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RE: USB Induction Charging with BioLite Camp Stove - Burns Wood - Boils Water
So how long does it take to charge a device? It looks like it can boil water pretty fast, but does it take longer to charge up stuff enough to matter? Do you end up sitting by the stove just to charge the battery? I've looked at these for awhile and just haven't decided that they are better than a small solar charger that goes on top of a pack and works all day long. But they are intriguing! Thanks for sharing your experience with these stove/chargers.
Solar is for sure the way to go, I have backpack panels too - passive power with the solar panels. The biolite charging I wouldn't rely on for the main power, more of a backup - enough to charge up a fm radio comfortably, or charge up the flashlight while cooking food. If something takes 2 hours to fully charge plugged into the wall, then the biolite would have to be stoked for 2 hours. Something that would take a half hour to charge back to full would be more reasonable. I enjoy the biolite for backpacking as a clean setup that boils water well and doesn't require fuel other than sticks and twigs.
Thanks. It is nice to have a stove that handles sticks and twigs. I've used a Sierra ZipStove for a long time -- but it takes a AA battery to run a little fan. So it works in the opposite direction as the BioLite! I got it as a stove that I can use when open fires are prohibited. And so I can take it on an airplane, when fuel bottles are not practical. I appreciate seeing that BioLite in action!