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View Full Version : Cool prep item, battery/case/charger



Hitch
5th June 2014, 06:25 PM
I bought one of these for a fun project. Thought I'd share. My project is to wire up a fish finder to a portable battery, and make it one unit, to charge and carry when needed.

I found this kit, bought one, and am starting in on this project. This battery comes mounted in a protected case, and comes with a charger to make it completely portable. It's really cool. It's all wired up and ready to go. I was surprise how ready to go it is, once it was delivered.

Made me think you could keep this unit charged and be able to power laptops, cell phones, what every you need.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=431228

Glass
5th June 2014, 11:37 PM
Looks like a good find.
I've been messing around with the phone fast charger/recharge devices. Basically L-ion batteries. I don't think these are LiPo's. I use them to power USB devices like that small DV camera I was messing with. Also to run a wifi AP if I want to share a cabled internet connection like in a hotel room. I actually have a need to demo a technology solution that uses 4 devices and I may not have access to mains power for my demo so various battery packs are needed. The USB charger batteries are ok for the smaller devices but the bigger ones really need the sort of power that type of unit would have. Obviously not going to get mega amp hours out of one but for small stuff it's ok.

I have a couple questions for folks. Do you guys get those Auto charger/jump start packs which is a case with a battery inside, jumper leads, 1 or more 12v socket and sometimes a light and or Radio? When they first came out they were fairly cheap. I think they have nearly doubled in price.

Other question is, if you go to a coffee shop/bar/food service place and there are power points in the public areas of the store, do you plug your devices in to charge them up while you are there? So say you stop off for a beer or a burger and there is a power point near by? I would never have considered doing this but apparently a lot of people do. We are not talking a Free charging point like Free wifi.

Dogman
6th June 2014, 12:01 AM
One rule of thumb, double the voltage one half the amps! Half the voltage, double the amps!

Most laptops run on? 17\18/19 volts or so at those levels 7 1/2 amps at 12v. At laptop power the battery will not deliver the rated amps, it will be a tad less Look at what your laptop needs, power wise! I could do the math but it is Shut eye time here!

But that pack is small, but beats having nothing.

Android Forum Runner

Hitch
6th June 2014, 03:02 PM
One rule of thumb, double the voltage one half the amps! Half the voltage, double the amps!

Most laptops run on? 17\18/19 volts or so at those levels 7 1/2 amps at 12v. At laptop power the battery will not deliver the rated amps, it will be a tad less Look at what your laptop needs, power wise! I could do the math but it is Shut eye time here!

But that pack is small, but beats having nothing.

Android Forum Runner

Thanks for correcting me, this pack is 12 volts and would not charge a laptop. So, here's the completed project. It works awesome, I've got it running to see how long it lasts with the battery. This might not seem like a prep item/project, but it is for me. I can go out and catch as much fish as I can eat, and have plenty to give to neighbors.

6418

Glass
9th June 2014, 03:01 AM
good thinking. crafty.

There was a thread on here about preppers being a target because they prep'd. Lay low, hide the good stuff etc.

Why can't a prepper be someone who has planned not only to cover their bases but also be in a position to improve the lot of their neighbours?. I think that has as much if not more potential than a hunker down or bug out stance. Imagine having that bit of juice to do things like that. What about having that hand pump to tap into the local artisian water sources?

If you were rebuilding the human race, having gear that can support a small community of neighbours gives them hope or faith or vision that they can recover. I guess you have to guage your communities potential to pull together and share resources. It would be interesting to see what my community did SHTF.

Hitch
9th June 2014, 05:19 PM
Why can't a prepper be someone who has planned not only to cover their bases but also be in a position to improve the lot of their neighbours?. I think that has as much if not more potential than a hunker down or bug out stance. Imagine having that bit of juice to do things like that. What about having that hand pump to tap into the local artisian water sources?

If you were rebuilding the human race, having gear that can support a small community of neighbours gives them hope or faith or vision that they can recover. I guess you have to guage your communities potential to pull together and share resources. It would be interesting to see what my community did SHTF.

Glass, this is a really deep post. Personally, I think that men in particular, need to feel like they are productive. They are contributing to the welfare of others. I look at my little community here, and I see how folks look out for each other.

I think I'm in a good spot for SHTF. I guess, if SHTF here, and I could go out and fish and provide, I'd feel useful. That means something to me. Each little bit counts, imo.