If you’re traveling with electronic devices, it is easy to become loaded down with all of the device-associated plugs and if traveling internationally, adapters.
My solution for this with-electronics year of travel, was in short, USB. If a device didn’t charge via USB, it didn’t come with me. (The exception had to be my computer and camera, but now you can more easily find cameras that charge via USB.)
And to further facilitate my charging, I simply always carried, and will continue to carry, RadTech’s ACpower Ultra-Compact Dual-USB Charger.
The wise people at RadTech built this to be intelligent, efficient, and lean.
It is a traveler’s dream.
I’ll share more details later. Gotta go enjoy El Salvador now.
OK, it’s later….
In fact, it’s a year later and my two RadTech hi-power ACpower chargers are still with me, doing their jobs.
First, I LOVE RADTECH. This is a private company. The owner knows the people he sells to and cares about them. In fact, I met them at Macworld Expo many years ago so I was able to watch the owner and his staff interact with attendees and hear him answer questions and teach consumers.
Now that that’s said, here’s why I love this power device:
- It’s small.
- It’s lightweight.
- It takes up minimal room in my backpack or handbag, making it possible (and easy) to take with me daily. (Note: Even when not traveling, this is in a ditty bag within my handbag, along with an assortment of RadTech’s Shortz cables to accommodate charging just about anything.)
- It lets me charge two devices at once. In fact, at hostels, people were thrilled by it because they could charge while I did, or borrow it and charge two devices or two friends would charge at once.
- I trust RadTech. They aren’t about “cute.” They are about reliable.
I recommend the Hi-Energy version as it will charge faster and handle iPads and tablets along with a regular Smartphone or phone.
Tips:
- For fastest charging of an iPad or Tablet or USB-powered netbook, plug in only that device. After that one is charged to 80%, you can add a Smartphone, cellphone, GPS, camera or another low-power device.
- If you try to charge two higher-power devices you’ll hear the device start and stop charging. That’s the charger pulsing to signal that its maximum output has been exceeded. In other words, it moves the power from one USB port to the other.
- Use it to charge two smartphones GPS units, digital cameras at a time.
Specs:
Input: Worldwide 100-240v – folding blade design
Worldwide 100-240v enables it to work everywhere. You may need a plug adapter in places, but you don’t need a power converter.
Hi-Energy:
Output (total): 5v 2200mA
Dimensions: 5.0×5.5×2.3cm / 1.9×2.1×0.9in
Weight: 47g / 1.7oz
Standard:
Output (total):5v 1000mA
Dimensions: 5.0×5.5×1.7cm / 1.9×2.1×0.6in
Weight: 38g / 1.3oz
Personal note: I dropped mine on hard floors several times. After over 8 months, one case opened and the power prongs came lose. As I have studied and manufactured electronics, I could see there was no damage to the circuit board. I was easily able to rest the board back in place and see where the prongs fit and close the case. I then wrapped a rubber band around the charger and was able to keep using it. (I’m told it is OK to glue the case with Cyanoacrylate (CA, Super-Glue) using a series of tiny dots around the mating surface of one half, then aligning and pressing both together firmly for 10-15 seconds, being sure to let it fully dry before using the device again.) I am sure that it is wisest to stop using any electrical device that may be damaged but the good thing is that I wasn’t stuck without a charger as I traveled.
But one more thing..
Bring a USB extender cable too.
Hostels/hostals, hotels, restaurants, etc don’t always have a power point (electrical outlet) close by. This simple lightweight cable can do wonders for you — as it does for me. The one I am traveling with is, as you may have guessed, RadTech’s white cable extender. I packed a short one too, but could have saved that bit of weight. The longer extension was always with me.
This article was originally posted Aug 9, 2012. It has been edited since, to add more information. The fact that I highly recommend it has not changed.