(This is the latest in a regular weekly series of spotlights on green technology that’s accessible to you and me. If you have a product to suggest for coverage, please send a note via my contact email.)
Interested in a green charging option, but live in a climate that isn’t always conducive to solar options? You might want to check out the K3 Wind and Solar Charger from Kinesis Industries of Scottsdale, Ariz.
K3 is a rechargeable Lithium-ion 3.7-volt cell that can collect and store power created by wind, solar or AC power sources. The device is priced just under $100, but certain adapters cost extra, including the one for iPhone and certain iPods, which costs $14.99.
Kinesis says that one hour in the sun or wind will create enough power to give your mobile phone about 30 minutes of talk time or your MP3 player more than 300 minutes of run time. When fully charged, a K3 can charge a mobile phone about five times and an MP3 device more than 10 times, according to the company.
K3 measures 3 inches wide x 9.3 inches high by 3.1 inches deep. It weighs 10.6 ounces and can operate in temperatures ranging from -4 Fahrenheit to 131 Fahrenheit, so it could theoretically handle a winter camping trip or time in a desert climate.
Here are some additional technical specifications:
- Maximum wattage = 5 watts
- Capacity = 4,000 mAh
- DC input = 5-volt 500mH
K3 is weatherproof, and it comes with multiple adapters so that you can charge a number of different types of electronics gadges. You can store the tips you’re not using in a compartment within the device.
Past Green Gadgets of the Week:
