By using the hand crank to generate electricity to an external battery or any kind of battery, wouldn't the unsteady amount of energy flow cause harm to the battery while it's being charged?
1590767
I'm sure it would, if you were to rely on handcranking as your main method of recharging. It's intrended purpose is for *emergency* use. The relatively small time of recharge by handcranking would be negligible. Consider the value of your safety, if you were broken down at the side of the road with a dead cell phone, in relation to 5 or 10 minutes of hand cranking to gain enough battery life to talk to emergency personell. Also compare those few minutes to the hours each week you might recharge your phone from reliable electronic sources. Again, any potential harm would be negligible, and worth the measure of safety. I'm sure it would, if you were to rely on handcranking as your main method of recharging. It's intrended purpose is for *emergency* use. The relatively small time of recharge by handcranking would be negligible. Consider the value of your safety, if you were broken down at the side of the road with a dead cell phone, in relation to 5 or 10 minutes of hand cranking to gain enough battery life to talk to emergency personell. Also compare those few minutes to the hours each week you might recharge your phone from reliable electronic sources. Again, any potential harm would be negligible, and... » Read More I'm sure it would, if you were to rely on handcranking as your main method of recharging. It's intrended purpose is for *emergency* use. The relatively small time of recharge by handcranking would be negligible. Consider the value of your safety, if you were broken down at the side of the road with a dead cell phone, in relation to 5 or 10 minutes of hand cranking to gain enough battery life to talk to emergency personell. Also compare those few minutes to the hours each week you might recharge your phone from reliable electronic sources. Again, any potential harm would be negligible, and worth the measure of safety. « Show Less
1590768
If its like the old sidewinder charger I had three phones ago, the hand crank charges a small internal battery which in turn powers the phone with smooth current.
855894
The battery provides typically 10-12amps, when the battery is running you are provided 14.8amps. Likely, it doesn't have a fuse, or isn't built with the best quality and would draw too many amps thus destroying it
1293932
You can but it ruins the battery. The battery will become dependent on the constant charge and will weaken.
340531
Probably- it puts out gobs of power. However, different battery types have different charging profiles- the current supplied needs to change as the battery voltage rises; just ramming electrons in until the battery voltage is where it should be will probably damage the battery. If you use a charger DESIGNED FOR YOUR TYPE OF BATTERY you should be OK. The power supply can supply the juice, but the charger has to control the process and protect the batteries.Even cars have Voltage Regulators to control the charge rate to the battery.Hope this helps.Bill K3DC Probably- it puts out gobs of power. However, different battery types have different charging profiles- the current supplied needs to change as the battery voltage rises; just ramming electrons in until the battery voltage is where it should be will probably damage the battery. If you use a charger DESIGNED FOR YOUR TYPE OF BATTERY you should be OK. The power supply can supply the juice, but the charger has to control the process and protect the batteries.Even cars have Voltage Regulators to control the charge rate to the battery.Hope this helps.Bill K3DC
1783931
I suppose you could but when charging Lipo batteries I wouldn't do that. Charging Lipo batteries safety is always a concern, unless you plan on being there during the entire charging process I wouldn't charge the batteries this way.
1421454
I use it to charge the cranking battery in my boat. It does a good job of bringing it up quickly. The guy I get my batteries from is adamant about unplugging the charger once the battery 's up; he's uncomfortable allowing it to float charge. Says he's seen a lot of batteries that get cooked dry when you leave the charger on all the time, even if they are designed to maintain the battery. Not sure about that, but I do it anyway.
1001717
This unit does not have that circuitry as far as I know. The unit only allows charging to both batteries with the engine running. If your cranking battery is below the minimum charge to crank, you're S.O.L. If you install a switch to redirect the current of your aux batt to your starter then you are golden.
1551456
The real answer: Nothing to worry about if the current draw of the device is less than the maximum output of the battery. However, if the current draw of the device is GREATER than the battery's maximum output current, you will possibly experience the battery overheating and/or experience a thermal runaway.
1166406
NO! That would draw too much power and fry this thing and likely start a fire as it is no properly fused. Get a power inverter that ties directly into the battery instead.
1562097
The crank action feels fairly rugged with the usual sounds while cranking. Cranking at 120 RPM yields a charging current of approximately 250mA, so if you were to actually try doing a full charge, it'd take at least two and a half hours of continuous cranking. That's why this is not something someone would do on a regular basis; it should be considered as a method for emergencies only, or if you just want to play with it for a while, or give it a quick top off charge. Charging from USB gives it about 150mA charging current, so it actually would take longer, but sitting four hours idly watching the red light turn green is a lot easier than cranking furiously for 2-1/2 hrs... ;) The crank action feels fairly rugged with the usual sounds while cranking. Cranking at 120 RPM yields a charging current of approximately 250mA, so if you were to actually try doing a full charge, it'd take at least two and a half hours of continuous cranking. That's why this is not something someone would do on a regular basis; it should be considered as a method for emergencies only, or if you just want to play with it for a while, or give it a quick top off charge. Charging from USB gives it about 150mA charging current, so it actually would take longer, but sitting four hours idly... » Read More The crank action feels fairly rugged with the usual sounds while cranking. Cranking at 120 RPM yields a charging current of approximately 250mA, so if you were to actually try doing a full charge, it'd take at least two and a half hours of continuous cranking. That's why this is not something someone would do on a regular basis; it should be considered as a method for emergencies only, or if you just want to play with it for a while, or give it a quick top off charge. Charging from USB gives it about 150mA charging current, so it actually would take longer, but sitting four hours idly watching the red light turn green is a lot easier than cranking furiously for 2-1/2 hrs... ;) « Show Less
475806
no, I have not run it off an external battery. It's an interesting question--especially for people who go camping.
684114
I don't know since I have not tested that. Heavy load power tolls naturally consume batteries faster. I recommend that the best Milwaukee AH batteries be used,
648905
i guess i should have also asked HOW FAST did you crank, you don't have to go crazy fast, but if you go incredibly slow, it will take forever to charge the battery sufficiently. But i think it's most likely the battery is just old and too weak to charge, or possibly the battery wire is not properly connected.
508228
It is not meant to fully charge the battery from the hand crank. It's purpose is to provide enough power for short-term light, or by its export port for making important phone calls, etc. If the "1 minute of cranking gives about 10 minutes of light on low for 1 side light" is accurate, then the 48 hours of run time on low would require: 48 hrs x 60 min/hr = 2,880 minutes of light ÷ 10 minutes per minute of cranking = 288 minutes or 4.8 hours of cranking at 120 RPM. If the "about ten minutes of light" is actually 9 minutes, you would have to crank for 5.3 hours. The Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel will charge it in 7 hours. It seems the better choice. Their new Mini-Lantern is also an AWESOME product! It is not meant to fully charge the battery from the hand crank. It's purpose is to provide enough power for short-term light, or by its export port for making important phone calls, etc. If the "1 minute of cranking gives about 10 minutes of light on low for 1 side light" is accurate, then the 48 hours of run time on low would require: 48 hrs x 60 min/hr = 2,880 minutes of light ÷ 10 minutes per minute of cranking = 288 minutes or 4.8 hours of cranking at 120 RPM. If the "about ten minutes of light" is actually 9 minutes, you would have to crank for 5.3 hours. The Goal... » Read More It is not meant to fully charge the battery from the hand crank. It's purpose is to provide enough power for short-term light, or by its export port for making important phone calls, etc. If the "1 minute of cranking gives about 10 minutes of light on low for 1 side light" is accurate, then the 48 hours of run time on low would require: 48 hrs x 60 min/hr = 2,880 minutes of light ÷ 10 minutes per minute of cranking = 288 minutes or 4.8 hours of cranking at 120 RPM. If the "about ten minutes of light" is actually 9 minutes, you would have to crank for 5.3 hours. The Goal Zero Nomad 7 solar panel will charge it in 7 hours. It seems the better choice. Their new Mini-Lantern is also an AWESOME product! « Show Less
2112945
No. It runs on battery power which is recharged by either solar or hand cranking.
714217
I have no idea. Note it recharges by use of a hand crank so does it really matter?
1613573
It charges at the same rate as plugging in a wall outlet. So a few minutes to bring a phone back from the dead. Over an hour to fully charge which is too much hand cranking. We recommend three minutes at a time, take a break and repeat for 30 minutes a day. Enough to keep you going away from power forever. We tested it for two months like this without plugging in on a smart phone. It is the only hand crank that really works. Others are under powered.