How to charge your iPhone without an outlet

Our smartphones have become so important to us these days that when our battery life is running low we may feel like we’re about to lose a limb. Sure, you can plug it into your car charger if you happen to be near, but what do you do when there’s no car and no outlet in sight?

Sure you can always use the sun, since solar chargers are a very popular alternative these days, but weather and nighttime conditions can often hinder performance. (You can always use your own urine like Bristol Robotics researchers discovered).

So, what about some feasible methods?

Here are five creative ways to charge that do not require an outlet.

1. Use a campfire

So, if you happen to be on campsite and your battery is dead, you can use the PowerPot X to recharge. The pot provides electrical power, and when paired with a camp stove, the thermoelectric generator can produce a full 10 watts of max output (most tablets usually charge at 5 to 10 W). Power passes through a regulator before heading to the USB ports so each device receives a constant flow of electricity. PowerPot X just achieved its Kickstarter goal and will begin shipping May 2014.
 
2. Get yourself a wireless charging case

The uNu Aero Wireless Charging System was presented at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. The rechargeable iPhone battery case charges wirelessly and works with a special charging mat, thanks to contact charging that uses a full circuit connection formed by two nodes at the back of the case and surface of the mat. You can buy one for $99.95.

3. Grab a cup of coffee

Last week at CES, Duracell demonstrated its Powermat technology by installing wireless charging stations in Startbucks coffee shops. Since many show attendees did not have the necessary Powermat case, Duracell provided a wireless charging receiver that plugged into an Apple 30-pin Lightning, or Micro-USB port. Then users could lie the phone down on the tabletop Powermat.

Duracell has been testing this method in pilot stores in Boston and California for over a year and is waiting to get the green light to set up in other Starbucks across the country. The company is still working on methods for distributing receivers to customers and will most likely have a version that can be purchased in Starbucks for a few dollars.

4. Ride your bike

Tjeerd Veenhoven created the iFan, a modified computer fan to charge his cellphone by attaching it to his bike. The wind turbine approach uses green energy to power a phone instead of electricity.Learn more. 
 
5. Go old-fashioned and hand-crank it

Back in the day, people used to churn butter, so why not churn our cellphone charger? Get yourself a backup battery charger that converts 1 minute of hand-cranking into 4 minutes of emergency power for a connected cellphone. It provides the same crank-to-power efficiency as used in larger emergency radios and integrates a 2,000-mAh lithium-ion battery, which recharges fully in about two-and-a-half hours so you can take it with you again. You can purchase the Hand-Crank Emergency Cellphone Charger for $60.

Now you never have to feel lost without a phone again.

Related Products: Power Supplies