BioLite Electricity Generating Stove

[Fletching]

Is it a portable stove or a gadget charger? How about both. The BioLite ($130) is a compact, portable stove that burns sticks, twigs, pine cones, and other renewable resources instead of petroleum gas, lighting quickly and bringing water to a boil in no time. In addition, it packs a USB port on the front that draws its power from the heat of the fire, letting you charge your phone, GPS, or LED lights miles from the nearest outlet (http://www.biolitestove.com/CampStove.html)

Comments?

Steve :)

[RobbC]

Its...so shiney!!!!

It does look a fantastic idea, and a great thing to have if you are going away for a sustained period.

Robb

Ps did i mention its very shiney? :p

[bigzee]

Cool!
Bit pricey mind you. If you wait 4 or 5 years, then the R&D cost will have been re-couped and it might be about 50 usasian pounds?

[Silverback]

oh god another excuse for people to rely on technology and not learn to navigate

[Fletching]

oh god another excuse for people to rely on technology and not learn to navigate

Ha! Indeed Sapper.

At least some of the ones who cannot navigate properly wil be able to film their hypothermia setting in on their Ithings and post it to YouTube (forgetting that their Ithing has a GPS function)!

:)

[Silverback]

Ha! Indeed Sapper.

At least some of the ones who cannot navigate properly wil be able to film their hypothermia setting in on their Ithings and post it to YouTube (forgetting that their Ithing has a GPS function)!

:)

Dont get me started !

[paulthefish2009]

Is this for real? there blurb does'nt mention exactly how it works(unless i missed it).Maybe i'm being stupid(not for the first time).The way i see it is that the heat from the fire drives a fan that drives a tiny genny?

[rossbird]

well, whether it works or not....two things I don't want near anything electrical....fire and water!!

I'm out.
:confused2:

[Fletching]

well, whether it works or not....two things I don't want near anything electrical....fire and water!!

http://www.naturalbushcraft.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?2767-Producing-Electricity-from-a-Wood-Burning-Stove&p=35513#post35513

Simple principle, but I understand your reticence.

Steve :)

[happybonzo]

oh god another excuse for people to rely on technology and not learn to navigate

"Don't worry Chaps; I have a compass and a map" :)

[tadpole]

My main concern is, on average how long would it take to charge say a phone, now mine connected to the grid takes an hour, so I think you’d have to be burning/generating heat for an hour or more to get even close to a usable charge, now that is an awful lot of small wood to collect (or prepare). Where a the nature of that kind of stove is cooking quickly and efficiently, using the minimum of wood/biomas, you’d be collecting or chopping or feeding that thing for what to me would seem a lifetime, just to charge up something I try and get away from when camping.

The price puts me off as well, for £94.28p I can get 38 spare batteries for my phone (off ebay) they would weigh in total 1/3 of what that thing weights, and give me 62 days of battery charge. Ok I’d still have to take a stove, but once the cooking was done, there would be no need to feed it sticks for hours on end. Style over substance, but still a great idea, that could be developed into a great product. for examble instead of generating power to charge a toy it could be used to treat water using both heat and UV, Now that would be something worthwhile.


Is this for real? there blurb does'nt mention exactly how it works(unless i missed it).Maybe i'm being stupid(not for the first time).The way i see it is that the heat from the fire drives a fan that drives a tiny genny? thermocouples (http://www.tegpower.com/)

[Dan XF]

It advertises itself by saying that half the world cooks over fire and this leads to 2million premature deaths each year. I'll take my chances with a white box stove instead and live that little bit longer if that's the case.

[tadpole]

It advertises itself by saying that half the world cooks over fire and this leads to 2million premature deaths each year. I'll take my chances with a white box stove instead and live that little bit longer if that's the case.

The deaths are caused by soot buildup in the lungs of people who cook over open fires inside of their dwellings. Out side or under a tarp/shelter with no sides, the risk is greatly reduced.

[jus_young]

My main concern is, on average how long would it take to charge say a phone, now mine connected to the grid takes an hour, so I think you’d have to be burning/generating heat for an hour or more to get even close to a usable charge, now that is an awful lot of small wood to collect (or prepare). Where a the nature of that kind of stove is cooking quickly and efficiently, using the minimum of wood/biomas, you’d be collecting or chopping or feeding that thing for what to me would seem a lifetime, just to charge up something I try and get away from when camping.

The price puts me off as well, for £94.28p I can get 38 spare batteries for my phone (off ebay) they would weigh in total 1/3 of what that thing weights, and give me 62 days of battery charge. Ok I’d still have to take a stove, but once the cooking was done, there would be no need to feed it sticks for hours on end. Style over substance, but still a great idea, that could be developed into a great product. for examble instead of generating power to charge a toy it could be used to treat water using both heat and UV, Now that would be something worthwhile.


My thoughts exactly. The volume of wood for a decent charge would be phenominal. I would rather take my honey stove and a solar charger if the need arose. However it does show the progression in technology again, not that I would ever get rid of the map.

[midas]

Update,on BioLite.....KETTLECHARGE,The same company has brought out kettlecharge,provides of grid power n potable water a matter of minutes.
Unlike solar panels,Kettlecharge is resdy day or night,n at 10 watts,will chargeas fast as a wall outlet.
You can use the kettle on any stove,even the hob in your kitchen.Only £159.99.....www.whitbyandco.co.uk/biolite/camping/blkc-kettlecharge