Thread: Tell me about Generators

In case I do run away from home or even for extended camping trips alone or with my kids it would be wonderful to have a generator that doesn't run on gasoline and the likes.
Is there a way to make a generator that runs on burning wood and how could I make such? It would need a standard wall plug to recharge items like game systems, my iPod and my cell phone. It would be really nice if I could give it a USB port to charge my Garmen (GPS).
It would be perfect if I could make such with items found in nature- trees and discarded waste such as scrap metal, so I wouldn't have to lug around some heavy monstrousity before making a proper camp.

Thanks.

Well, I'm sure you could find some sort of portable auxiliary power supply that has an outlet. One that would charge by solar power. You can buy solar panels at Academy or some other outdoor stores. There's also lots of different kind of crank-powered electronics. They've got all kinds of innovations and variations of this kind of stuff.

Yes, go solar.


But I have to ask... Why the hell would you want to take a game console camping?

Thanks for the suggestions! My main object of concern is my iPod Touch. I have applications on it from firstaid to how to tie a variety of knots, to my diary and games and a source of light. Being able to charge a cellphone for emergencies would be nice to.
I would consider bringing my DS if I was camping alone, simply for some downtime after it got dark.
When I camp, I go out into a wilderness area away from all people. There are coyotes, wild dogs and the occasional bobcat and bear. There are no light sources other than the stars and it's wonderful But at night, it can become boring.
And the less I carry the better, which is what makes my iPod so valuable to me.

Yesterday I found a kinetic "generator". It's hand held and you wind it. One minute of winding = 1 hour of light or 30 minutes of radio. It also charges cellphones, has an emergency red flashing light and an "alarm" sound. It was only $5.00 so it's not much to brag about, but I was thoroughly tickled to find it.
I asked my hubby if I could rig a stationary bike to generate power and he said I couldn't pedal fast enough to juice most things and the best thing to use would be solar or wind powered if I didn't want to use gas.

If you insist on using a wood-burning generator, you would want to use the fire's heat to boil water and run a steam generator. I really don't know too much more than what they taught me at school, but apparently you use the fact that heat rises to force the steam to spin a turbine that operates a generator.