Krank/batteries DAB/FM radio

[GeraldTheBonzai]

I've had a couple of these crank style devices. They have all been rubbish.
Better off getting yourself a decent power bank like a Bluette, Anker or EcoFlow, keep that charged, and charge other things off of that.

[Yorkshire Andy]

The small panel keeps a charged battery topped up from losses like the clock running ...

Left on a sunny windowsill for example

Y_A might confirm: If left unused for long enough for the battery to go dead, the built in battery might become useless, then the radio becomes useless.

That's the one the lithium ion cells do NOT like deep discharge

[Frnc]

This is what I have
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B087JC3DBP/

Winding it is a real pain. I have no idea how long you get for how much winding. Nor whether the solar works. I did buy spare batteries.

NB!! These lithium 18650 batteries come in two main types, button and flat. But the button types vary a lot in length! My spares are a bit long so they bent the connector and were almost impossible to get out. This really is a rubbish way to make batteries. I kept them anyway, as spares. To make extracting the original batteries easier, I put a bit of ribbon under the bottom one. I had to do this with my head torch too, despite it being a Black Diamond.

[Frnc]

Thanks,

I don’t believe those tiny solar panels would really work, and what if it’s not sunny outside at all for days. But a wind up one — as a last resort, if I run out of batteries or other power sources. Now I see the Midland ER310 or ER300 (for the EU market) are mentioned by CNN as best in 2024.
However, it seems to be for lithium rechargeable batteries and not normal AA, so people say. Will look into it.

Thanks for the links!

Hi Odin,
My limited experience with a hand crank/solar 'last resort' radio is that they are a very poor investment. Crank run time is minimal and painful and the built in solar panel is laughably useless. Even on a bright sunny day, you might get 20 mins run time per day from solar alone.
Invest instead in a solar panel about a foot square and the bits to make it charge batteries. This can be done for extremely little cost and you never need to be low on charged batteries.

We have lots of interesting posts on here about solar and batteries including what to buy and what to avoid..

Please advise on cheap 1 ft solar plus gubbins required, or which thread. I have one of these in my Amazon basket, not sure if you need any extra bits. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TKF28PS/

[Yorkshire Andy]

Thanks,

I don’t believe those tiny solar panels would really work, and what if it’s not sunny outside at all for days. But a wind up one — as a last resort, if I run out of batteries or other power sources. Now I see the Midland ER310 or ER300 (for the EU market) are mentioned by CNN as best in 2024.
However, it seems to be for lithium rechargeable batteries and not normal AA, so people say. Will look into it.

Thanks for the links!

Hi Odin,
My limited experience with a hand crank/solar 'last resort' radio is that they are a very poor investment. Crank run time is minimal and painful and the built in solar panel is laughably useless. Even on a bright sunny day, you might get 20 mins run time per day from solar alone.
Invest instead in a solar panel about a foot square and the bits to make it charge batteries. This can be done for extremely little cost and you never need to be low on charged batteries.

We have lots of interesting posts on here about solar and batteries including what to buy and what to avoid..

Please advise on cheap 1 ft solar plus gubbins required, or which thread. I have one of these in my Amazon basket, not sure if you need any extra bits. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TKF28PS/

£85

This is the UK the little things dont work well unless it's a sunny summer's day even the 100w will struggle on a grey winters day

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126021399037 ... media=COPY



Lithium cell charger

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387339279405 ... media=COPY


Aa / AAA
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226271519519 ... media=COPY

[Frnc]

Hi Odin,
My limited experience with a hand crank/solar 'last resort' radio is that they are a very poor investment. Crank run time is minimal and painful and the built in solar panel is laughably useless. Even on a bright sunny day, you might get 20 mins run time per day from solar alone.
Invest instead in a solar panel about a foot square and the bits to make it charge batteries. This can be done for extremely little cost and you never need to be low on charged batteries.

We have lots of interesting posts on here about solar and batteries including what to buy and what to avoid..

Please advise on cheap 1 ft solar plus gubbins required, or which thread. I have one of these in my Amazon basket, not sure if you need any extra bits. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TKF28PS/

£85

This is the UK the little things dont work well unless it's a sunny summer's day even the 100w will struggle on a grey winters day

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126021399037 ... media=COPY



Lithium cell charger

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387339279405 ... media=COPY


Aa / AAA
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226271519519 ... media=COPY

Cheers

[jennyjj01]

Please advise on cheap 1 ft solar plus gubbins required, or which thread. I have one of these in my Amazon basket, not sure if you need any extra bits. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09TKF28PS/

£85

This is the UK the little things dont work well unless it's a sunny summer's day even the 100w will struggle on a grey winters day

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126021399037 ... media=COPY



Lithium cell charger

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/387339279405 ... media=COPY


Aa / AAA
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226271519519 ... media=COPY

Oh boy: Where to start?
I'm inclined to start another thread dedicated to the 'What Solar Charger?'

As a prep, we might want anything from the ability to charge a few AA cells up to the ability to run a fridge, and may want to spend £30 or £500 or more. Also, we may want off the shelf stuff or might want to build a project with a bit of electronics.

Yes. I'll start another thread, I think and answer there,

For now, consider what you aspire to charge.

[Yorkshire Andy]

[
Oh boy: Where to start?
I'm inclined to start another thread dedicated to the 'What Solar Charger?'

As a prep, we might want anything from the ability to charge a few AA cells up to the ability to run a fridge, and may want to spend £30 or £500 or more. Also, we may want off the shelf stuff or might want to build a project with a bit of electronics.

Yes. I'll start another thread, I think and answer there,

For now, consider what you aspire to charge.

That's going to a LONG post

Have you seen these Jenny

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/longi- ... m/p/836341

[mcprepper]

REALLY glad I’ve read all of this - I’ve got this:

Wind Up Radio,8000mAh Emergency Radio,Hand Crank Solar Radio,AM/FM Radio with 3-Mode Flashlight,2-Mode Reading Lamp,SOS Alarm,with USB Phone Charger,for Emergency Outdoor

sitting in my Amazon ‘save for later’ that I was going to buy this week. Sounds like you’ve all just saved me £36.99!

Looks like I need to be looking at decent solar charging options instead. Yes please to starting that thread jennyjj01

[Yorkshire Andy]

REALLY glad I’ve read all of this - I’ve got this:

Wind Up Radio,8000mAh Emergency Radio,Hand Crank Solar Radio,AM/FM Radio with 3-Mode Flashlight,2-Mode Reading Lamp,SOS Alarm,with USB Phone Charger,for Emergency Outdoor

sitting in my Amazon ‘save for later’ that I was going to buy this week. Sounds like you’ve all just saved me £36.99!

Looks like I need to be looking at decent solar charging options instead. Yes please to starting that thread jennyjj01

One of my favourite radios is a Lidl special middle isle silvercrst. job. Cosy about £15 ISH and takes 4xaa batteries no nonsense switch on tune in affair no pointless torch or other gadgets