# is there a standalone portable rechargeable battery gadget to power USB devices? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 14, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416 "2010-03-14T03:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/1 "2010-03-14T03:01:49Z")
laptop can be thought of, among other things, as a power source for USB powered devices, including those that do not interact with it in any other way. Now lets imagine a gadget that consists of a laptop-type battery and a USB adapter. Maybe also a power cord with adapter, or maybe user can reuse power cord from a laptop for that. So maybe in other words it’s like an uninterruptible power supply only intended for portability and for the USB interface. Is something like that on the market? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/2 "2010-03-14T03:10:41Z")
[Yep](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AV4NDE). ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/3 "2010-03-14T03:11:49Z")
there are battery packs with usb plug output to power devices ---
**Author:** ![snowmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@snowmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowmaster)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/4 "2010-03-14T03:14:24Z")
Yes, I Go makes one as part of their universal charging system, takes AAs. Your local RadioShack probably has one. I’ve also seen a tiny rechargeable charger for mini-usb (used on motorola, others). Don’t recall the name. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/5 "2010-03-14T16:28:12Z")
There are also 12v DC plugs with USB output that can recharge devices from your car’s electircal system. ---
**Author:** ![Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@Fake\_Tales\_of\_San\_Francisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fake_Tales_of_San_Francisco)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/6 "2010-03-14T21:21:59Z")
I’ve always wanted a [Power Gorilla](https://powertraveller.com/iwantsome/primatepower/). They’re supposed to be quite good. I have a solar panelled usb charger though, can’t remember what brand it is right now. It works surprisingly well, when I’m not living in Britain. I’ve even used it to give my laptop a quick boost, though that pretty much completely drained the poor thing. It’s also possible to charge things wirelessly with one of [these](http://www.johnlewis.com/230722206/Product.aspx?source=14798). Both technologies combined would be rather nifty I think, if they can make it retain enough power for long enough. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/7 "2010-03-15T21:41:18Z")
Or if you want to listen to your iPod after the zombie apocalypse and batteries are nowhere to be found, try a [Sidewinder](http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1402369,00.asp). Hand cranked USB charger. ---
**Author:** ![foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9a140/32.png) [@foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-standalone-portable-rechargeable-battery-gadget-to-power-usb-devices/532416/8 "2010-03-17T02:47:04Z")
Black and Decker makes the Pocket Power It includes a 120 volt inverter (16watt max) and a usb outlet (350mA) Cost me $10.00 You might find one cheaper.😃