Gotwind.org Wind-Powered Cell Phone Charger
by Sean Fisher, Cincinnati, Ohio 
on 06.19.07
Ben Jandrell of Gotwind.org recently gave the TreeHugger forums a sneak peak at his newest wind-powered invention, a tent-mounted cell phone charger prototype for the Glastonbury Festival. Commissioned by the UK-based communications company Orange, hence its color, the charger sits atop any dome-based tent providing a 1/2 watt trickle charge to a rechargeable battery (situated inside the tent) all day long. According to Ben, at wind speeds of approximately 12mph for 24 hours, the wind charger could store enough energy to take an average cell phone from empty to fully charged. This makes the charger much more practical than some of the wind-powered chargers we have featured before. Ben's charger should be a huge hit for music festivals like Glastonbury and for anyone who likes to go off-grid with their tech goodies - as it weighs in at just 150 grams sans mounting brackets. Although this was just a prototype for Orange, Ben is hoping to bring a commercial version of his invention at some point, so be on the lookout wind power fans. ::Gotwind.org
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This is great - Im off to Glastonbury tomorrow on behalf off a charity so a combo of work and play :)
Camping with out my cell phone or electrical devices.......god for bid. I camp to get away from this.....I have an idea: Why not just turn off your electrical devices and enjoy nature? The only electrical device you need is a flashlight. Unless you really think that you can live in a tent year round, then I applaud you. But I think I will just stick to the traditional method of being off-grid completely when camping.
I like small scale turbines for power, but I would attach them to my house, not my tent. I believe that Ben may need a new marketing strategy.
Please note that this was commissioned by Orange specifically for the Glastonbury Festival with applications for other outdoor music festivals, not exactly serene outdoor areas. It was my assertion that this could get some play with those who take their cells camping with them (believe me, I have seen it). If anything else, there are folks who takes their cells solely for emergency scenarios and wouldn't mind the security of having a way to charge it just in case.
Orange is a good color, especially during hunting season and illegal hunting season, too. Just back from a 400 mile long section hike of the Appalachian Trail. Cell phones are ubiquitous in the deep woods, but they are always turned off. Their usefulness in case of emergency justifies their small weight penalty. A wind powered cell phone charger for a busy concert office seems like a pretty good idea though, if the wind's up.
On the same tack, we must allow large windmills upon the Appalachian heights as the noble sacrifice to help reduce global warming.
Ben - have you actually tried to sleep in a tent with this thing whirling away on top?
All the windmills that I've been around kick up some vibration and noise.
0.5W???? Do you have any idea how ridiculously low that is? I totally agree with the earlier poster regarding solar or handcrank as a much, MUCH better option. 0.5W. Wow. This is pretty much a useless marketing statement. More plastic trash for the landfill as it serves no real purpose.
Ken,
I agree 0.5 of a watt is pretty low compared to a solar panel.
Please remember, this is a prototype. 'Betz law ' suggests a power rating of 1 watt for a 12" diameter propeller at 80% efficiency in a 10 mph wind.
So this is the figure we will be aiming for in the production model.
Also, the wind can blow 24/7 unlike the sun's relative short window of opportunity (Dependant on location).
The propeller is near silent without any vibration issues, even on the prototype...
Ben
gotwind.org
I think its fantastic. With the right promotion he should sell a lot of these.
ya this is some what useful,i hope tha it will be very useful for the trekkers......industries should come forward to this cheaper and better for the shake of people's best
I think it is very utility. I want buy it.
how much? and where I buy it? I'm Korean. :=)
I think it is very utility. I want buy it.
how much? and where I buy it? I'm Korean. :=)
hi i noe this is completely off topic
but i dident noe who else to tell my idea.... for a better world.
ever wonder how it feels like to stand on the road of a high way?
well i could imagin that its pretty windy there, well i have thought........
what if we invented a mini windmill, and atached it along the guard rails of the high way? with all the cars zooming bye, they will be creating a constant gust
powering the windmills, creating endless power! ryt? well i know its going to take billions of dollars, and the gov. doesnt care and wont listen to a 16 yr old, but we "tree hugers " can try to save ourselves think about it, wind millls, means no more factories, no more cars on gas (awsome idea since prices are ridiculus high). think about it there wont be any uses for gas. think about the future. gas will be and must be made obsolete. u can charge just about anything. i bet u can equip mini windmills to cars, and have it there to keep more power.
-john (16, with ideas. help out the environment, help ur selves)