Cover Story continued

Blackout

Products that run when the power goes down
by Sue Kiyabu | Apr 19, 2006

We hate to think of ourselves as doom-and-gloom types (and you know when you start a sentence that way, that we are). But, the recent rain-soaked winter has encouraged our general ennui. We decided to look for cool, off-the-grid products that we could use to brighten our day, without using electricity. They’re good for disasters too.

Free play Energy Products:

Freeplay Energy products make us want to don the hiking gear and do something rugged. The windup/solar technology incorporated into radios, flashlights and battery chargers makes us want run disaster drills. The look is sporty, sunny and competent. The company, based in Cape Town, makes gear that requires no batteries or plugs. Their flashlights last 100,000 hours. Plus, there’s a do-gooder vibe. The Freeplay Foundation dispenses radios and information to humanitarian workers, teachers and children in remote parts of the world. Our new favorite product: Freeplay Weza–A portable energy charger that you step on to charge. You can start a car with it. About $280.

SideWinder Cell Phone Charger:

The SideWinder Cell Phone charger reminds us of something the Professor on Gilligan’s Island would have invented. It’s a phone charger that runs strictly on human power. It weighs only 2.5 oz. If you have large hands, it can be a bit awkward. But crank for two minutes and you have roughly 6 minutes of talk time. Or keep cranking and talk as long as you want. About $25.

Eton FR300:

My friend Bobby used to be my neighborhood emergency disaster coordinator. He was the type of guy that had his blood type written on his bike helmet. He would have loved this radio. A hand crank operates this AM/FM Radio with NOAA Weather Channels 1-7, a siren, earphone jack, cell phone charger, flashlight and TV. About $50.

Soltronix AM/FM Headset Solar Radio:

OK, you own this, and you are a geek. Sorry, but true. We love the conspicuous unpodness of this high tech gadget. It uses NASA technology, and it’s made by Iowa Thin Film, using something called an amorphous solar panel. It has a rechargeable Ni-Mh AAA battery that’s included. One hour of sunlight gives 1-3 hours of radio and on a full charge you get 18 hours of radio. It’s not exactly disaster preparedness seriousness. But it’s off-the-grid, and it makes us believe that it will stop raining and we will get outside and garden. About $40.

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