Multitool.org Forum
Outdoor Section => Backwoods Cuisine => Topic started by: Grant Lamontagne on September 08, 2014, 04:54:18 PM
-
A while ago I was asking about portable power options (http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,51869.0.html), and I eventually ended up getting a solar battery and a Bio Lite stove (http://www.biolitestove.com/). The solar batter smurfed the bed a couple of weeks after I got it, but the Bio Lite seems to have worked out so far. I had a couple of chances to use it over the last couple of months, but I hadn't managed to put in the time necessary to post it here until now. Sorry about that....
For those not familiar with a Bio Lite Stove, it's a little doodad that turns wood into electricity while making your lunch, and honestly I think everyone needs one. :P
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_200103.jpg?m=1410184523)
My first test with this was to see how well it charged things, and I had some twigs in my yard that needed to be disposed of, so the first test was just to see how much power it put out. I decided to use my Google Nexus 7 as a guinea pig. You'll notice the charge is at 92% at 2011hrs in the evening.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_201125.jpg?m=1410184533)
I dropped some dried twigs into the Bio Lite, lit some tinder, dropped that in and switched it on. The fire inside started quite quickly and easily- much more so than I was expecting!
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_200905.jpg?m=1410184523)
Within minutes I had a significant flame coming out of the top of the unit. The Bio Lite website says that you can boil a liter of water in about four minutes, and I believe it- the flame was quite large.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_200954.jpg?m=1410184750)
What happens with this thing is that it uses a small battery to run a fan which creates a vortex inside and allows the wood to burn very quickly, reaching very hot temperatures very quickly. Then it uses the heat generated to recharge the battery. Once the battery is full again the LED turns green and you can then use it to charge any device that can be charged from a USB port- cameras, phones, flashlights, GPS and so on.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_203827.jpg?m=1410184538)
As you can see, after almost a half hour of continuous use it didn't charge my tablet, but even with the screen and wifi on, the Nexus 7 didn't drain the battery any either, so if nothing else, the Bio Lite produces enough power to run a tablet. If I'd shut it off I imagine it would have charged but holding it's own is not too bad either. I have a feeling I'd have run out of twigs in my yard before I'd need to worry about the tablet- this thing is hungry and goes through wood like a starving kid at Baskin Robins.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140706_210025.jpg?m=1410184544)
When you stop feeding it wood it will end up burning itself out in 5-10 minutes, leaving behind a very fine ash. While the photo above looks like there are some lumps of wood, it actually burns quite efficiently, and the ash coming out of it was very similar in texture to talcum powder. the lumps you see crumbled at the slightest touch. Throughout the whole burn the outside of the stove warmed up, but was still cool enough to handle. All in all I was very happy with the stove. Of course, how would it work for cooking was the next question, and one that I found out a little while later.
A few weeks ago my friend Megan and I embarked on a long kayak trip. We knew it was going to be a long day, as we were estimating about 30-35kms with numerous portages as we made our way from Lake Banook in the heart of Dartmouth to Grand Lake, which is out near where Derek Mac lives, using an old trade route called the Shubie Canal. I've talked about the canal a lot and paddled it even more, but this would be the first time I'd attempted to paddle all seven lakes and the canals that connect them in one day. The day would start on Lake Banook, then Lake MicMac, followed by Lake Charles, Lake William, Lake Thomas (where we planned to find a spot on an island and have lunch) then Lake Fletcher and into Grand Lake. We'd portage at least once between almost every lake, and more than usual since we have had very little rain this year and the water was low.
We had a great time kayaking, although we did fall short of our goal. It was still a very long day, but we did stop for lunch as planned, and the Bio Lite performed excellently. Megan is going to kill me for posting this, but here she is being very skeptical of the stove:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140817_140338.jpg?m=1410184716)
That ended quickly once we got food on the stove- in fact, it was burning so hot that it was searing the food rather than cooking it. Pictured here is the potato/onion/orange pepper mix that we started with. I didn't get any pictures of the steak we threw in afterwards, but it was a cut about 3/4" thick, and it also cooked extremely fast. The steak was then cut up and put on top of the veggies making for a very nice lunch.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140817_141000.jpg?m=1410184732)
Detail oriented members will have noticed the reference to Scotia Biomass on my tablet screen above- well, according to the folks at Bio Lite you can use any biomass in this stove, so I tried using some wood pellets left over from that job. I think this might have accounted for the excessive heat coming out of this stove, but they worked amazingly well- at least until I dropped too many in at once and smothered it. :facepalm:
The stove however performed excellently, and I can highly recommend this thing to anyone interested in keeping a device powered and who wants to eat lunch, all while away from home. The stove packs up very compactly and while the battery is a bit heavy, the rest of the unit is very lightweight. The only down side to this stove is the inability to regulate the heat output- you can't really turn it up or down other than adding more or less wood, but that's a small price to pay to keep your devices charged. As most of you know I am a huge advocate of cell phones on excursions as they are the best safety device you can buy, but they aren't much good when the battery dies. This is another way to stay safe as you will always be able to keep your battery charged, especially as fuel is available almost everywhere, provided you aren't trapped in Antarctica or the Gobi Desert.
And, in keeping with the multitool-ness of the forum, we ate our lunch with Eat'n Tools!
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20140817_142606.jpg?m=1410184708)
:D
Def
-
Glad the stove is working out for you.
Nate
-
I see now they have the larger one available- the Basecamp version. It won't fit in my kayak but it sure does seem like it would charge everything a lot faster!
Def
Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery
-
If weight isn't an issue that stove looks like a good investment. The only part I don't like is the inability to quick change the heat. Otherwise it is definitely more than a gadget and could be great for emergencies in my opinion.
-
Good write-up boss. And nice pictures too. :cheers:
Have you timed how long it would take you to charge a cell phone battery with it?
-
I haven't read this all the way through, but I do like the 'eat'n'tool' model ;) quite a babe. can see why you go Kayaking now :drool:
-
I haven't read this all the way through, but I do like the 'eat'n'tool' model ;) quite a babe. can see why you go Kayaking now :drool:
She's very upset with me for posting photos in which she looks "rough."
Good write-up boss. And nice pictures too. :cheers:
Have you timed how long it would take you to charge a cell phone battery with it?
Nope. That is something I'll probably do at some point, but my new phone uses different cables than my old one and I didn't have one of the new ones with me when we went kayaking!
If weight isn't an issue that stove looks like a good investment. The only part I don't like is the inability to quick change the heat. Otherwise it is definitely more than a gadget and could be great for emergencies in my opinion.
Not being adjustable is a bit of a pain in the arse, but it does do an excellent job of cooking, and while the battery does add to the weight it is offset by the fact that you don't also need to carry fuel with you.
Def
-
I haven't read this all the way through, but I do like the 'eat'n'tool' model ;) quite a babe. can see why you go Kayaking now :drool:
She's very upset with me for posting photos in which she looks "rough."
well tell her we need to see a few pics of her at her best, just in the interest of being fair, and we'll make the judgments !
(I think she's hot..... hotter that that stove ;) sadly she probably young enough to be my daughter but cute as ....)
-
Hey Megan, don't worry about Taxi Dad, when push comes to shove he'll beeline for kirky.
-
I said she was cute, not Kirky cute :twak:
-
Could you not turn off the fan to slow the burning? Can the orange bit be taken off?
-
I said she was cute, not Kirky cute :twak:
:facepalm:
-
I said she was cute, not Kirky cute :twak:
:facepalm:
Brahahahahahahahaha!!!
Nate
-
Could you not turn off the fan to slow the burning? Can the orange bit be taken off?
You can probably take the orange bit off, but then it basically is just a coffee can fire, not terribly hot or efficient. You can't actually turn the fan of when cooking as it will start itself back up again to keep from overheating the battery and other electronic gizmos.
I forgot to mention though, there are high and low settings for the fan, so I suppose there is some adjustment available.
Def
Sent from a digital multitool
-
Great review boss. :tu: Seems to be tailor made for what you are doing.
-
Nice review!
Now I want one too... :twak:
Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-
I haven't used it that much yet, but so far I really like it. I'll have to try both the charging function and cooking function at some point.
Def
Sent from my smurfing hunk of techno sorcery
-
I really dont camp enough to justify one, but I really want one anyway :D Geek factor and utility. I'd love to figure out how many sticks to charge my phone.
-
Thanks for posting - I've been thinking about maybe getting one of these for a while, but have hung back as I have had numerous solar gadgets over the years that have mostly let me down (I was attracted tot he biolite as it feels more like a proactive gadget).
I will certainly seriously consider one now - thank you
Oh, and to join in with the general banter - if it comes with a free Megan all the better :D
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
-
......I need to get me a 'Megan' for emergency use :drool:
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
Just a thought, would that possibly increase the fire's temperature and maybe melt the mesh?
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
Just a thought, would that possibly increase the fire's temperature and maybe melt the mesh?
From the FAQ section of the Bio Lite page (http://www.biolitestove.com/faq/):
Can I use charcoal in my Biolite camp stove?
You can, but we do not recommend it as an ideal fuel source. Charcoal will glow like embers but will not promote complete combustion and you'll be left with a lot of leftover ash and mass at the end of your burn. If you are looking for a standby fuel to have on-hand, we recommend wood pellets or wood chips which you can find easily at your local home improvement store.
However, for a quick tailgating hack, the CampStove is an awesome way to kickstart your charcoal for your grill.
I haven't tried charcoal yet. I'll add it to the list of things to test. :D
Def
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
Just a thought, would that possibly increase the fire's temperature and maybe melt the mesh?
They say that you can use charcoal but that it isn't recommended. Because it's been pre-burned it isn't going to fully combust.
Plus the amount of ash causes an air flow issue. We used pellets at one point and the ash started to really build up- extinguishing the fire.
Oh, Hi.
-
You look strangely familiar.... :whistle:
Def
-
(http://www.4smileys.com/smileys/icq-smileys/icq_smiley_012.gif)
welcome Megan
-
Hello Megan! Make sure you keep the boss in check for us will ya.
Nate
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
Just a thought, would that possibly increase the fire's temperature and maybe melt the mesh?
They say that you can use charcoal but that it isn't recommended. Because it's been pre-burned it isn't going to fully combust.
Plus the amount of ash causes an air flow issue. We used pellets at one point and the ash started to really build up- extinguishing the fire.
Oh, Hi.
Hi back and welcome :)
Thanks for clearing that up.
-
I wonder once you used twigs to start up the fire, if you can drop in a few bbq charcoal pieces to keep it running. It would defo burn longer then some twigs.
If yes, It looks like I need to get me one of these for emergency use...
Just a thought, would that possibly increase the fire's temperature and maybe melt the mesh?
They say that you can use charcoal but that it isn't recommended. Because it's been pre-burned it isn't going to fully combust.
Plus the amount of ash causes an air flow issue. We used pellets at one point and the ash started to really build up- extinguishing the fire.
Oh, Hi.
Hi back and welcome :)
Thanks for clearing that up.
Thanks - that makes sense :)
Oh, hi too...
-
Welcome to the loony bin, Megan. :waving:
-
Thanks guys!
I've been a bit of a lurker for a while.
-
the big question is; has Grant gotten you into carrying a multitool and, if so, which one?
Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:
-
Hi Megan. :tu:
-
Hi Megan, welcome to the nut house! :ahhh
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
-
the big question is; has Grant gotten you into carrying a multitool and, if so, which one?
Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:
I suppose I shouldn't hijack this thread any longer. :oops:
I'll try to introduce myself later in the newbie forum.
-
the big question is; has Grant gotten you into carrying a multitool and, if so, which one?
Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:
I suppose I shouldn't hijack this thread any longer. :oops:
I'll try to introduce myself later in the newbie forum.
We have a newbie forum? :think:
-
the big question is; has Grant gotten you into carrying a multitool and, if so, which one?
Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:
I suppose I shouldn't hijack this thread any longer. :oops:
I'll try to introduce myself later in the newbie forum.
Hijacking and derailing threads is what we do best here.
Nate
-
the big question is; has Grant gotten you into carrying a multitool and, if so, which one?
Oh, and welcome to the forum. :cheers:
I suppose I shouldn't hijack this thread any longer. :oops:
I'll try to introduce myself later in the newbie forum.
Hijacking and derailing threads is what we do best here.
Nate
And drinking coffee! Speaking of, I must go put a pot on now.
-
Good idea! More cOfFeE!!!!
Nate
-
Not for me - only Tuesday and Friday.
-
Not for me - only Tuesday and Friday.
What? You only drink coffee 2 days a week? What's wrong with you?
LOL!
Nate
-
Not for me - only Tuesday and Friday.
What? You only drink coffee 2 days a week? What's wrong with you?
LOL!
Nate
I'm getting withdrawl symptoms just thinking about it! :ahhh
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
-
A long time my day was running on coffee - but i reduced it when i noticed that i drink way to much of it, due to wavering hands and a to fast pounding heart, already in the early afternoons.
And at that state of caffeination i also have the tendency to be even more cranky than usual. :rant:
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
It was YOU. :o :twak:
-
Its cool. I got a grain silo full of coffee beans for 'just in case'
Nate
-
Not for me - only Tuesday and Friday.
What? You only drink coffee 2 days a week? What's wrong with you?
LOL!
Nate
I'm getting withdrawl symptoms just thinking about it! :ahhh
I know eh!
Nate
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
It was YOU. :o :twak:
And here I was blaming Kirky. :D
-
Its cool. I got a grain silo full of coffee beans for 'just in case'
Nate
We have the same numbers in our postcount but in a different order. :ahhh
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
-
Its cool. I got a grain silo full of coffee beans for 'just in case'
Nate
We have the same numbers in our postcount but in a different order. :ahhh
Cool!
Nate
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
IT'S OK! It's ok Derekmac, you got a spare can in the back. Calm down, small sips now......
Nate
-
I am quite sure I drank the world's supply of coffee this morning.
So sorry about that.
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
:ahhh :ahhh :ahhh :ahhh
IT'S OK! It's ok Derekmac, you got a spare can in the back. Calm down, small sips now......
Nate
Deep breath in.................. Deep breath out................
I'm OK now. 'sips coffee' Much better actually! :tu:
-
Turns out I still had coffee so no drama llama here. :P
-
:D
Nate
-
At the risk of derailing this wonderful coffee thread.... :P
The Bio Lite got another workout a couple of weeks ago as Megan and I ventured out into the woods to make lunch. What set this attempt to make lunch different was that it was well below freezing and there were huge amounts of snow everywhere. :ahhh
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_122424.jpg?m=1426144458)
Megan used the SOG Entrenching Tool (aka folding shovel) to find and then clear a surface to set up the stove.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_122402.jpg?m=1426144470)
After digging out a suitable rock to put the stove on we realized that the surface was very uneven so I evened it out slightly with chunks of frozen snow. Surprisingly that isn't the best surface to mount a stove on. :P
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_125221.jpg?m=1426144484)
Then it was time to light the stove, which lead us to a slight unforeseen problem- no fuel. Any dead, dry wood would be several feet below us, under the snow, and green wood would be far too wet to get the stove started. In the past attempts, wet wood wasn't an issue as the stove usually burns hot enough that wet wood dries and burns quite well, but that only works once the stove is already hot. Getting it started is another matter entirely, and this stove is hungry- it burns through wood very quickly, so you really do need a goodly amount of dry wood just to get it started.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_133146.jpg?m=1426144573)
Eventually we got a bit of a burn going and we got into the next problem- the stove started to melt through the frozen snow base it was sitting on, so I folded the SOG E-Tool partially to create a metal base for the stove to sit on.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_130702.jpg?m=1426144541)
Which lead to the next problem.... we had brought along some Mountain House Lasagne to have for lunch, but the only water we had was frozen from being in the back of the Jeep. Luckily Megan had her Freestyle handy and we quickly cut the plastic bottle away.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_125825.jpg?m=1426145459)
I ended up spilling a goodly amount of that water and ended up supplementing it with snow as I was too lazy to trudge through the snow back to the Jeep for another bottle. I could have made it all with snow, but I wanted an excuse to use a multitool to keep things relevant. :D
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_131615.jpg?m=1426145472)
Meanwhile, Megan kept searching out dry wood and breaking it up with the Freestyle as well.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/11041718_10100570098061659_4164782230766048914_n.jpg?oh=714579d475ce835f4c21e2082be90c28&oe=558D0684&__gda__=1434825106_9607601f111286d279a3f53f2be64729)
Eventually the stove boiled the water- it took longer than usual because even the dry wood had snow and ice crystals all over it and we ended up with lots of steam in addition to the fire, which never really progressed much past the ember stage. There was some flame, but not as much as in past tests with this stove.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_132140.jpg?m=1426144559)
Eventually we managed to boil the water and make lunch.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_134041.jpg?m=1426144581)
It may not have been the most appetizing looking lunch, and we started into it while it was still a bit crunchy, but by this point we were pretty hungry.
Out came the Eat'n Tools! Megan used the Eat'n Tool XL.
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/p206x206/11070631_10100570099054669_601050326359718207_n.jpg?oh=5f43f2be859f6f97885b974403ee124b&oe=55B77C89&__gda__=1433381976_c6ef140a5bb0d5bf286f513716056e07)
Megan had quite a few spoonfuls (sporkfuls?) and was forced to admit that the lasagne tasted a lot better than it looked. Then once Megan had her fill, it was time to feed dear old Uncle Def, who had been rolling in the snow bellowing "FEED ME!" over and over again. I used the standard Eat'n Tool so I also got my hands covered in reconstituted tomato sauce.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_134634.jpg?m=1426145510)
We had brought along 1,000,000 post Eat'n Tools but had left them in the Jeep and ended up using standard ones because that is what I keep in the bag with the stove and camping pots/pans.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_131603.jpg?m=1426145490)
Overall the Bio Lite functioned well enough to cook lunch, but was severely hampered by the lack of fuel. It functioned well enough to cook lunch but never really managed to build up enough heat to create enough surplus energy to charge a phone/GPS/flashlight etc. Even so, it did cook lunch well enough that we didn't feel the need to pack it up and switch to the Svea Optima 123 that we had along as a backup.
Megan was somewhat more disappointed with the Bio Lite on this outing than I was- I still maintain that for a longer excursion this stove would be preferable to the Svea Optima 123 or others since you don't need to bring along fuel. Megan argued that since fuel (dry wood) was harder to come by in the winter, the Bio Lite suffered greatly. She did agree that for lengthy excursions it would probably be better to have the Bio Lite as wood would be easier to source than white gas in the wild, but for a few days or less she would have preferred the Svea Optima. For a short excursion the Bio Lite wasn't really worth the effort that went into it- the snow we were trudging through to find wood was hip deep, and a lot of energy was expended just to try and boil water. Had this been a survival situation I'm not certain we'd be able to reclaim the energy lost trying to light the Bio Lite and keep it burning, and it still wasn't enough to even charge a cell phone or other device.
I still like the Bio Lite, but I don't think the designers had a Canadian winter in mind.
Def
-
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_134634.jpg?m=1426145510)
May this photo be added to the 'soon to be photoshopped and brought back in threads for many years' pile.
-
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_134634.jpg?m=1426145510)
May this photo be added to the 'soon to be photoshopped and brought back in threads for many years' pile.
The barn door is open. :whistle:
-
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/20150228_125825.jpg?m=1426145459)
I ended up spilling a goodly amount of that water and ended up supplementing it with snow as I was too lazy to trudge through the snow back to the Jeep for another bottle. I could have made it all with snow, but I wanted an excuse to use a multitool to keep things relevant. :D
That is lazy. The Jeep is all of ten steps behind the stove. :D
-
It took you guys forever to notice his fly was down.
Our day started off so pleasant.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/12/955156f3db6b157197fb7f0bbf0b09ae.jpg)
And somehow it ended up like this...
See we faced some adversity.
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/12/114bf4b57e7802ece892978c6c50ebdd.jpg)
-
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/12/114bf4b57e7802ece892978c6c50ebdd.jpg)
WTF happened there?
-
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/15/03/12/114bf4b57e7802ece892978c6c50ebdd.jpg)
WTF happened there?
I was changing out of my snow pants on the passenger's side. We were talking. I looked down and Grant was gone.
All I heard was giggling.
When I went around... this is what I saw! He stepped down and slipped on the ice.
-
I made a rude comment and Megan caught me with a right cross.
Def
-
I made a rude comment and Megan caught me with a right cross.
Def
:rofl:
-
LOL!
Nate
-
I made a rude comment and Megan caught me with a right cross.
Def
I thought we weren't going to tell them that?
What happened to going with the other story?
:rofl:
-
He threw you under the bus right quick.
Nate
-
Looks like a great day out I'd say. :tu:
-
He threw you under the bus right quick.
Nate
Actually, I threw Grant under the Jeep.
-
I made a rude comment and Megan caught me with a right cross.
Def
I thought we weren't going to tell them that?
What happened to going with the other story?
:rofl:
Sorry, I forgot.
I uh, walked into a door....
Def
-
I mean to ask about this stove, does the fan blow ember all over the place? When I tried to use a fan on my woodgas stove it sent embers sky high and was downright dangerous.
-
Not in the least. I never noticed any embers blowing out. I believe the vortex is aimed to keep the ash and embers in.
Def
-
Good to know. Too bad I don't live close enough to borrow yours for, um, study. :D
-
He threw you under the bus right quick.
Nate
Actually, I threw Grant under the Jeep.
That you did.
Nate
-
Good to know. Too bad I don't live close enough to borrow yours for, um, study. :D
Honestly, I really like this one. It is remarkably easy to light- much easier than I'd thought, it heats up fast, cooks things quite well and does a good job overall. I also like the idea of not having to carry fuel with me and I like that it will charge devices while you cook. I have bought a couple of power banks to make more efficient use of it, since I can charge the banks while I cook and then charge the phones/lights/GPS etc overnight since I don't want to burn the stove while I'm asleep.
That brings us to the drawback of this stove, which I suppose is also a safety feature. It is hungry. It burns the wood at seriously intense temperatures, and to do that it needs to burn the wood fast. You will find yourself almost constantly feeding this thing if you plan to cook on it. I'd say you need to add wood about every minute and a half to two minutes or it will exhaust the wood in it and start to die out. I'll do a more in depth measurement in the summer when dry wood is more plentiful and see how much wood I have to put into it, and at what intervals.
Def
-
Thread Necro!
As part of a job application for a local outfitter I was required to tell a story about an outdoor experience I had. I chose this one, and thought maybe the folks here would also like to read my long winded tale!
While I enjoy all manner of outdoor adventuring, and have even mostly taken jobs that require extended periods of being outdoors in all weather, my hands down favourite activity is kayaking.
I've recently moved here from Nova Scotia, where there are a number of different types of kayaking available- whitewater, ocean, flasmurfer etc. There's even a sport there called Rock Hopping, which basically means you ride a swell up and over a rock, then, as the water recedes you land on the rock and wait for the next swell to take you off of it.
But this isn't a story about that- this is a story about a waterway that splits Nova Scotia in half called the Shubendacadie Canal System- or just the Shubie Canal for short. It leads from Halifax Harbour to the Bay of Fundy, home of the world's highest tides. The canal is roughly 100kms long, and I have paddled, on various occasions, almost all of it. I was taking my new girlfriend, fairly new to paddling on a bit of an adventure that I had come to call the Seven Lakes Run.
As you can imagine from the name, this trip covers the seven lakes that make up roughly the first third of the Canal System and includes flat water, some rapids and numerous portages, and not ideal for my 17 foot fiberglass sea kayak, but I used it anyway, so my girlfriend could use my nimbler 13 foot plastic boat with the rudder. It was, I decided, preferable as well to have her in the plastic boat, as it was much more resistant to the rocks she was likely to hit along the way!
We started in Lake Banook, which lead nicely into Lake MicMac by passing under a highway overpass, and then had to portage up the locks. In many ways this was the hardest part of the journey as the next lake, Charles, is fed by springs and is the highest point in the canal, and that means that water flows out of both ends of it, so once we passed Charles we would be going with the current, rather than against it. Lake Charles is also open and can get choppy, and is the last point to pack it in if you don't think you are up to the rest of the trip.
Between the locks and Lake Charles is a section of canal, hand hewn into the rock called the Deep Cut, and while it is only a few hundred meters long, it is perhaps one of the most beautiful places I have ever encountered to paddle. It is sheltered by overhanging trees and is bordered on either shore by rough cut stone. Every time I paddle through there I am reminded of the time my older brother, his friend and I all paddled that section in a half submerged 1 man inflatable boat from Canadian Tire.
But I digress. Lake Charles was, as usual, relatively uneventful as we paddled it's entire length, with me encouraging my girlfriend to ram all the buoys she saw as I always do. Simple pleasures, right?
At the far end of Lake Charles we had to portage for the second time, and then a few hundred feet later a third time as the trail ended and then the water became too shallow. I was just glad that I had invested in a second Wheeleez cart when I bought my second boat- up until this point I had usually paddled alone and I wasn't convinced a second cart was necessary. Now I was as I repeatedly pulled both boats out of the water and walked them to the next put in spot.
The slime on the rocks was thick, and as I pulled the boats out for the fourth portage of the day I slipped on one and sat down in the water in a very unpleasant matter and stained the back of my shorts with brown slime. I eventually had to throw those shorts out as repeated washings were unable to remove the stains, and they were no longer flattering to wear in public!
Still we continued on up the canalway, through the overhanging trees that were thick enough to blot out the sun and give us the feeling that we were paddling into a banjo infested scene out of a horror film. Even passing under an old railway bridge, long since forgotten by everyone but the millions of spiders that now called it home couldn't shake our desire to make our destination- and we were coming up to the fourth lake in our trip- William.
Lake William was another good sized lake, and I believe the second largest lake in the canal system. It is also quite exposed and can become rather unpleasant in a hurry, but the most concerning part of it is the opposite end of the lake, where we would encounter our first set of rapids on the journey. However, the rapids are a bit more challenging as they are fairly shallow and the rocks at the bottom can be a bit hazardous, but worst of all, you need to bend down and lie as flat as you can on the deck of your boat to shoot them, because you have to go under a bridge just as the current starts to take you.
With a few slight bumps on the bottom we both made it through unscathed and my girlfriend had done a good job of ensuring that she kept the bow forward and didn't turn sideways in the current. She had passed her first real challenge with flying colors and I was very proud of her!
We continued paddling and riding the lesser current, past one of my favourite boat shops to the next lake, called Thomas. Thomas is unremarkable, except for the highway that splits right through it, and it having been the place that I lost the blade on a paddle once, and from then on always carried a spare. We had a little bit of fun as the current sucked us under the highway overpass, at which point we decided it was time for lunch.
We pulled up on one of the islands on Lake Thomas and pulled out my Bio-Lite camp stove. This was the first time I'd really used it, but I thought it was really cool to have a stove that turned wood into electricity while cooking my lunch! We fried up some vegetables and then a hunk of steak to slice up, but unfortunately the stove was burning a bit too hot and the steak was going to burn, so we dumped in some Lemon Lime Gatorade in hopes of cooling it down to a proper cooking temperature. This of course lead to a lemon-lime steak, which actually tasted a lot better than you would expect it to!
After lunch we rested for a bit, knowing that the 30 degree weather was going to take it's toll on us, and the next part of the journey, known as Fletcher's Run was going to take a lot of effort.
You see, Lake Fletcher is the next lake in the canal, but to get to it you have to navigate a very significant drop. I would estimate they are a Class IV rapid, and certainly not the type of thing a novice paddler like my girlfriend should be doing, nor something I should be doing in a 17 foot fiberglass sea kayak. So, it required another portage, but not like any of the others, because there was no trail to the bottom at that time. There is now, but there wasn't then, and largely the reason the trail and stairs were put in was due to this particular trip, and my girlfriend, who worked with the Shubendacadie Canal Commission, the organisation that maintained and represented the waterway we were on. Naturally, being the manly man I am (read: idiot) I had previously shot these rapids in both of my boats- insert rolling eye smiley here.
But as I said, that hadn't happened yet. What we needed to do was portage the kayaks about 50 meters by hand (carts were virtually useless for this portage) to where the trail ended, a six foot stone wall. I then had to climb down the wall and catch the boats as she fed them down to me, one at a time. I put the boats into a small cove off to the side and helped her climb down, knowing we weren't out of the woods yet- figuratively speaking of course! The small cove was actually the inside of another set of locks, and there were still a couple of good bumps to go over before actually entering Lake Fletcher, and we had to be careful as this was the only public access to the lake. If something happened and either of us were injured, it was going to be very inconvenient for help to get to us.
In the end, we managed it, and went off across Lake Fletcher and beyond, into another section of canal with a bit of current and some smaller, more manageable rapids before finally managing to get out onto Shubendacadie Grand Lake, the last and largest lake in the Shubendacadie Canal System.
We had planned to cover about a third of the lake and finish at a place called Oakfield Park, which was where we had left my girlfriend's car, but we ended up being just too beat at this point (royal "we" here) so I ended up contacting a friend of mine to pick us up at the beginning of the lake instead, telling him that we had accidentally lost her car keys in the lake, rather than admit we didn't want to go the last little bit.
It ended up being a good run for me, and a monumental run for her, and we both had an excellent time. To this day we still enjoy kayaking every chance we get, and since coming to Ottawa we have explored the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and Meech Lake in Gatineau Park- although just between you and me I think the kayaks are the only reason she keeps me around!
There you have it- one of my best stories- I can tell you some better ones, but they would involve a pitcher and some phrasing that one ordinarily doesn't use when one is looking for gainful employment!
Def
-
well, I'd definitely give you a job mate. :tu: I'm not sure I'm ever going to try lemon-lime fried steaks myself, so I'll just have to take your word on it that they don't taste bad. :D
-
You of all people should know that when you are in the woods you make do with what you have handy! :D
Def
-
You of all people should know that when you are in the woods you make do with what you have handy! :D
Def
I can tell you that the one thing I've never had handy is steak. :D I'm more a noodles and peperoni type of cook when in the wilds.
-
Usually so am I. I tend to stick to hot dogs or freeze dried stuff, but Megan was in charge of food that day and that's what she brought.
Def
-
Fire gets upgraded:
http://www.bioliteenergy.com/products/campstove-2?utm_campaign=CampStove+2+Launch+Remainder+%28HFTagf%29&utm_medium=email&_ke=Z3JhbnQubGFtb250YWduZUBnbWFpbC5jb20%3D&utm_source=CampStove+2+Launch+remainder+group#videos
Looks like they updated the original model with a 50% increase in power output, four fan speeds instead of the current two, the ability to use it as a power bank (I don't think that is an option on the original, as the battery needs to be charged to start cooking) and an upgraded LED readout to monitor everything.
I have to say, I think all of these upgrades will greatly improve the function of this stove. I wonder if the additional output is the result of more efficient mechanisms or if it is hungrier? Or some of each?
The big problems with the original stove still seem to remain though, and that is sourcing enough wood to keep it burning, and getting it started in the first place. We struggled getting and keeping it lit when all the wood we could source was under a lot of snow, or was green, and while the intense heat of the stove was able to burn the green and wet wood once established, it was very difficult to built that level of inferno with wet and green wood.
Over the summer I did an experiment called "Can I boost my Jeep with the Bio Lite stove?" in which I tried to use the Bio Lite to charge my NOCO GB 30 booster pack with the Bio Lite. It took an awful lot of time and wood to charge the pack to 50%, which technically should have been enough to boost the Jeep, but I really wasn't brave enough to flatten my battery to see. :ahhh
Maybe the Basecamp or the Camp Stove 2 wold fare better at such a challenge? When the weather clears up and I can get my hands on some better wood I will give it another shot!
Def
-
During last week's excursion with the Etekcity stove (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,71194.0.html) I noted the amount of deadfall around our new lunch area, and so we decided to go back this week and test out the SOG Camp Axe and make lunch on the Bio Lite.
The first thing I had to do was find a good way to carry the Camp Axe since the cover doesn't have any attachment points. But, the Maxpedition Grimlock solved that problem quickly and easily.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_094956.jpg?m=1490537338)
In fact, it seemed to be almost made to carry the SOG Camp Axe.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_095012.jpg?m=1490537338)
So, with that problem solved, we were off to the woods to play and have lunch. Unfortunately, since last weekend we have had a lot of rain, a lot of snow and then a thaw, so when we got to our usual spot all of the deadfall was soaking wet. This did not bode well for the Bio Lite stove.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_115134.jpg?m=1490537377)
Keeping the Camp Axe company is my Sync II, Kleen Kanteen bottle and the UCO match safe I picked up a few weeks ago. The Bio Lite and my LiTech pans are inside that lovely Multitool.org Tenth Anniversary Backpack (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,70952.0.html) :pok: along with a few pairs of gloves and some other random stuff.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_115901.jpg?m=1490539215)
First step was to start cutting some wood, and let me tell you, that Camp Axe was amazing. Not that it was a great test mind you, as the wood was so old it pretty well shattered when I hit it with the axe. Still, the axe performed excellently, despite the lack of a challenge.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_120156.jpg?m=1490537334)
The UCO match and tinder block did a great job of getting the fire started, which was good.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_120354.jpg?m=1490537337)
Unfortunately, the rest of the fuel wasn't as helpful. :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_122342.jpg?m=1490537350)
After some effort I did manage to get the fire going, which was great. One of the nice things about the Bio- Lite is the intense heat that can boil off the water in the wet wood in a reasonable time.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_122256.jpg?m=1490537349)
Unfortunately, as more and more wet wood goes in this is what you get more often than fire. :facepalm:
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_120923.jpg?m=1490540064)
I wasn't willing to give up though, and I tried to add a bit more oxygen to the mix. The good news is that it helped.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_122342.jpg?m=1490537350)
The bad news is that it didn't help for long.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_121007.jpg?m=1490537344)
I could get the fire going for short periods, but the stove is fairly hungry and I had to keep adding the driest wood I could find, which wasn't that dry.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_121038.jpg?m=1490537347)
Unfortunately, between the wet wood and the partially wet wood, I was unable to get the stove going, which unfortunately just ends in another Bio Lite fail. I love this little stove and I love the concept behind it. I am also looking forward to getting the new one, but it is important to note that this stove is just not much good if you don't have access to fuel. I know that a lack of fuel is a blanket statement that applies to any stove, but I have never gotten to where I was going and found that my naptha, propane or alcohol was too wet to make my lunch.
Fortunately Megan had also loaded the Etekcity stove into the wonderful and handy Multitool.org Tenth Anniversary Backpack (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,70952.0.html) and eventually I was forced to throw in the towel and make lunch on that instead.
Except that it wasn't all fun and games either- the igniter on the Etekcity stove needed to be clicked a dozen or so times before it gave us that wonderful fire. Of course, it eventually did, and lunch was enjoyed by all as we sat there, marvelling at how beautiful and useful the Multitool.org Tenth Anniversary Backpack (https://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,70952.0.html) is.... :D
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/03-25-17/20170325_125446.jpg?m=1490540584)
Def
-
Very interesting mate. I've always struggled with the idea of completely relying on making fire in order to have hot food, especially in wet and cold conditions. Anyone who says they've not struggled to make fire in those conditions hasn't tried often enough.
Fantastic looking axe and bag BTW. :tu:
-
If you can get enough dry wood to get the stove up to it's operating temperature then wet wood won't affect it much, as I have proved in the past. Unfortunately, getting it to that temperature requires a lot of effort and at least some dry wood.
Bio Lite sells wood pellets, the exact same ones that you buy for pellet stoves and exactly the same ones I used to load onto ships 20,000 metric tonnes at a time. If you were to carry a small bag of those, you could probably get the stove burning well enough to start feeding it occasional bits of wet wood, but that negates the concept of not having to carry fuel with you, so I am not sure how good an idea that may or may not be.
However, the Bio Lite still does provide power, which is something the other stoves don't, and so you really do need to factor that into any decisions you make regarding what stove to bring. I will say that from that standpoint, the new version with it's built in battery bank is a HUGE improvement that addresses one of the issues I had with the Bio-Lite, and that is that your lunch is getting cold while you are still feeding the stove to charge your phone.
At any rate, like anything else, this stove has it's limitations, and long term in the woods (more than a couple of days) I feel that it might be worth the weight, but as usual, your mileage may vary. :D
Def
-
Oh, no question it's got a lot going for it and in slightly better conditions I'd not be even slightly concerned, but as you say everything has it's design limitations.
-
So, I was thinking to the idea of not wanting to carry fuel. I say if you only have to carry a small amount and that amount could easily be carried within the stove, why not! I mean we carry lighters and ferro rods instead of rubbing sticks together. We are also carrying a stove as well as pots and pans. I say if the amount of pellets needed to carry is easily carried and it will get the stove hot enough to dry fuel then all the reason to bring some.
My little stoves electronic ignition does require a few pushes to get it going however I'll always have a lighter on hand.
-
You are absolutely correct.
Carrying a small amount of fuel and picking up the sticks when you need them would be better than having to carry all of the fuel.
Plus, if you rupture a container of wood pellets it doesn't ruin the rest of your stuff the way naphtha will, so there are still serious up sides to the Bio Lite for sure. Just make sure you have them when heading out if it's wet.
Def
-
I like the concept very much of your bio tite stove. This type stove makes a lot of sense. Having to cary liquid fuel then having it spilled would not be cool at all nor would a puncture to a propane/butane canister. You'd be pretty well up smurf creek. At least with the bio lite you can manage with carried fuel until you were able to dry enough or find suitably dry wood.
-
I have added to my Bio Lite repertoire, but not with the next bit I anticipated. I'd been interested in their Base Camp model, the second generation stove or the solar panel, but Cabelas made me an offer I couldn't refuse on the portable grill (https://www.bioliteenergy.com/products/portable-grill) attachment for my original stove. I found it in the Bargain Cave and got it for about 40% less than it usually goes for and I was happy about that.
One of the problems I have had with the BioLite is that you have to constantly feed it, which means constantly taking the food off the heat to toss more wood in. The Portable Grill funnels the heat out across the grill surface to cook things and has a convenient flip cap that you can open to feed the stove without disturbing the food. Along with the greater variety of food that I can now cook on the BioLite, it looks like it will make all cooking a lot easier. It will be interesting to see if I can use pots and pans on the grill as well, or if there's too much heat loss to work efficiently.
The down side of the Portable Grill (at least from what I can see initially) is that it is pretty large and bulky, and weighs a bit more than you think it will. I see this as a great add on for car camping, but I doubt very much any hikers would be interested in lugging this thing around.
Def
-
Those of you following me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/grant.lamontagne/?hl=en) have already seen these and have been probably waiting or me to update this thread, so here goes.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/Portable-Grille/BioLite%20Steak%20Start.jpg?m=1526989420)
I got the portable grill a while ago but hadn't had the chance to try it until a couple of weeks ago when I decided to get some little steak medallions and wrap them in bacon. And, why not? If you are going to put something to the test, why not make sure it's tested in the best possible way? :D
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/Portable-Grille/BioLite%20Steak%20Cooked.jpg?m=1526989421)
The Bio Lite and portable grill both performed excellently as you can see, and I very much enjoyed the results of it's use. The usual problems occurred though- the stove is still extremely hungry and I had to keep feeding it. The nice thing about the grill is that I don't need to remove the food from the heat to put in more wood like I did when I was just cooking on top. The heat on the grill may drop slightly when the lid is open to put more fuel in, but it is only a slight, short term drop and I don't think it affects much. After all, I am grilling meat, not making a souffle.
The problem I did have is that I was using mostly wood chips to feed the stove, as that was what I had handy when I was cooking on my back deck. The heat coming out of the stove when you open the cover to feed it is so intense that you really can't put your hand anywhere near it, so you have to kind of toss the fuel in, which means you end up with wood chips all over the grill as many don't make it in. And, they are hard to grab when they fall on the grill, and you'll probably lose any/all hair on your knuckles trying, even with tongs. Did I mention this stove burns HOT? :ahhh
The nice thing is that the Portable Grill comes apart for fairly easy cleaning, which is great because bacon wrapped steaks make a hell of a mess on a grill. Both the grill and the vented shield (doodad with the holes) come right out of the main housing, so you can scrub them down really good- just be careful that you don't bend the parts when cleaning, or you may have to bend them back slightly to fit back together properly. But then, find any small barbecue that doesn't bend when you put a lot of pressure on it. :P
Still, there are bound to be hiccups any time you use a new product for the first time, so I gave the Portable Grill another shot last week, this time with hot dogs.
(http://gallery.multitool.org/var/resizes/Camp-Stoves/Bio-Lite/Portable-Grille/BioLite%20Hot%20Dog.jpg?m=1526989421)
There are actually two zones on this grille, which were obvious while cooking the steaks, and even more obvious when cooking the hot dogs, as one end of each wiener tended to cook faster than the other. No big deal, as wieners aren't too difficult to turn around. Basically the closer to the center (heat source) the hotter things get, which really shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone. :facepalm:
The hot dogs didn't take as long to cook, so I really didn't need to add fuel once the grill was warmed up, so I was at least saved that particular problem. Both times the stove burned all the wood down to the finest ash, and both times it cooled down in a reasonable amount of time. You are supposed to leave the fan running until it shuts itself off, and the same internal vortex that allows it to burn so hot also does a great job of cooling the stove (and by extension, the grill) down afterwards, and they aren't kidding when they say that you could pack the stove away in 10-15 minutes after use.
I am still a big fan of this stove four years later (can it really be that long?), although like any stove it has it's pros and cons. Many state, federal and provincial parks don't allow you to gather wood, and that's a real drawback since it defeats the purpose of not carrying fuel if you have to bring your own fuel. :facepalm:
Also, the wet fuel problem can be an issue.
Further, it is hungry, and this model doesn't allow you to charge anything unless you are actively burning wood. The newer model is supposedly significantly more efficient and has a battery bank feature, so these problems probably aren't issues anymore.
But, I hold true to my original comments that I think this is a much better option for an extended stay in the woods, be it intentional or otherwise. Other than solar panels (limited effectiveness) there really aren't any other ways to charge products indefinitely. Power banks are good for a few charges, but once they are dead, they are dead, and so you may be as well without light, communication or GPS. The Bio Lite will charge things and keep charging things as long as you have wood to feed it, and wood is remarkably plentiful in Canada.
Maybe I'll get the second generation stove someday, but I have to say that so far I am quite happy with this one, even with it's problems.
Def
-
Bringing this one back up, as I still use the original BioLite stove frequently.
Just to recap- it's a small stove that burns wood and uses a small fan to create a vortex that heats the interior up to about 14000 degrees (does it matter if it's C or F? Or even K? that's pretty freaking hot!), cooks your lunch then uses the excess heat to convert to electricity, which it first uses to charge it's internal battery, then uses the rest to charge any USB powered devices you may have.
With my original stove, you can only generate power while it's burning, but the second generation version allows you to also use it as a power bank when you aren't making lunch, but that never seemed like an important enough upgrade for me to buy the second generation version.
However, I do very much like BioLite products, and I have often been tempted to purchase more from them. I liked my stove so much that I bought the barbecue attachment for it, and I like it even more as a barbecue than I do as a stove.
But, the stove doesn't work as a battery bank (mine doesn't anyways) and it is hungry- if you want to keep your phone charged, you will need to spend a lot of time gathering wood for it. It's better suited to top up a battery rather than charging it from 0%, so while it's great, it's not a perfect solution.
Given the bad weather we often experience here, and the resulting power outages, not to mention the fact that I work in out of the way places, portable power that I can generate easily is a huge motivator for me. That, plus a price I couldn't argue with got me this- the BioLite Solarpanel 10+.
Today is the first day I have had a chance to try it. It didn't work so well yesterday in the fog and rain, but the sun is out today, so I've set it up, and I will see how well it works as the day goes on.
-
The construction of it feels nice, but also illustrates a bit of a problem, but I'll get to that- it's pretty minor, so don't worry your pretty little head about it too much! :P
First off, it feels very robust, as you would hope that a portable solar panel for hikers and campers would.
And, it has a tiny solar targeting system built into it- basically the shadow of the dot should show in the middle of the crosshairs, which means the panel is facing directly at the sun. The stand allows it to sit in multiple angles, so it should be very easy to position it for maximum exposure, which is great.
It also has an integrated 3200mah battery, so while it won't completely charge a modern smartphone, it should be able to top it up well enough- or charge a GoPro, headlamp or other items.
Basically the solar panels charge the battery, then the battery charges whatever else you want charged. I don't know if the panel can charge anything else directly or not, I haven't been able to figure that out from the literature.
The second panel folds over the first and locks into place for carry/storage, and that is handy, but is also the problem I alluded to earlier.
Since the panels are connected by ribbon cables, something every tech guy knows is a recipe for disaster, the flexible hinge that connects the panels is quite heavily reinforced- and is actually not a hinge so much as semi flexible plastic similar to a book binding. Unfortunately this means that the second panel really doesn't want to sit flat and in line with the main panel.
I have tried using the targeting system to aim the main panel, and it is very easy to use and quite effective, but the secondary panel wants to close by itself, or sit on another, weird angle. I have tried using a rock to keep it from folding, but there is enough spring in the hinge portion that it just moves the main panel out of alignment.
In the end I just decided to set it up as good as I can, and use the dot to put the panels slightly off center so that they both get a reasonable amount of direct exposure.
This will probably be less of a concern around noon when I can lay it flat (ish) on a rock and soak up the sun that way. And, even at part capacity it is energy I wouldn't have harnessed otherwise. Still, it would have been nice if there was some kind of clip that would hold the two panels at 180 degrees to each other. Perhaps I'll search online and see if I can 3D print something to fit it.
All in all, I am quite happy with the SolarPanel 10+ so far. If it functions as it's supposed to then I'll consider it a win.
Def
-
It is fully charged ow, after only a few hours in the sun. Dang this thing is fast.
Also, one the hinge plastic warmed up the second panel was able to lay flat, so that problem turned out to be not a problem at all.
Now I wish it had a much bigger battery if it will charge that fast.
Def
-
I enjoy your review of this, and have considered getting one of these for...well nearly a decade ::)
but I still have not...
I don't know, maybe it sounds too good to be true?
no one I know in the outdoor industry uses one, and half of them are gear junkies, and I guess I can't figure out why, and I'm too much of a coward to take the plunge on one myself.
-
I can't comment on what your friends like and don't like, but I really like the BioLite products I have.
I'm kind of bummed that the Base Station is no longer available. I have been wanting that one all along, but it was always a bit too pricey.
But I have been having good luck with the solar panel and the stove. I've been using the stove for years now and I haven't had any problems- at least nothing to do with the stove. Wet wood is always a problem, but that's not the stove's fault.
I've heated water on it for rehydrating bag meals, I've cooked steak on it, with the barbecue attachment and in a pan, to be cooked hot dogs on it and I've roasted marshmallows. It's done all of it and more.
Def
-
I know, I read the thread :D
I didn't say they were my friends :P