The FlameStower is a field charging unit designed to charge usb-based devices such as cell phones, gps, etc. It works by placing the attachable blade on or near a heat source, such as a fire, and placing water in the reservoir. The heat transfers to the thermoelectric generator, the water keeps the opposite surface of the generator cool, and the temperature difference generates electricity. This allows the FlameStower to work in most environments and at all times of the day, unlike solar chargers.
Tags: FlameStower
Here’s a video of the latest version
http://youtu.be/lBMhSNU8kPs
Great to see genuine innovation, and looks like a definite purchase for me, no more running out of charge on my camping trips!
There are several thermoelectric generators with different working principles available on market and you are always free to build your own of simple parts, but the common problem of these things (and solar panels, usually) is lack of direct produced energy readout.
Makers of FlameStower are mentioning on their website, that there is some energy indicator called Power Quality Lights, but it should be displaying something like number of fractions of maximal safe output power.
Rechargeable devices are usually have charging current (in milliamperes) in its technical specification while here, we have to deal with maximal output power (3 Watts), divide it by 5 Volts to get maximal current (600 mA) and then, again divide it by number of fractions from PQL (assuming these fractions are equal) to get the actual output current in given conditions to compare it with nominal charging current of our device. It’s important to know the actual current if you don’t need the full power for charging and trying to save the fuel, for example.
It shouldn’t be a problem with devices which are able to recharge from regular computer USB port (it could give much less current then 500-600 mA), but some hungry non-standard devices could experience some problems with it.