iPhone back-up batteries

[Rincewind]

What is the best battery back-up power solution for the iPhones?  The market is awash with these things, so it makes me wonder which are the good ones.  

I have a 1000mAh battery back-up, without any brand info, that I received a few years ago as a gift.  It will charge up the battery about 30% in a back-up situation, which is ok but not that great.  I assume that the higher mAh rated ones will handle maybe +50% charge?  I'm looking for the best model that is small and will fit easily in a pocket, thanks.

[JReazor]

I don't have any direct experience but I've heard good things about Mophie products. I would probably take a look at the Juice Pack Boost if I were in the market for such a thing.

[Rincewind]

It says the 2000mAh model is good for a full 100%, which would do nicely.  Thanks!

[Rincewind]

I bought a Mophie for my Ex and used it a few times. Liked it lots, but the charging alert sounds pretty often; it doesn't run the phone, it charges the battery in the phone, so it's on-again/off-again during use.

Do you mean to say you can't use the phone while the battery is being charged?  That sounds odd.  

[Rincewind]

Went with the Mophie Juice Pack Plus Case and Rechargeable Battery.  This doubles as a case, so should be very portable.  Thanks for the input!

[Atitalongtime]

I have had great service from my SaFPWR piggy back battery.
It charges and sinks in place and I rarely take it off.

no affiliation

http://www.safpwr.com/

[Bravo12]

http://burnsmoto.com/usb-power-socket-weatherproof.php



The motorcycle will provide.

[Rincewind]

http://burnsmoto.com/usb-power-socket-weatherproof.php



The motorcycle will provide.

I already have a Powerlet socket & cord for my bike, but that's a nice product that I may buy for my wife's bike.  Thanks.  

This thread was about mobile back-up batteries for when you are away from the bike or 120-volt outlets.  

[Lawn Dart]

http://burnsmoto.com/usb-power-socket-weatherproof.php



The motorcycle will provide.

This.  

I have this in my tank bag and under my saddle for a spare connection.  My iphone never runs out of juice.  

[Bravo12]

I figured the discussion was about stand-alone chargers, but I had to mention the USB port. Anyway, I picked up a pair of these off woot.com for like $5.99 last year. You can charge them from the USB port, then charge your phone or whatever else can use a USB port from this. It'll give an iPhone a full charge and then some. They are relatively small (about the size of 4 9v batteries) and easy to pack in the tank bag.

http://www.duracell.com/en-US/product/instant-usb-charger.jspx

Shop around, I've seen them at different prices all over the 'net.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I've got a cheapo energizer one that has a USB output on it.  I use it for backpacking cause I like to listen to music while at camp.  It'll charge from 10 percent to 75 percent while the phone is running.

[reppans]

I use an iGo PowerXtender that runs off of 2xAA, although I use Eneloops.  I don't like proprietary Li-ions for back-up batts for a few reasons - the worst thing for Li-ions is to keep them stored in a fully charged state, then you only get one charge and your done, then they really don't work for anything else. 

With AAs I can just bring extra cells, or cannibalize them from (or to) my flashlight or GPS, or buy some in any gas station.

[Hickey]

I have one of these:

http://www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/products/xp4001/

It works great for recharging iPhones and other USB devices. (With the notable exception of the iPad for some reason.) It has enough power to recharge both mine and my wife's iPhones (at the same time) at least two times before it needs to be topped off. I always take it with me when traveling and even use it to recharge my phone at work sometimes.

[Bounce]

I recently got the SOL case for the iPhone.

http://www.buy.com/prod/sol-hybrid-power-pack-solar-charging-case-for-iphone-4/224920282.html

It's a 2400Ma/H battery pack with a mini-USB port that charges and does data pass through. It triples the capacity of the stock phone and was the largest Ma/H I could find.

Up Side: LOTS of extra capacity. Heavy load apps (Plants v Zombies, GPS, etc.) can run many times longer before you need to look for a power source.

Down side: It increases the bulk of the phone.

Solar Panel: Mostly window dressing since the best-case output of the panel is something like 110 Ma/H. The result it that it would take at least 20+ hours to recharge the case's battery under the best conditions. Throwing it a bone, at least it could get SOME charge in situations where there was no other way.

[Rincewind]

2400 ma/h is very good!  The Mophie Juice Pack Plus is 2000 ma/h, but I won't complain.  It has data pass through as well with micro-USB, which is the same connector as used with Androids - handy.  

I have come to not mind and actually prefer the additional bulk of the case because it makes the phone seem more substantial and less fragile in my hand.  Being able to top off regularly at the flip of a switch is great.

[MK96xj]

I will get this on Friday for my up coming cross country trip where I am doing a bit of camping.

I will let you know how it works. It is reported to be able to fully recharge the iPhone 3 times before needing a recharge.

The iPhone can also be charged from the solar panel itself.

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/79/Guide-10-Adventure-Kit/1:1/

[Bounce]

Being able to top off regularly at the flip of a switch is great.

The SOL is a constant feed to the phone. It simply reports full all the time as the case drains first; keeping the phone topped off. It then charges up the phone first, then the case.

It's nice to look at the phone after 2 days and see it's still 100%.

Status of the case is via a 2-purpose button on the back. Push it and a 4-segement (red) LED indicator shows remaining power in the case. Hold it and a 5th (white) LED works as a flashlight.

[veefer800canuck]

I was looking at the Mophie Juice Pack Plus for my Iphone, but it seems that Ebay is awash with $45 counterfeit items.

Mophie wants WAY too much for shipping from their website. Ouch. 27 bucks for such a small light item!

And no choice for USPS either.

[Rottguinness]

Run a Cig lighter plug from battery and just charge phone from car charger.

[Bounce]

I will get this on Friday for my up coming cross country trip where I am doing a bit of camping.

I will let you know how it works. It is reported to be able to fully recharge the iPhone 3 times before needing a recharge.

The iPhone can also be charged from the solar panel itself.

http://www.goalzero.com/shop/p/79/Guide-10-Adventure-Kit/1:1/

I saw that the solar panel is 7 watts but didn't see its amps. Check the amps (usually in mA/Hrs) and compare that to the capacity of what's being charged.

In the SOL listed above, the battery capacity is 2400 mA/H while the output of the solar panel is 110mA/H.  2400/110=21.8 hours to get a full charge from only the solar panel (ideal conditions).

Aha! There it is farther down. 1A (1000 Ma/H) unregulated. That means it can do the 2400 mA/H battery I'm comparing in 2.5 hours under ideal conditions. It won't support a tablet since those require 2a to recharge; anything less simply slows the rate of discharge.

Nice for trips/bug-out-bags but unwieldy for daily use.