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Permalink Reply by buddaa38 on July 26, 2009 at 3:57pm

I find that very interesting ! It's the same concept as a windmill if you think about it. The Dutch use this to produce elec. I'd think that if you cut or splits the wire from your light & connect it to your charger . That this may work. You will have cut your plug off the charger.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Ortiz on July 26, 2009 at 4:45pm

Some related links... I like the idea of the hub dynamos although I don't have any experience with them. I found these because I eventually want to do a multi-day tour complete with my smartphone and perhaps a notebook computer. Maybe these might work, but I don't know yet.

Busch & Muller Dymotec Sidewall Dynamos
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/dymotec.asp

Schmidt Dynamo Front Hub
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt.asp

Shimano Dynohub
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/shimano3n70.asp

Article about creating a charger - sometimes works, sometimes doesn't...
http://www.instructables.com/id/USB-Cell-Phone-Charger-Hack!-With-V...

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Permalink Reply by Ian on July 27, 2009 at 3:00am

There's a store on damen, near armitage, (Grasshopper) that sells messenger bags with solar panels that can charge a cell. Said hour of sun is enough for a charge sufficient for an hour of talk. They also sell belts made from recycled bike tubes.

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Permalink Reply by buddaa38 on July 27, 2009 at 4:24am

Nathaniel D. Buckner said:

Dynamo power is AC power (like what comes from the wall). To directly charge your cell you need DC (like what comes from your car battery). DO NOT DIRECTLY CONNECT YOUR CELL PHONE TO YOUR HUB! It won't work and could POSSIBLY damage your phone AND your hub/dynamo!

buddaa38 said:

I'll take one!

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on July 27, 2009 at 4:38am

Check the induction powered lights here: http://www.reelight.com/
Maybe something could be adapted from this.

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Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on July 28, 2009 at 2:40am

This would have come in very handy during RAGBRAI last week.

I also saw several people who had huge floppy solar panels strapped to the top of their B.O.B. or Burley trailers.

Another guy had a more compact solar unit strapped to the top of his rear rack bag. It had three "petals" that fanned out like a flower. The panels fed a battery inside his bag, which can be used to power iPhone, iPod, cell phone, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Alan Ortiz on July 28, 2009 at 2:52am

I think that would be the Solio Solar Charger. Here's a link to it on REI for $150...
http://www.rei.com/product/760969

Brett Ratner said:

Another guy had a more compact solar unit strapped to the top of his rear rack bag. It had three "petals" that fanned out like a flower. The panels fed a battery inside his bag, which can be used to power iPhone, iPod, cell phone, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Chucko on July 28, 2009 at 3:25am

Kind of expensive, but this seems like a decent charger. It has a voltage regulator so you don't blow up your iPhone if you start going too fast...

http://www.econvergence.net/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&S...

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