This could be a sweet piece of kit. Last week Ben Brooks from Tremont Electric stopped by Military.Com’s offices to give us the download on the new nPower PEG – a light-weight, portable generator for powering your smart phone and other hand-held electronics.
The nPower PEG uses what’s known as passive kinetic energy charging technology. You throw it in your pack and it generates power from your movement, whether you are walking, running or performing other physical activity. Then you hook it up to your gadgets with a USB cable when you need extra juice.
The Marine Corps and the Army plan to test it out as a possible solution to their power-management woes.
Christian is currently testing one out on travel and plans to post a review at a later date. Check out this Military.Com video starring Christian and Ben discussing the nPower PEG.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Not bad, you've finally caught up with Soldier Systems circa 2009.
http://soldiersystems.net/2009/08/13/personal-ene…
Make a version a size of shock absorber and you could place one or two on a vehicle and get some nice power. Or make one like the shaky weaight and get a work out too.lol
If walking powers it, so could a tent flap, door, or leaving it in a HMMV. Note, the cell phone industry is standardizing on the USB port for comm/recharging. Don't forget the next time a personal gear purchase comes up.
On the other hand, these devices use too much power. Things are far from optimal, we should be getting 30 days off cell phones, etc. The expanding capacity of batteries allows makers too much incentive to put high consumption features in them – like 3G capability, color screens, etc.
I have a 4GB Casio PDA from the late 90's, B&W screen with better features and battery life than the new qwerty LG500G I just bought. We're not getting better, just more bling.
All I want it to do is charge a flashlight and maybe a radio.
Are there any flashlights that charge on USB?
maybe an iPhone flashlight app…
Also, does the company have a connector for fire starting?
This can be marketed towards hiking yuppies, the military, but also survivalists.
FIRE should be up there.
Sure, that’d be pretty easier actually!
I'll buy the nPower PEG 2.0, when it's water-proof and smaller. But in the mean time, I'll help promote it so they can have money for the version 2.0.
Make it in or around the buffer tube assembly of the m4/m16 system and have it run the optic, lights etc maybe?
You realize that an Aimpoint will run for 8 years straight on one battery, right?
Ok, but Josh said lights, etc… Surefire lights die after about an hour or two of use. A recharging system on the weapon itself is a decent idea… or inside a uniform too. Someday we'll be there.
Surefire lights die in an hour because of the massive drain they put on the batteries. A system like that might be able to charge a battery if you walk around all day long, but it won't be able to supply enough juice to run the light. You'd be better off a solar-powered charger, since you can recharge ALL your batteries.
Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "light 'em up", don't it?
Anyways, this is a pretty clever idea, but honestly I see it working better in vehicles than on a person.