceedingly Obvious...

MikeAusC · Sep 23, 2011

Quality said:
. . . I suppose he could just plug the hand-crank charger into a usb powered battery charger? . . . .

A USB Charger is designed only to run off a 5 volt supply that's decoupled and current limited.

If you supply it from a Crank generator ANYTHING could happen to its output.

Quality · Sep 23, 2011

MikeAusC said:
A USB Charger is designed only to run off a 5 volt supply that's decoupled and current limited.

If you supply it from a Crank generator ANYTHING could happen to its output.

Interesting. Thanks for the insight. I was skeptical of whether it would work correctly in that configuration.

EZO · Sep 23, 2011

Freeplay, the company associated with the original BayGen wind-up radios and flashlights produces a high quality 12V hand cranked generator/charger called the FreeCharge. They also offer the Clamp Charger which was originally part of the 100 dollar laptop project. Freeplay also produces a line of hand cranked and solar powered radios, flashlights, and related items. While many of the comments here are coming from a perspective of enthusiasts and consumers who may want a hand cranked alternative to battery charging, Freeplay's products are geared to a large extent to third world populations and the humanitarian needs of people who otherwise do not have access to electricity or to whom the cost of primary batteries is prohibitive. They make stuff for consumers too and as far as hand crank powered products are concerned they make some of the best and most durable.

Edit: I'm starting a countdown clock to see how long it takes for a Mod to move this thread to the batteries forum. :green:

dosei-45 · Sep 23, 2011

Bottom line, IMHO, is that hand crank generators are highly problematic. Lots of moving parts, if any one of them fails the unit is a paperweight. They only work when you are working (unlike solar units that let you use your energy for potentially more important things). Their output is often less consistent than solar units. The ones that are available are generally cheaply made, which only makes all of the drawbacks even more problematic (while quality solar units are much easier to find). Get yourself a solar unit. Combine it with several spare cells and efficent lights with long runtimes (as in several days) and you are pretty well set.

Minni · Oct 2, 2011

EZO said:
Freeplay, the company associated with the original BayGen wind-up radios and flashlights produces a high quality 12V hand cranked generator/charger called the FreeCharge. They also offer the Clamp Charger which was originally part of the 100 dollar laptop project. Freeplay also produces a line of hand cranked and solar powered radios, flashlights, and related items. While many of the comments here are coming from a perspective of enthusiasts and consumers who may want a hand cranked alternative to battery charging, Freeplay's products are geared to a large extent to third world populations and the humanitarian needs of people who otherwise do not have access to electricity or to whom the cost of primary batteries is prohibitive. They make stuff for consumers too and as far as hand crank powered products are concerned they make some of the best and most durable.

Edit: I'm starting a countdown clock to see how long it takes for a Mod to move this thread to the batteries forum. :green:

Believe it or not, prior to this post, I had contacted Freeplay (including the link to their FreeCharge) to ask them whether by any chance there's a hand crank device to charge AA's. I don't believe I received a response, unless it's in my Spam folder - i'll have to check.

As for solar, I'm aware of solar options, but I live in a house that's shrouded with trees on east, south, and west, which is what always discouraged me from being interested in solar. I'm not in physical shape to mobilize in any emergency, rather I'd need to hole up. I don't even have a car.

I'd also had related questions on below link which will probably remain unresolved, because I only understand simple layman's answers. (it's for emergency prep.)
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?322789-my-Cree-vs.-Energizer-lanterns-questions

hand-crank battery charger (hack video) - any good reason why none for sale?

Minni

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