The Mini Kin Offers Cheaper Option for Personal Wind Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, Central Coast, California on 10. 3.08
The personal wind power scene has a new mini charger to widen, ever so slightly, the number of options out there for charging mobile devices via the breeze.
Personal wind chargers have started creeping up onto the scene now that people have caught on to the notion of charging smaller gadgets, or even laptops (though not with this little guy), with renewable energy. It's easy, cheaper, novel, and green to be able to charge up devices without having to invest in big systems like solar panels on the house or a wind farm in your back yard.
So what does the adorably named Mini Kin have to offer to portable power customers?
Details on this cute little charger are scarce, at least for now. It will launch on October 13 and we’ll likely have more info to explore after that.
What we do know is it seems to be very similar to the Hymini, its only real competition. It is priced about $20 cheaper (about $60 vs. Hymini’s $80), and has a different mounting option – coming with a suction cup and adjustable arm. Additionally, it comes with adapters for mobile device brands Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Motorola and the iPhone.
Interesting to note, the charger is debuting at a website called I Want One of Those. The site’s tagline is “Stuff you don’t need…but really, really want.” Gotta say, a personal wind charger is not necessarily a pasticrap-stocking-stuffer-style item that no one really needs. On the contrary, these can actually be very useful for reducing one’s reliance on the grid, even if just for mobile devices.
But, it’s kind of tough to say if this is indeed more than plasticrap without any real details. I’m pretty excited to find out more – living in a windy area and riding my bike everywhere makes small wind chargers like this appealing.
Via SmartPlanet
More on Personal Alternative Energy:
Sanyo's Eneloop Solar Light & USB Charger
iYo Yo-Yo Charger for Power Without Solar and Wind
HYmini Wind-Powered Gadget Charger
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economically and environmentally inefficient:
1) even if you paid $.15/kWhr (significantly above national average), $80 represents more than 500 kWhr of electricity. you would have to recharge your cell phone thousands of times to recover the device cost
2) it is made out of plastic and refined copper, which are both pretty carbon intensive to produce. i would be shocked if any user actually used the device enough times to displace the carbon produced during manufacture
Thanks for the info... I guess there is nothing interesting news out there if you are posting articles about useless "green" devices.
All I need to do is find wind to power this tiny device in my apartment to charge my laptop which will probably take 1 week to charge.
I"m glad this was posted, if only so we could learn that it's pretty useless. It's good to have discussions on this.
Interestingly I like this article and its coverage.
This charger may be used in places where power supply is not available ex: Camping.
Millions of instant mobile(or battery )chargers are sold every year. They cost a lot and is high carbon footprint.
I think this device is much better than those instant chargers in terms of cost and environment.
I found the Hymini for $34.99 at www,thinkgeek.com and hymini's site sells it for $49.99, so I am not sure where the $80 price tag came from. The bike mounting kit is $8.99 and the arm band kit is $14.99. That would make it under $74 if you got all three.
This device's mounting arm looks like you can only put it on a window or other flat device. Maybe you can stick it on your forehead if you want to run with it.
Sounds like a great gimmick to increase people`s awareness of "Think Green". Better than posters, signboards, etc!
Put it on a bicycle, put it out the car window, take it on a picnic, or festivals.
The more people are exposed to green concepts, the more they will be open to other green ideas, and think more seriously about their own footprint.
sounds like the term "little steps cover great distances when put together" means nothing to you people...
I find your complete denial of any use this device could have depressing....typical of "i want to be enviromentally friendly but it's too hard" mentality. Small steps can start a lot
think this.....someone using this rides a bike every day....how large a carbon footprint is that? They use a PMP, lights and phone on the move (I use a gps too) which they now charge with this fella, further reducing the footprint. they carry a solar panel on their backpack seeing as they live somewhere hot and can charge morew things with that...significant reduction surely??
But no....cries of "oooh you're not doing enough!" will push technology no further and not bring along more efficient and better made devices...moan until it's too late, do
I find the idea of putting this on your car or bike hilarious. You're just converting your gas or leg energy into wind and then into electricity. Why don't you mount a huge wind turbine on top your SUV and drive down the highway generating wind power?
I find the idea of putting this on your car or bike hilarious. You're just converting your gas or leg energy into wind and then into electricity. Why don't you mount a huge wind turbine on top your SUV and drive down the highway generating wind power?