Recharge the Green Way

July 12, 2011, By Steve McFarlane 0 comments

Green rechargers are a convenient and portable way to revive cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, GPS devices, PDAs, Bluetooth headsets and digital cameras when you are far from an electrical outlet. Here are some green rechargers for your small portable gadgets.

Solio Solar Chargers

If you are looking for a solar charger that holds power in reserve to charge your devices at night or on a cloudy day, then the Solio Universal Solar charger is a great option to consider. The charger uses a lithium battery to hold power—and to charge other devices. The device charges from a power outlet or via its three solar panels that are used to collect solar energy.

Once the device is finished charging, it folds into one neat package that’s small enough to hold in a jacket pocket. It takes up to 10+ hours to fully charge the batteries by sunlight, but it’s still a convenient option to have when you are too far from a power outlet for that extended charge time to really matter. Solio solar chargers are available for as low as $49.95.

Green Wind Recharger - Kinesis Industries K3

This is a compact device that is about the size of a flashlight. The Kinesis Industries K3 charges your device from wind, solar power, or its own battery. The K3 also has a built-in rechargeable battery that you can pre-charge with normal grid electricity using an AC plug, from any computer via USB or even a car’s cigarette lighter.

According to Kinesis, a fully charged K3 will recharge a mobile phone more than five times and an iPod/MP3 player more than 10 times. Kinesis also claims that the K3 will be able to provide about 30 minutes of cell phone talk time, or more than 300 minutes of play on an MP3 after just one hour of sun and wind charging.The K3 is marketed as a disaster relief device. Weighing in at a little over half a pound, it is a bit heavy for serious hiking, but it's a handy recharge tool when you're not near an outlet. It is also weatherproof. The charger is available online for $89.00.

The BioLogic ReeCharge

This personal power system charges any USB-compatible device, including iPhones, MP3 players and cameras. The BioLogic ReeCharge captures and stores the energy that is generated from the magnets in any standard bicycle dynamo hub as you pedal along. This energy is stored in a lithium polymer battery. When you are not moving, the device recharges from a wall outlet or a computer’s USB port.

The ReeCharge is not only a good option for those who use a bicycle a lot but is also handy to keep some extra juice to recharge your device while you are on the go. If you decide to use the ReeCharge on your bicycle, you will be happy to know that it is splash-proof, so it should still work after being caught in a downpour. The BioLogic ReeCharge is available for $199.95 at Shopatron.com.

Green Kinetic Charger - nPower PEG

This genius of a device fits into a backpack, briefcase, purse or even a jacket pocket and continuously tops up its battery using the kinetic energy that is generated from walking, running, jogging or simply moving around. If you are in a bind, shake the device to generate even more electricity to charge your gadgets. To charge a device, simply plug it into the PEG. The nPower PEG is available for $149 at www.npowerpeg.com.