Battery operated phone charger - do any work?

[mosquitofeast]

Has anyone found a battery operated phone charger, that works with AA or AAA batteries, or similar? I have tried several, all were useless

Can't you use a power bank instead (battery that you charge up then charge your phone from - something like this www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07S829LBX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_cOzkFbG2EN7ZM)?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 They definitely work - I think you'd struggle to get enough power with AA or AAA.

no I can't use a power bank, I will be going off grid for some considerable time

What I do when I go camping is use a portable solar charger (can hang of rucksack if walking, or just put on ground) and trickle charge the power bank from the solar charger. Sorry if that is still no help!

You can get solar power banks. Dh has one he takes camping which lasts about 25 charges. I would imagine (thinking as someone who has lived places without reliable power) that it would be easier to charge up a power bank and find an endless supply of batteries off grid.

I haven't been able to find a solar charger that works. Are you able to recommend any?

The one I have is similar to this www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D3RS3HJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sELkFbC0Z7D6H?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
Though a different brand.

It's not very good or powerful, hence why I don't charge my phone directly from it. But over the course of a dad with some sun it'll charge my power bank about as much as one phone charge worth. As my power bank does about 4 phone charges a few cloudy days aren't an issue.

It depends what you want / need though. Mine is a quick and dirty set up, and it isn't too much of am issue if it doesn't work.

If you are going to be off-grid in a single location you'd be much better off with a bigger better solar panel, it other means of electricity generation (eg micro hydro)

Could you get a large Powerbank and charge it at a friend's house once per week?

Sounds like a small generator may be more appropriate.

power bank and solar charger.

I agree , battery powered power banks are no good for regular use. ( tho I think it's a good idea to keep one in you bag / car for emergencies) could you buy several electric charged PBs? Good ones keep their charge well , so you could use them in turn .

We have used a biolite for charging- it's a wood burner so you can charge and cook at the same time

Have you had a look at an Anker solar charger? I haven't used it but I buy quite a few Anker products because I find that they are reliable.

I have a power bank which will charge an iPhone around eight times.

I also have a smaller anchor one which will charge it about three times.

And I have an apple charging case on my phone anyway.

I almost never use my power bank, I bought it last year when I went into hospital but I had access to a plug. But DS uses it all the time and recharges it rarely.

@AlternativePerspective can you link your power bank please, I've been looking for a decent one for my iPhone but I'm struggling

lots of helpful information here, thank you

Another vote for anker. I have an anker power bank that fully charges my phone in just over an hour about ten times. It takes a good six hours or so to fully charge from mains power so it gets put on charge over night when it's run down.

It's also pretty tough and performed perfectly well in - 20°c temperatures when phone and camera batteries were being wiped out by the cold very quickly.