Unfortunately, no matter if it’s summer or winter, somewhere in the world someone is suffering a power outage. It seems incredible that in the 21st century we still have this problem, but users have no choice but to solve it on their own. When mobile devices cry for power, the Candle Charger stands out as a fairly simple alternative: a candle and a little water.
Batteries. Mobile devices. The best and the worst combination. On one hand, they communicate and entertain. On the other, they have an unsurpassed ability to fail in emergencies. How many situations have been interrupted by the classic “I’m running out of battery”? The problem is that smartphones are gaining a lot of ground over traditional phone lines. When the power grid fails, it’s very likely that the landline keeps working, but the smartphone is automatically tied to the energy in its internal battery. Now, if the affected person has a car, everything should be solved with a charger that uses the cigarette lighter connector. As an alternative, in the past we’ve seen several chargers that work by heating a little water, burning gas or solid fuel like branches and leaves. What we have here today barely needs a candle.
Using the Candle Charger is a matter of seconds: You secure the jar at the top, place about 150 milliliters of water inside, light the candle and place it under the jar. Using a standard USB port as output, the Candle Charger can charge any device, generating about 2.5 watts of power (5 volts at 500mA). The candle that comes with the charger lasts six hours, and according to those responsible, that time is enough to recharge two iPhones. Power generation depends on a Peltier module coupled to a heat sink that receives the flame, and an external circuit regulates the voltage so that the device recognizes it as a charger without problems. It is recommended to add water every 30 minutes, and of course, if it is safe water it can be reused for cooking or preparing a hot drink.
The Candle Charger is making its rounds on Kickstarter, and with 40 days ahead, it has already received more than $13,000 out of the $30,000 total that its developers need to move to the next production phase. The current price of the charger is $65, and it ships worldwide. Each Candle Charger comes with a candle, although it appears to be more of a lighter than anything else, so I imagine there is the possibility of using our own alcohol burners, or why not a modified Bunsen burner. First deliveries are in December.
Candle Charger on Kickstarter:
