Review: Tellurex - tPod1

As I said in my recent review of the Tactical Whistle, I'm a sucker for a shiny Kickstarter project, and the tPod1, by Tellurex is another such example.

What is it all about I hear you ponder?
The tPod came stands for thermoelectric-power-on-demand. This is a tea-light candle powered unit, (there is also a bigger, propane powered version, the tPod5) but this one runs off the standard tealight candle, which we happen to have a glut of, as it seems we buy a slab of them each time we visit Ikea.

Tellurex tests indicate that  a continuous output of 0.25 to 0.35 watts over a 4 hour period using a paraffin candle in an environment of 20oC (70oF) ambient temperature.  The cooler the ambient air the better the tPOD1 will perform, conversely, the higher the ambient temperature, the less output that can be expected.  They also conducted trials using bees wax candles resulting in a  higher peak output. Something to look into .... 





















The thermoelectric effect is coupled to an output port which allows the included 25 LED light to dock, which comes at the end of a swan-necked adjustable metal cable. The base is a silicone shoe, keeping the candle in place and maintaining an easy to transport package, when it is all hot. This adds a safety element to the usual "bare-flame" worries of tealights.


The soup can sized thermoelectric converter's heat-sink fins are encased in a protective plastic case, and delightedly anodized in Ferrari red.

The whole unit is about the size of a can of soup, and only weighs 340g (12 oz).







As well as the LED lamp, the tPod comes with a USB adapter, (along with a warning from Tellurex that they wont be held accountable for changing-related damage to devices charged from the unit), but for purposes of charging a needful device in the event of being off-grid (or as they put is, "denied-grid"), the risk would probably be worth it. Similarly for camping situations, when you had to get a message out on an otherwise unchargable-device. Tellurex indicate however that the tPod will not charge a phone directly however, but will trickle charge a battery recharger and the battery recharger can then be used to charge a a smartphone.

We lost power over Friday night, when a truck clipped our overhead lines, and the power company cut our power for "safety's sake" till lunchtime the next day. This was the perfect time for me to break out my tPod, and you can see here how well it performed in our 35oC (95oF) conditions we have been facing this weekend.

Here is a comparison, with the LED lamp off and the same scene illuminated by tealight alone.

Having the source of electric light, produced by our ample stock of 4hour tealights was a real boon to us, and it would similarly be useful during other blackouts, when camping, or for any other reason find yourself off (or denied) grid. This is a very cool item, and I'm glad to have added it to my stock of alternate power and light sources.

Review: Snow Lizard - SLXtreme iPhone case

I backed a rugged, heavyset and multifunction iPhone case on Kickstarter, before but when the design of the iPhone 4 and 5 was still in question, I chickened out of one waterproof case, but later backed another. More rugged, more functional, and more feature packed, I was relieved to see another project offered, and I had the gumption to back it, and then I had to wait.

This was the case that I backed. Billed as the Aqua Tek S on Kickstarter, and produced by Snowlizard. When it was ready for release it was renamed by popular backer vote, to the SLXtreme. Offered in a variety of colour options, I opted for the coyote-tan, surprise, surprise.

The basis of the case is that it fully encloses the iPhone 4/4s in a water, dust and shockproof polycarbonate shell, whilst still leaving the majority of functionality available to the user. During the design and manufacture process, the forward and back facing cameras, and flash, volume up and down buttons, and the main home and power buttons are all accessible whilst in the case.

 It turned out that the mute/orientation slider and earphone ports were too difficult or impractical to accommodate.


The multitouch screen, mic and speakers are faced by a thin polymer membrane which alternately allows the electrostatic use of the iPhone screen and transmission of sound from the speakers, and to the mic. I was skeptical to start with, but was pleasantly surprised both by the crispness of the control surface (no real difference than any other screen protector) and of the sound, (slightly muffled, but perfectly acceptable sacrifice for the protection offered when adventuring).

The base of the case has an access port for charging and synching the device by micro USB, with the 32pin iDevice plug being built into the insides of the case, the port being protected by a sealed flap, which is secured shut with a thumb screw. Also held in the front base of the case are a set of blue LED battery charge indicators.

The top of the case latches open and closed to accept the phone, which sits very snugly, as it is built with low tolerances, and even complying with IP68 & Mil Spec 810, but not so snug as to be impossible to take the phone in and out, even with the screen protector I have on it.

The latch has a slide lock, to help resist those "unexpected underwater openings"

The two camera ports are equally well designed, and don't significantly degrade the picture quality,

All the buttons could be described as "stiff" and the inlay to get to the edge of the multitouch display is pretty tight, but I'd rather a little awkwardness over a busted screen or waterlogged phone any day. The stiffness of the buttons only goes to reassure me that they won't break, or be a source of failure and ingress.

The case is large, it's bulky. It is very reminiscent of the old brick phones around when mobiles broke into wide circulation. This however, is not a big concern for me, given the nature of the protection offered and the additional features built in.

As well as being rated to 2m submersion, mud, dust, sand and rain proof, shock resistant and generally ruggedized, this case also packs a built in lithium ion polymer battery, providing DC 5V - 1A with 2000mAh capacity, giving an impressive boost to the standby (380-hrs), talk time (7hrs 3G, 17 on 2G), internet usage (7hrs 3G, 10hrs on WiFi) and 46 hrs audio, or 11 hrs video play.

However, the SLXtreme goes one step further in that it's back face has a built in solar panel, capable of generating 10 minutes of talk time for an hour of sunlight. This may not sound like a lot, but in a survival situation, it is plenty of power to send text messages, power up the GPS features of the iPhone, read up instruction manuals and yes, make calls as needed.

I have a lot of navigation, mapping, surveying and "guide" apps on my phone, and for the times when I am off-grid, but still want access to my data, and the stored knowledge, knowing that I have a near infinite supply of charging power, is very reassuring.


The Snow Lizard team took a lot of flak over the delays in production, from the initial Kickstarter which was successful in March 2012, till when I received mine in November 2012, and the iPhone 5 coming out in the interim. I really feel for them, but had no such concerns. Kickstarting isn't an exact science, and I'm just glad I got a product.


I am happy with my "less than newest" model of phone, and the accessories I have for it.

The case is rugged, light (at 317g including the 4s, making it a tad under 200g of battery, solar charger, water, crud and shock proofing that I can take into the field with me, do the Stampede or Tough Mudder wearing, or whatever.

Not being able to plug my headphones into it is a drawback I am willing to live with, for what I get, and I look forwards to Snow Lizard to come up wit hthe PALS/MOLLE attachment they posted mock-ups of. Till them, its off to Platatac to ask the lads what they can do with me to include this case in my loadout.

Wish-lust: BioLite CampStove

In the lead up to the Hurricane Sandy landfall that hit the US East coast hard over Halloween 2012, I saw a great looking multi-function stove come past my friends feed, and it immediately took my interest. This is the BioLite Camp Stove and here's why I want one.

 The photo below shows a bunch of power-deprived NYC folks charging their phones at a  street-side kiosk running several of these stoves.

http://biolitestove.com/campstove/camp-stories/camp-stories-all/biolite-team-on-the-ground-after-hurricane-sandy.html

The stove itself is pretty simple.  With a packed height of 21cm (8.25") and 12cm (5") wide, weighing 935g  (2 lbs 1 oz) It is built to burn sticks, pine cones, pellets, wood chips, or other lightweight, small fuels and the frame will support a bot of up to 3.6kg  (8 lbs) or 3.6L (1 gallon) of liquid.
The real magic however, is that the orange module on the side is a thermoelectric generator.

As well as being fast to boil (a reported 4.5 minutes to boil 1 liter of water) the fire has a calculated 3.4 kw (lo) 5.5 kw (hi) peak output, which the thermoelectric generator can output via USB as Max continuous: 2W @5V, Peak: 4W @5V which apparently is sufficient power to charge and run most USB-chargeable devices including smartphones, GPS units, flashlights and the like.


Some reviewers have noted that these aren't especially efficient and I am looking forwards towards my first venture in this regard, with my tPOD1 Kickstarter on its way soon ... but the large scale BioLite, combining both power generation and cooking facility in one, sparks a distinct interest in my multifunction wish-lusting!