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USB Battery/Solar chargers

Hi Guys
Im going to download festival in a week and need some extra juice and I was wondering if anyone any experience of any of the AA/AAA/Solar power usb chargers? Are they any good? How long will they take to charge a phone battery (in my case 1500mah)? Will one set of AA/AAA batteries charge a phone fully and how quick?
Example Ebay Items
Thanks!

I've got a small 12v sealed lead acid battery which I hook up my car charger to overnight. It's a little heavier than what your looking at, but is reliable and lasts ages. Battery and charger cost me about £30 total, but you could get a battery for about £15

im going camping mate with no car. Could be a bit tricky hehe

Monty Burns said:
im going camping mate with no car. Could be a bit tricky hehe
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Try these, I have the freeloader one (in silver) and its great, stores charge in its own battery for use later on down the line too...
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/freeloader-solar-chargers/index.html
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/power-monkey-explorer/index.html

Monty Burns said:
im going camping mate with no car. Could be a bit tricky hehe
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Thats what I'm talking about. It's a small battery weighs just under a kilo, but you can attach a car charger to it in your tent. I go to glasto most years and its been serving well for about 5 years now.

Freeloder are good.
Could try switching your phone off, save some juice and enjoy the festival?

ive tried one here in the states on my g1..it sucked...it charged it but it had to be directly in the sunlight, when it wasnt in the direct sunlight it would send a surge through my phone...i was told by tmobile to not use it because it could void my warranty.

I have the IceTech i-9005, and its served me really well. I use my Kaiser a lot, and at school, I'll usually charge it up with my solar panel during my 45 minute free period. Here's a link if you're interested. It's not too expensive either, it cost me only $90 from REI. It has a large 2000 mAh battery too, so it should charge your device with no problem.
And unlike some other chargers, it has a voltage selecter, so you can choose the voltage which works with your device (but 5 volts charges most stuff fine). It also has a standard USB port on it, so any USB charging cable should work with it (it also comes with a proprietary cable and some common adapter tips). And it also has overcharge and short circuit protection, so it won't fry your battery. And although it's kind of gimmicky, it even has a bright LED light built in.
And in addition, like most solar panels with batteries, it also comes with a wall charger, so you can charge the device without leaving it in the sun, and then use the built in battery anywhere.
Overall, I'm pretty happy with it, and I would recommend that you at least take a look at it before you buy any other solar charger.
Dave

bootx1 said:
Freeloder are good.
Could try switching your phone off, save some juice and enjoy the festival?
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Click to collapse
Ahh but then how would i be able to Facebook and make all my mates that aren't there jealous?

Alternative to Spare Batteries

I like a lot of people use my phone very heavily yet I don't have an opportunity to plug my phone into an AC charger until I return home. A great remedy to the problem is this handly little AA charger.
http://www.igo.com/accessories/powerxtender-charger/invt/ps002640004/
The reason I like it so much is because cheap portable battery packs usually pack under 1000mah of power. Thats not even enough to give you 1 full charge. And the more expensive 2000mah+ packs are often on the large side and well... expensive lol. On the other hand this little bugger is cheap and small enough to sit in my pocket without being a bother. What I find is the best part of it is the fact that you can choose what kind of AA batteries you put into it. I opted for Energizer rechargeable which are rated at 2450mah EACH for a total of 4900mah of power. Thats the equivalent of 3 G2x batteries. Keep 2 more batteries in your backpack/desk/purse thats an additional 4900mah. If that can't get you through the day you have more than just phone issues
Originally bought it for my Vibrant but quickly found it was awkward because the the product doesnt come with a cable adapter. This meant it was hanging and putting much strain on the usb port of the phone. Out of fear of breaking it I stopped using it. However since the G2x charges from the bottom there is absolutely no problem espcially seeing as I bought a 20cm micro usb extension cable so that the charger can sit in my lap or on a table while using the phone.
Just thought I'd share this since we can't get legit replacement batteries yet and even when they do become available they will cost a pretty penny. Got mine from Staples but they can be had on amazon also along with the usb extension able and rechargeable batteries.

This one works very well, too:
Well I'm a new member, so not allowed to post outside link. Therefore goto
Amazon
Duracell Instant USB Charger with Lithium ion battery
Pick the very first one
You don't need to by batteries or an extra charger. You can recharge it via your G2x power supply or any computer.

This was my favorite (coming from g1)
Too bad theres no new version for the micro usb's now..
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-9878...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1304363010&sr=1-16
This can be added on, though it wouldn't be very convenient since its a slide in/out connector
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Mini-USB-Micro-USB-Charger-Adapter/dp/B0018L4GOQ/ref=pd_sim_cps_1

hire4blood said:
This one works very well, too:
Well I'm a new member, so not allowed to post outside link. Therefore goto
Amazon
Duracell Instant USB Charger with Lithium ion battery
Pick the very first one
You don't need to by batteries or an extra charger. You can recharge it via your G2x power supply or any computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I almost bought one of those until I saw how low the capacity on it is. Looks tiny though which is nice.

J&R has Veho 5Ah external battery for $35 and I have 2 of them.
Just use regular microUSB cable to charge the phone and leave the original cable secure.

I'm thinking about getting the i-up 13,200mAh pack.

regP said:
I almost bought one of those until I saw how low the capacity on it is. Looks tiny though which is nice.
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They have a bigger version for 32$ as well. The 22$ version gives me a full charge from around 30%.

Just received my Pebble XT 5000mah pack. Won't be able to put it through its paces till next tuesday. Upon first impression, i think im in love with this thing already. its small enough to sit in pocket without having much presence. extremely lightweight. and the cord is long enough to be able to have the charger in your pocket and phone in hand (thank you lg for putting the usb port at the bottom). All info I have read indicated that it really does output 5000mAh of power so even a heavy user such as myself will have no problem getting through a full day of use.

Just wondering how everyone's batterys are working out for them?
Also how many full charges did you get?
Also any likes or dislikes of product they decided to buy?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Just wanting a update???
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

That looks like something that might be good out camping or something where you needed to charge your phone without touching it. But I would figure actually picking it up and putting that much weight on he usb port a very bad idea... This should come with a extension cord to charge while using, even texting or something would be pretty difficult to hold both...

motorola p793

Check this site for power packs, all kinds 5000mah for around $20
http://www.tvc-mall.com/details/660...r-Cell-Phone-Tablet-PC-PSP-etc-IPHONE-4-7095/
Micro usb 1900mah
http://www.tvc-mall.com/details/Por...AZR2-V8-HTC-BlackBerry-and-etc-Black-MCH-615/

ImaxPower IMP500 (5000mAh) External Battery
I've used an IMP500 Rechargeable (5000mAh) external battery pack for a few years with great sucess. They make them as large as 11000mAh (or more?) and even have solar-rechargeable options. Just take a look at New Trent or other similar products on Amazon or eBay.
The best part about the IMP series is that they have multiple adapters for iPhones, mini/micro USB, PSP, DS, and other devices so you can charge your phone and anything else you might be carrying around with you.
Link to NewTrent for info on models
I'd recommend buying elsewhere because you can find them for 30-50%+ off.

Energizer Energi Stick Emergency Charger for T-Mobile LG G2x /Optimus 2x

Energizer Energi Stick Emergency Charger for T-Mobile LG G2x /Optimus 2x
I was looking online for external battery options I came across this.
I see it has a keyring, Nice feature, But on my keyring it would get banged around and break.
It has a interesting design it curved to plug in and be held ot the back of the phone.
I also notice it said 5v and 500 mAh is this compatible with the LGG2X???
If it is, Is the 500 mAh enough to chagre phone and use it?
Product Features
Brand new Energizer charger.
Model number: AP650MC.
Connectors: micro-USB.
Built-in rechargeable battery. 5V and 500 mAh.
Simply recharge with your original phone micro-USB cable.
micro-USB cable not included.
For the price i think it should include the micro usb cable.

This is dumb. Why not just buy an extra battery instead? I mean I bought 2 for 12 bucks and it came with a charger.

jrharvey said:
This is dumb. Why not just buy an extra battery instead? I mean I bought 2 for 12 bucks and it came with a charger.
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How long have you had you batteries. How long do those batteries run compared
to the stock battery.
Since they such a good deal, Give us a mini review of your battery life and performance.
LINK PLEASE.
Just tring to get the most bang for the buck in these rough times.
NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE

KRAZYADROIDMASTER said:
How long have you had you batteries. How long do those batteries run compared
to the stock battery.
Since they such a good deal, Give us a mini review of your battery life and performance.
LINK PLEASE.
Just tring to get the most bang for the buck in these rough times.
NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Batteries are 1500 mah and run just as long as the stock batteries. I consistently switch them out. Its so much easier to just swap them then wait for my phone to charge. For an on the go person its perfect. I wish I had a link but I bought them on Ebay. http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_from=R...13&_nkw=g2x+battery&_sacat=See-All-Categories
They are all over and come from hong kong but it only took a few days to get here.
Haha I just bought 2 more and it came with a TPU case, 3 screen protectors (probably crap), USB cable and a battery charger.

jrharvey said:
This is dumb. Why not just buy an extra battery instead? I mean I bought 2 for 12 bucks and it came with a charger.
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Don't understand why you have to start off with "This is dumb". If it's not your thing it's not your thing...just don't get the epidemic of rude.
Anyway, stepping off my soapbox...personally I like the idea. Usually I'm around a charger...but on the rare occasions I need a boost it might come in handy. Yes, an extra battery is a good solution...but not for me. I keep my phone in a shell and hate pulling it off (seems to lead to new scratches and looser fit).
So, thanks to the OP for pointing this out...might just get one.

5v is plenty to send a charge to the phone. The wall charger is 4.8v. The 500 is just tells you how much juice the battery has. Ours has 1500 vs. this at 500, so it should theoretically last 1/3 of the time our replace 1/3 of the battery.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Thanks, Good to know. That battery will not work for me knowing that information.
Thanks again
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Portable chargers, external battery cases, extended batteries etc etc

Hi all, so I've got an S4 and the battery just doesn't do it for me as I'm quite a power user. So I've been looking into various methods of keeping my phone's battery topped up, especially on the go, I've had a look at portable chargers, external battery cases (as I had one on my S3 and it worked great, for about a week and then gave up) and extended batteries.
Now what I'm looking for is ideally something that isn't too bulky, has decent quality and provides a good solid charge to my phone. I also have a bunch of other phones that I want to keep charged, so an external battery case or extended batteries are looking a little weak here as a portable charger would do the trick for all of them, but then again they often seem to be quite bulky.
So my question to you is what would you advice? Ideally I'd like a solution that fits in the pocket and still keeps my phone topped, what would you recommend and have you bought something to satisfy this need yourself? I'm not really looking into extended batteries that add a whole lot of bulk, I'm hearing good things about Anker batteries and these 3,000mAh Zerolemon standard size batteries, but there seem to be so many variations of portable chargers I'm not quite sure what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

TheKeyboardWarrior said:
Hi all, so I've got an S4 and the battery just doesn't do it for me as I'm quite a power user. So I've been looking into various methods of keeping my phone's battery topped up, especially on the go, I've had a look at portable chargers, external battery cases (as I had one on my S3 and it worked great, for about a week and then gave up) and extended batteries.
Now what I'm looking for is ideally something that isn't too bulky, has decent quality and provides a good solid charge to my phone. I also have a bunch of other phones that I want to keep charged, so an external battery case or extended batteries are looking a little weak here as a portable charger would do the trick for all of them, but then again they often seem to be quite bulky.
So my question to you is what would you advice? Ideally I'd like a solution that fits in the pocket and still keeps my phone topped, what would you recommend and have you bought something to satisfy this need yourself? I'm not really looking into extended batteries that add a whole lot of bulk, I'm hearing good things about Anker batteries and these 3,000mAh Zerolemon standard size batteries, but there seem to be so many variations of portable chargers I'm not quite sure what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Click to collapse
I have the Zerolemon battery, it works well, but really, I couldn't tell much of a difference in battery life, and keep in mind, NFC is not included if you go with the Zerolemon.
Go to amazon and do a search for "android portable battery charger" there are a lot of options from small lipstick sized charges to big bulky ones, read the reviews and pick one that works best for you. Personally I am usually close to a charger so I have not found the need to get one yet, but I can see how it would be necessary for those that are frequently away from a wall outlet or car for extended periods. I might pick one up before my camping/float trip coming up this summer. If I did, it would probably be this one. http://www.amazon.com/KMAX-806-Flas...8-5&keywords=android+portable+battery+charger

I have an old external charger that came with a 3 panel solar folder. I used it a few times when camping and I could charge it all day and then use it to charge the phone twice. That was with an older 1900mah batter in the phone

Just a quick update, I eventually decided to settle with this EasyAcc iChoc 5,000mAh portable charger. I've had it for a few days now and it works fantastic, the build quality feels nice in the hand and the dimensions are the same as my S4 (and just as slim mind) it comes with two outputs, a 1A and a 2.1A one (using your own microUSB cable) and the 1A output has a built in microUSB cable. Very pleased with the purchase, it was around £17 on Amazon Prime:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/EasyAcc®-iC...&qid=1397737540&sr=8-1&keywords=ichoc+easyacc
Bear in mind I don't think the actual capacity is anywhere near 5,000 mAh however.

Charges S4 about 1.3 times.... So it's about a 3000mAh
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

z50king said:
Charges S4 about 1.3 times.... So it's about a 3000mAh
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk
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Are you referring to the EasyAcc portable battery that I posted?

While I think you have made your choice .... I have used the callpod dou charger.... I had 10 of them until I started giving them away cause they were of no use with the phone I had before I got my S4. I have (5) Isound 16,000's 16,000 mah. That will keep my S4 or my wife's Iphone 5 up for about a day of intermittent use.... she can kill one in about 8hrs if she is on her phone and charging her Ipad at the same time. I also have (3) of the power bank 33,000s . 33,000 mah. I am not sure that I have ever killed this battery with my S4 alone. My wife can kill it with her iphone in 2-3 evenings of fairly constant use.... talking on the phone and playing games and I think charging both her iphone and ipad... (flipping back and forth between the 2. This battery will also charge most laptops. Her Macbook will get one full charge out of it.... if the computer is not on. With the computer on it last about 30-40 mins. My Htc Flyer has been on a 33,000 all week with off and on use and is still half full. Finally , I have a hyperjuice 150wh and a 222wh. The wife has been charging her iphone on the 150 and her ipad on the 222 all week and they are still around half full.

I finally got myself the Anker 5200 mAh battery. Does anyone know an app that shows the correct battery capacity? I got the sneaking suspicion that it isn't detected properly...

[Q] Which do you prefer: spare battery VS external battery pack ?

Can't seem to make up my mind on this!
most of the time i have access to power socket, but after i ran out of battery the other day, leaving me without navigation system and clueless on how to drive back home, i realized i need some sort of back up!
so first thing first, i added Anker 24W Car Charger to my list.
second, I'm trying to decide between a spare battery, like Anker 3220mAh Li-ion Battery , Or a power pack like Anker Astro E3 /// Astro E4.
like i mentioned, most of the time i have access to power socket, as well as car charger (soon).
also, when i wake up in the morning, i plug my phone right away to the charger, so i usually leave the house with 90%+ battery.
which of the two options would you recommend?
no matter which one, most chances it will lay in my bag for a while until i do need it, won't be on regular use.
i nearly ordered the Astro E3, but then i ran some of the comments on amazon, claiming it works fine at the beginning only!

Sounds like all you need is the car charger and a couple of Anker 3220mah spare batteries. The spare batteries are much more convenient to carry that a power pack. Along with the fast charger you should be set, unless you are travelling to the moon without a power source.

Just a matter of what purpose you want it for.
Battery pack pros:
-can charge any device
-can charge itself with usb cord, phone isn't needed
-no phone interruption
-can charge multiple devices at once.
-larger capacity than spare battery
Spare battery pros:
-easier to carry
-phone will be instantly charged to 100%
-not prone to idle drain like some battery packs

Extended battery
BAD ASS NOTE 4 + BAD ASS GEAR S

of course the power bank.
just try replacing the batteries (turning on-off, putting the back cover off/on), etc.
you also have to fully charge the spare battery... need a spare charger for that.
with the good power bank you can just add as much juice as you need and continue to use the phone hassle-free.
i just dont understand those swapping the batteries in a device that charges 50% within 30 minutes...

lisbon2004 said:
i just dont understand those swapping the batteries in a device that charges 50% within 30 minutes...
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Click to collapse
You don't always have a 2a output charger sitting around though... If you try charging a note 4 on some PC usb slots and you use the phone a little bit, it basically won't charge faster than it drains.
Also holding the phone and using it with a power bank + usb cable attached is not as convenient as swapping the battery and instantly having 100%.

thanks for your replies .
i just bought a replaceable Anker battery+external charger. the main battery last me the entire day most of the time, so for the occasional battery emergency drain, i prefer to instantly replace with a 100% charged one.
although the power bank seems like a nice idea for any long vacation i go to each year. but they are cheap anyway, so will buy one as well later on.

lisbon2004 said:
of course the power bank.
just try replacing the batteries (turning on-off, putting the back cover off/on), etc.
you also have to fully charge the spare battery... need a spare charger for that.
with the good power bank you can just add as much juice as you need and continue to use the phone hassle-free.
i just dont understand those swapping the batteries in a device that charges 50% within 30 minutes...
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Click to collapse
Spare batteries are great for when you are out and about without access to a charger. The spare battery route works for me as I did the same with my S3.

I vote for the spare battery which is why I got one. I have used external chargers often in the past and I hate having to walk around with the darn thing and its cable. You cannot beat swapping in a battery which takes less than a minute. It is also more compact as well. Sure, you have to charge it separately, but you will have to do that with an external charger anyway.

bleuiko said:
I vote for the spare battery which is why I got one. I have used external chargers often in the past and I hate having to walk around with the darn thing and its cable. You cannot beat swapping in a battery which takes less than a minute. It is also more compact as well. Sure, you have to charge it separately, but you will have to do that with an external charger anyway.
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Exactly this. I have both but the spare battery is my "go to". The official OEM spare battery kit is awesome for our N4 since it charges separately and is super compact. I have an external battery pack that can charge several devices but it'll usually be left behind with a few exceptions. It's mainly to charge devices when away from power but is not a good solution if you want to continue using the device since you have to lug the wire and charger with you if you choose to go that route.
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lisbon2004 said:
of course the power bank.
just try replacing the batteries (turning on-off, putting the back cover off/on), etc.
you also have to fully charge the spare battery... need a spare charger for that.
with the good power bank you can just add as much juice as you need and continue to use the phone hassle-free.
i just dont understand those swapping the batteries in a device that charges 50% within 30 minutes...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
0 to 100% in seconds. 'Nuff said.

jlczl said:
Exactly this. I have both but the spare battery is my "go to". The official OEM spare battery kit is awesome for our N4 since it charges separately and is super compact. I have an external battery pack that can charge several devices but it'll usually be left behind with a few exceptions. It's mainly to charge devices when away from power but is not a good solution if you want to continue using the device since you have to lug the wire and charger with you if you choose to go that route.
---------- Post added at 10:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:09 AM ----------
0 to 100% in seconds. 'Nuff said.
Click to expand...
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you can buy a similar item from a good company half the price:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Q4NQQA0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&m=A294P4X9EWVXLJ&tag=ianker-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00Q4NQQA0
it's what i ordered.

666pluto said:
you can buy a similar item from a good company half the price:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...17145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B00Q4NQQA0
it's what i ordered.
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Thanks but Amazon recently had the OEM version on sale for $29. I had Best Buy price match it since I had a $25 BB gift card laying around I hadn't used so I paid nearly nothing for it. Plus I prefer OEM (nothing against Anker, I actually have a great portable battery charger from them I got on Amazon).
I mention the price because OEM versions of products can frequently be purchased at great discounts if you watch for them. I use the slick deals app to notify me of good deals.