UNCONVENTIONAL SMARTPHONE
CHARGING ~
CHARGING ~
Could Be A Lifesaver In An Emergency….
©
2018 BOB SKIDMORE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
BOB SKIDMORE
CORRESPONDENT
We’re
now facing the last three months of the hurricane season. If tradition holds
true, they could be the most devastating months. Most of us take precautions to
ensure that we have the necessities at hand such as batteries for flashlights,
radios and other devices that are easily obtained and stored for such
emergencies. But what are we to do when the lights go out and we have no means
to charge our smartphones in the traditional manner? Naturally, some of us have
add-on battery packs that we use year-around. Others have battery backups,
inverters or generators that allow us to plug in AC appliances and chargers to
provide an alternate source of electricity when a storm or disaster strikes.
However, even with such resources at our disposal we may still need an
alternative, or plan “B”. Here’s an idea that can literally save the day.
You’ll
need at least one or more standard 9-volt batteries, a pair of alligator clip
leads, a cigarette lighter USB car adapter with protruding side contacts
and a standard USB charging cable that you already use to charge your phone. It’s important that you match everything
with its proper polarity (Positive + & Negative -). Take a fresh 9-volt
battery and connect the red positive + clip to the smooth round positive
battery terminal. You’ll note that the +
symbol is generally marked on the side of the battery nearest to this terminal.
Connect the other end to the round tip of the USB lighter adapter, which is the
corresponding positive + terminal of
the adapter. Connect one end of the black negative - clip to the large serrated battery terminal and the other to one
of the two protruding side negative -
contacts of the adapter. Plug the charging cable used by your smartphone into
the adapter’s USB port and the other end into your phone’s USB port. Charging
will commence immediately. The amount of charging that takes place is based on
the age of your phone, condition of the phone’s battery and the continuous
discharge ratio of the 9-volt battery, something that is not a factor when
charging from a wall socket. In other words, the amount of energy that will be charged
and the charging time will vary depending on these factors. Naturally, if you
have several batteries you can continue charging by replacing the 9-volt
battery until the phone shows a 100% charge. It’s important to note that you
need to monitor the charging process and when charging appears to be complete,
or the 9-volt battery appears to be drained, remove the clips from the adapter,
or replace the 9-volt battery to avoid discharging the charged phone battery.
This method of charging will be much slower than what the normal process would
be. Be patient! Make sure that all clips,
be they positive +, or negative -, never touch each other, since that will
cause a short and could likely damage the phone.
(TIP: Make sure to purchase and use a cigarette lighter USB adapter that has protruded,
wing like contacts, not flat ones. This is necessary to have something for the
clips to attach to. See the highlighted
photo above.)
How does it work? The cigarette lighter USB adapter accepts an input of
up to 12 volts. The adapter transforms that voltage to the USB port at 5 volts,
the input voltage of the phone. The 9-volt battery, while less than 12 volts
provides energy through the clip leads to the adapter and phone’s charging
cord. The fact that the 9-volt battery starts out at less than 12 volts is not
a factor to be concerned with, it simply reduces the charging speed and stored
energy in the charging process.
While
this process may seem a bit primitive and unconventional, it could be a life
safer during a storm or disaster. It’s not, however, a substitute for the
normal charging process of your smartphone.
GADGETEER’S RATING: ★★★★★
Parts
are inexpensive and available at most hardware stores and on line. In most
cases you may already have most, if not all, of these items. Don’t wait till
disaster strikes, stock up now and put them in a safe place.
Graphic credits: Google Images
Bob Skidmore is a freelance
writer, who may be contacted at bob.thegadgeteer.skidmore@gmail.com, or
followed at twitter.com/bskidmore for the
latest gadget industry news. He does not represent, or endorse any of the
products he reviews and his opinions are solely his points of view and not
those of the manufacturer. The manufacturer generally supplies products and
press releases at no cost for the articles and no other compensation is
received. THE GADGETEER is highly selective as to products he feels worthy of
review so as not to waste the reader’s time, thus the reason for many superior
ratings.
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