[pct-l] nPower PEG -- some unfortunate numbers

Fri Mar 25 22:16:02 CDT 2011

Kevin, as much as I love alternative energy, I'm afraid the numbers just
don't work on any level for the nPower PEG.

I've compared the power requirements per talk minute, battery capacities,
conversion efficiencies, etc, of the various iPhones and have mapped those
into nPower's stated specifications.   Those tell me that the PEG generates
less than 0.1 mwh per minute of walking.   I'd be happy to lay all the
calculations out but, at the end of the day, it only takes nPower's own
numbers to convict it --

nPower states that it takes 26 minutes of walking to obtain 1 minute of
talking on a 3G call using an iPhone 3G.  Since a new iPhone 3G will do
about 340 minutes of 3G talking, give or take, that means that you would
have to walk for 147 hours to charge the phone (26 * 340) / 60.   So that
means that you would have hiked for 15(?) days carrying 11-12oz when you
could have gotten the same charge for less than 3 oz (iGo powerXtender + 2
lithium AAs).

Looking at it economically, if a PEG costs $160 and an iGo costs < $20 and
two lithium AAs cost $5, this means that you could charge the iPhone 28
times (140 / 5) at the same price of of AA charging.    And to charge the
iPhone 28 times with the PEG means that you'd have to walk for 4125 hours(!)
or 412(?) days -- and of course the recharging efficiency will be dropping
all the time and so even this extreme number would fall short.

I didn't look at the personal energy cost of carting the extra 8oz all that
ways but of course a "Ray-sian" calculation would do its own frowning on the
solution as well.

The net for me is that the nPower PEG is a very neat idea but it just is not
efficient or powerful enough to warrant carriage on the basis of cost
effectiveness (or convenience).

On the other hand, maybe (maybe) using it cuts landfill and pollution loads
and that or other reasons might make it worth it for some.  My wife thinks
it looks like it might be the perfect instrument -- when applied to my head
-- for adjusting my behavior!   :-}

/David

On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 9:05 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:

> I hear you John. If it doesn't work, then I'm no worse off than I am if I
> can't get it. Having it lets me use my iPhone for more things is all. If
> the
> PEG fails, I'll probably use one of those devices that lets you charge it
> from AAs. I've pretty much ruled out solar.
>
> The iPhone isn't critical. My safety won't be at risk or anything. My wife
> is also going, so between us, we have 2 iPhones. If we are conscious about
> conserving battery, we should always have one available for things like
> being a GPS.
>
> I mostly want the PEG so I can create a GPS trace of the whole trail. I
> know
> several hikers have already done this, but the more data we collect, the
> more accurately we have the trail mapped.
>
> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 5:55 PM, John Abela <
> pacificcresttrail2011 at gmail.com
> > wrote:
>
> > I am still going to question the viability and reliability of this
> > product to keep an iPhone powered.
> >
> > Do I love the concept - heck yeah. I would even buy one IF it proved
> > to actually provide enough power to recharge the power-hungry iPhone.
> >
> > But, I just don't know Kevin... seems like a huge risk at this point.
> > You've got what... 20-25 days left to get your gear in order... and
> > you want to go out on the PCT with something that will have very very
> > little trail proveness (guess I have to make up that word).
> >
> > While I am a huge fan of solar systems, even the high dollar ones are
> > still risky.
> >
> > If you are planning to use your iPhone for everything you have said
> > you are going to use it for Kevin, it will be a primary piece of
> > equipment for you. Why put yourself at risk with some product that
> > just had a circuit board issue. We both know what that means... and we
> > both should know that is not something that should be screaming red
> > flags - considering your time line, considering the inability for
> > anybody to get this product under review and actual on-trail miles.
> > Sigh, a whole host of red flags here Kevin...
> >
> > As much as I may not like them, nor you like them, maybe those things
> > you throw batteries into and plug it into your device is the better
> > way to go at this point in time.
> >
> > Just some things to consider.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 4:14 PM, Kevin Cook <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > When I spoke with Ann this morning, she said they had a problem with
> the
> > > circuit boards and had to change suppliers. She said all backorders
> would
> > be
> > > out next week and that I should also be able to get one shipped next
> > week. I
> > > bet you get yours sooner than you think!
> > >
> > > I was getting pretty worried about how to power my iPhone. It was
> > probably
> > > my biggest gear concern that was still unresolved. So relieved to have
> > that
> > > taken care of!
> > >
> > > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 12:57 PM, Halfmile <list at lon.net> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Kevin,
> > >> I ordered one on 9/13/10, so far it has not shipped. Your post
> > >> prompted me to call for an update as I have not heard about my order
> > >> since a 1/4/11 email. They said they had a parts problems and had to
> > >> change a supplier. It's suppose to ship in a few weeks.
> > >> -Halfmile
> > >>
> > >> On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 11:55 AM, Kevin <hikelite at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >> > Did anyone get their hands on an nPower PEG yet?
> > >> >
> > >> > Finally spoke to someone there and they said they are shipping this
> > week.
> > >> I think Halfmile had one ordered.
> > >> >
> > >> > Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.
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