What I'd really like to get is one of those nice ones that have noaa radio!
So... am I missing something or is crank power really just kind of a gimicky waste?
Quote from: MadPlumbarian on April 07, 2014, 04:45:53 AMWhat I'd really like to get is one of those nice ones that have noaa radio! I have an Eton FR-300. It gets 7 weather bands, and SO FAR, the crank power has worked pretty well. It also has a place for regular batteries, so it doesn't HAVE to be crank powered. I've had it a few years. Maybe 4 or 5? Every time the tornado sirens go off, I pull it out, crank it up to make sure that's still working, and turn on the NOAA report.I don't intend to pack it off anywhere though, so the added bulk is kind of irrelevant.
I have one 'cranked' radio which used to see a lot of use at work, and my daughter has a 'cranked' torch, but other than that I don't have anything. Like Lynn I really don't see them having a huge advantage over a good set of batteries, the added bulk/effort required puts them at a disadvantage for me.What I would have liked was one of the original Trevor Baylis 'wind up' radios, not quite the same as a hand cranked generator type; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-up_radio#Windup_radio
Quote from: Gareth on April 09, 2014, 10:44:13 AMI have one 'cranked' radio which used to see a lot of use at work, and my daughter has a 'cranked' torch, but other than that I don't have anything. Like Lynn I really don't see them having a huge advantage over a good set of batteries, the added bulk/effort required puts them at a disadvantage for me.What I would have liked was one of the original Trevor Baylis 'wind up' radios, not quite the same as a hand cranked generator type; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-up_radio#Windup_radioI have one of these, in original box and as new except for a broken aerial (that's a "get a replacement from Maplins" job). If you would like to make some sort of trade please let me know m8
Quote from: Lynn LeFey on April 07, 2014, 05:02:21 AMQuote from: MadPlumbarian on April 07, 2014, 04:45:53 AMWhat I'd really like to get is one of those nice ones that have noaa radio! I have an Eton FR-300. It gets 7 weather bands, and SO FAR, the crank power has worked pretty well. It also has a place for regular batteries, so it doesn't HAVE to be crank powered. I've had it a few years. Maybe 4 or 5? Every time the tornado sirens go off, I pull it out, crank it up to make sure that's still working, and turn on the NOAA report.I don't intend to pack it off anywhere though, so the added bulk is kind of irrelevant.I have that exact same Eton model I love it. The crank feels like a selling feature, but I suppose could be used. I have a different radio model with solar charing and its awesome. In regular daylight the solar power is enough to power the radio with no batteries at all even installed. So Id vote for solar cells over crank power.This one.(Image removed from quote.)
Quote from: greenbear on April 09, 2014, 11:50:16 AMQuote from: Gareth on April 09, 2014, 10:44:13 AMI have one 'cranked' radio which used to see a lot of use at work, and my daughter has a 'cranked' torch, but other than that I don't have anything. Like Lynn I really don't see them having a huge advantage over a good set of batteries, the added bulk/effort required puts them at a disadvantage for me.What I would have liked was one of the original Trevor Baylis 'wind up' radios, not quite the same as a hand cranked generator type; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind-up_radio#Windup_radioI have one of these, in original box and as new except for a broken aerial (that's a "get a replacement from Maplins" job). If you would like to make some sort of trade please let me know m8
Quote from: Syph007 on April 07, 2014, 07:25:17 PMQuote from: Lynn LeFey on April 07, 2014, 05:02:21 AMQuote from: MadPlumbarian on April 07, 2014, 04:45:53 AMWhat I'd really like to get is one of those nice ones that have noaa radio! I have an Eton FR-300. It gets 7 weather bands, and SO FAR, the crank power has worked pretty well. It also has a place for regular batteries, so it doesn't HAVE to be crank powered. I've had it a few years. Maybe 4 or 5? Every time the tornado sirens go off, I pull it out, crank it up to make sure that's still working, and turn on the NOAA report.I don't intend to pack it off anywhere though, so the added bulk is kind of irrelevant.I have that exact same Eton model I love it. The crank feels like a selling feature, but I suppose could be used. I have a different radio model with solar charing and its awesome. In regular daylight the solar power is enough to power the radio with no batteries at all even installed. So Id vote for solar cells over crank power.This one.(Image removed from quote.)The solar panel on mine does not charge enough to maintain the radio. It will run flat even in full sun. If I would leave it outside for a day, I get a few hours radio charge out of it.
I think hand cranks seem a little gimmicky nowadays. My inner nerd really likes the look of the BioLite products, though. Then you get enough energy to recharge hungry devices like cell phones while getting something hot to drink or eat.
Quote from: Steinar on April 11, 2014, 12:39:45 PMI think hand cranks seem a little gimmicky nowadays. My inner nerd really likes the look of the BioLite products, though. Then you get enough energy to recharge hungry devices like cell phones while getting something hot to drink or eat. I really like the idea of this as well, but have you felt the weight? Not an item I'd like to carry around with me unless I was forced to.
Quote from: Gareth on April 11, 2014, 04:54:01 PMQuote from: Steinar on April 11, 2014, 12:39:45 PMI think hand cranks seem a little gimmicky nowadays. My inner nerd really likes the look of the BioLite products, though. Then you get enough energy to recharge hungry devices like cell phones while getting something hot to drink or eat. I really like the idea of this as well, but have you felt the weight? Not an item I'd like to carry around with me unless I was forced to.I have never handled one of them, and haven't thought to check the weight, so I had no idea they are heavy. Good to know, at least.
1kg might be a lot when you are counting grams but by the same token if you are saving on 500ml of flammible liquid, batteries and the solar cell it gets close right???