- OT Charging portable devices

[Metspitzer]

I don't really get out much so this may be common already in big
cities. There have been a couple of times I wished I could lock up my
laptop or phone in a locker with an outlet. It wouldn't be too much
trouble to carry a small personal lock to use on a locker that would
be located where the building security could see the locker doors.

 

[John Williamson]

I don't really get out much so this may be common already in big
cities. There have been a couple of times I wished I could lock up my
laptop or phone in a locker with an outlet. It wouldn't be too much
trouble to carry a small personal lock to use on a locker that would
be located where the building security could see the locker doors.

There is a growing number of places such as motorway service areas and
theme parks where you will find lockers with built in phone charging.
Pay a fee, select a locker that matches your phone make, plug it in, and
lock it in with a PIN only you know.

It's a lot easier to implement now that most phones and music players
will charge from a USB port.

If you want to extend it to laptops, it gets harder as the lockers need
to be much bigger, and you also need to arrange ventilation to get rid
of the heat, while ensuring electrical safety and security. Certainly
technically possible, but who's going to leave a laptop worth up to a
couple of thousand pounds, potentially containing data which may be
worth millions in a locker in a public space, even with a lock on the door?

 

[Robin Bignall]

There is a growing number of places such as motorway service areas and
theme parks where you will find lockers with built in phone charging.
Pay a fee, select a locker that matches your phone make, plug it in, and
lock it in with a PIN only you know.

It's a lot easier to implement now that most phones and music players
will charge from a USB port.

If you want to extend it to laptops, it gets harder as the lockers need
to be much bigger, and you also need to arrange ventilation to get rid
of the heat, while ensuring electrical safety and security. Certainly
technically possible, but who's going to leave a laptop worth up to a
couple of thousand pounds, potentially containing data which may be
worth millions in a locker in a public space, even with a lock on the door?

Most people in Whitehall or MI5/6, according to past history! They
certainly leave them in cars and trains...

 

[Paul]

I don't really get out much so this may be common already in big
cities. There have been a couple of times I wished I could lock up my
laptop or phone in a locker with an outlet. It wouldn't be too much
trouble to carry a small personal lock to use on a locker that would
be located where the building security could see the locker doors.

Carry a "fuel cell" with you ?

This is a lithium battery pack, coated with solar cells on the outside.
The solar cells are a joke. You can charge the battery pack
with a 5V charger as well. Carry the battery pack with you. And
then, transfer charge from the battery pack, to another mobile
device which does not have a removable battery.

http://www.amazon.com/Opteka-BP-SC4...9919&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+cell+phone+charger

I've seen other devices of that type, a battery you can carry with
you, for re-fueling other things. This one has a 12 amp-hour battery
inside it. The USB spigots, are where you plug in your device
that needs charging.

(About 6x3x1 inch... $41 And needs a separate 5V adapter to charge it up.)
http://www.amazon.com/12000mAh-Exte...70379&sr=1-2&keywords=5v+battery+pack+charger

Paul