SPOT + Phone = 1 less thing to bring

[Marshal]

Humm, We are off topic now
Last year pre-TDR I lightly investigated dynamos powering bike lights. 

The bike dynamo has a proven niche in powering lighting systems for urban commuting  “on pavement” and some road touring.  If I was a commuter or did extensive road tours/riding I would look closer.

Combined with the new lower power hungry LED lights these systems are better than ever.  Perhaps even to the point where they might be a viable option on some limited bikepacking terrain, like much of the Great Divide route? 

I am sure a dynamo/LED light system could and most likely has, been forced to work on typical single track terrain.  But I am also sure it is completely sub-optimal, in terms of constant/usable light output.

But back to my earlier post---I await your write-up (or a link to any) that successfully addresses the ‘convenience’ criteria I posted up for re-charging. 

Simple physics suggests you can at best re-charge a single phone, mp3, camera etc during a reasonable amount of time using bike sized Solar or Dynamo systems. 

Show the me the specific link to some real data or report or result where a small, light, low friction bike dynamo has met the practical time ‘re-charge requirement’ of a modest battery powered off road light system, say a relatively low powered 400 Lum system, (heck, say 100 Lum min).  And at the same time re-charge some combination of the typical battery powered bikepacking equipment—GPS, phone, camera, mp3, whatever?? 

I just don’t see it happening

[bmike-vt]

Plenty happy with many years of SON and eDeluxe (LED) and before that E6 (halogen) powered lights on pave and Vermont dirt roads, dry and wet. Supplement with a headlight as needed - typically only needed for navigation now with the eDeluxe up front.

Miles and miles and night after night of single track, all night long? No. I'd run a SuperNova E3 (symmetrical) and supplement with a high powered battery head lamp, that would probably mean extra batteries. But I'm not sure we were talking about all night every night single track requiring lights and charging at the same time.

TD - miles and miles of gravel and dirt road and two track? Probably run similar light and run a smaller headlamp for nav / camp.

Recharging - no direct experience - but from other forums (rando and touring) - folks are charging iPods, iPhones, Droid phones, and keeping GPS batteries topped off. Unlikely that they are doing this at night, night after night - but that hub spins all day long... when you don't need your lights... If I was an enginerd I'd work out for you the watts coming from the hub and how quickly one could recharge various batteries - but that stuff is beyond me.

I'm under no delusions that it will power the camp espresso machine, sat phone, and flat screen. But I do think it will recharge things faster than those little solar panels.

If / when I get one I'll do a write up. Its in the plan for my TD '12 or '13 run - SON disc hub, eWerk for GPS / phone charging.



And, I'm not trying to argue with you. Just responding to the 'solio' idea. Hub is always with you, doesn't fail when it rains, and on a bike trip you are typically moving, which means that hub is moving. And I have had lots of miles with my dyno setup on the road and see where it might be applicable to someone looking for power in the middle of nowhere...

[trebor]

way off topic, but i am currently testing a dynamo hub and soon to add a charging system.

i plan to use it once i know the ability to recharge my GPS and cell phone. cell will only need a charge every few days since it won't see much use. GPS will get a top off each day while riding and at night the dynamo will run lights exclusively. i'm running a 100+ lumen light with full brightness achieved at about 4 mph. small helmet headlamp supplement as needed.

on topic, this could allow me to run the SPOT Connect off my smart phone easily. but i've already got my eye on a SPOT I for pretty cheap......

[bmike-vt]

Rob, what light are you running?

[DaveH]

My main question would be if you can use the Spot's GPS receiver to actually navigate with? ie check your 'current' position at 'any' time  which would imply you could then follow a 'track'

If the answer to this question is no, then why bother, you have given up the most important feature of a GSP.  But is the answer is yes, (the Spot's GPS receiver constantly updates, not every 10 min--sleep mode to save battery) then I would also be very interested

The capability to send SMS messages from the wild is novel and puts this device in a new league. Now, keeping a  phone powered up for a long trip is going to be over the top (for racing anyway) for awhile yet, but things are shaking loose on that front too.

Why would you want continuous location information?  That would require a steady bluetooth connection, increasing power demands.  I'd only connect the device and my phone on to send text or to start tracking, otherwise why keep them synced?  Just curious...

[trebor]

Rob, what light are you running?

I'm running the Planet Bike Blaze 1W dynamo.

After much searching, I can't actually find a spec on the light output. So my claim of 100 Lumens is unsubstantiated.

Thus far on my commutes to and from work, it has been plenty bright, and when compared to my DiNotte 200 lumen, it seems half as bright. Sorry that my estimate on output is anecdotal.