Emergency phone charger

carol

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Not exactly for the motorhome but as will be travelling around India for a month was wondering if it might be useful? Am staying in hotels and rooms etc but wondered if it might be useful as a precaution? Does anyone have one they could recommend or would it be a waste of money and an unnecessary item in my backpack?
 
carol said:
Not exactly for the motorhome but as will be travelling around India for a month was wondering if it might be useful? Am staying in hotels and rooms etc but wondered if it might be useful as a precaution? Does anyone have one they could recommend or would it be a waste of money and an unnecessary item in my backpack?
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Hi Carol

I think it would be a waste of money. Their plugs are normally 2 pin round ones and its best to buy an adapter over there as the european ones are very loose in their sockets.

Also take 2 passport photos with you and buy an Indiam sim card for very cheap messages and calls..very easy to top up.

Where are you touring I am very envious

Rob
 
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Hi Rob, I'd totally forgotten about adapters! Am going to Kerala and the south...:wave:
 
carol said:
Hi Rob, I'd totally forgotten about adapters! Am going to Kerala and the south...:wave:
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Are you going to the backwaters and staying on one of the Reed boats Carol?

Mate of mine goes every year and absolutely loves it.
 
I got a really fantastic one about a year and a half ago. Great reviews etc etc.

Still to actually use the thing, so not been mad useful.

You could get the really cheapy ones that you just pop a AA battery into.
 
I always carry a small unit that has two USB outputs. Search for 'USB power bank' on any popular internet trading site.

The higher the number of mHa, the more charger you will get out of the unit. I get about three or four chargers for my iPhone which will get you through a weekend plus. I mainly use mine if I'm going out on my motorbike. I tend to listen to music via a bluetooth headset and by carrying this power bank I know that I will not run out of charge on my phone.

All you then do is re charge your 'power bank' (via a mini USB input) whenever you are near mains.

There are also Solar Powered units as well. I can't comment as I bought mine last year and didn't see the solar ones at the time, but I'm sure you can re charge the power bank either using mains or the sun, so the best of both.
 
DTDog said:
I always carry a small unit that has two USB outputs. Search for 'USB power bank' on any popular internet trading site.

The higher the number of mHa, the more charger you will get out of the unit. I get about three or four chargers for my iPhone which will get you through a weekend plus. I mainly use mine if I'm going out on my motorbike. I tend to listen to music via a bluetooth headset and by carrying this power bank I know that I will not run out of charge on my phone.

All you then do is re charge your 'power bank' (via a mini USB input) whenever you are near mains.

There are also Solar Powered units as well. I can't comment as I bought mine last year and didn't see the solar ones at the time, but I'm sure you can re charge the power bank either using mains or the sun, so the best of both.
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Have you seen the new versions now that can jump start your bike/car? About the size of a fag packet.
 
Robmac said:
Are you going to the backwaters and staying on one of the Reed boats Carol?

Mate of mine goes every year and absolutely loves it.
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We're travelling around, Rob, though we have booked a boat for a few days travelling up river somewhere! First two weeks planned, up to Christmas in Mysore but haven't planned next two weeks yet! Excited but nervous as I'm not a keen flyer! It'll make a change from Ribblehead! :)
 
Thanks for that, a good idea though the one you posted only had two reviews and one of them is terrible! Yes, will definitely sample the coffee. Any more recommendations?
 
how about just turning your phone off, why do you need to have it on? nobody who knows you are in India is going to phone you anyway because it will cost them a fortune
 
outtolunch said:
how about just turning your phone off, why do you need to have it on? nobody who knows you are in India is going to phone you anyway because it will cost them a fortune
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it doesn't cost the caller anything more because he is ringing a UK based sim. Doesn't matter where in the world the sim owner currently is. But the sim owner will get charged to RECEIVE the call whilst abroad. It's called roaming.

Back to topic.
I have a "power monkey" Powertraveller Powermonkey Classic Charger for iPhone 4/iPod/MP3 Player | Maplin to support my poor battery galaxy S3.
Doesn't give more than one charge but that is usually enough to use the phone until I get a chance to charge it on a wall socket.
Keep in mind, the more capacity the power bank has the LONGER it will take to fully charge it up. I have another large one (2400mh) and that takes a full day to charge with the phone charger (which is designed to charge the smaller phone battery).
You don't want to carry a large power bank AND another charger if you go on holiday?

As a first measure, check your phone setting. If you turn Wifi, bluetooth and GPS off and dim the screen a little you may get away with it till you have a chance to charge.

I have recently bought a larger capacity battery with a thicker back panel for my phone (for the huge amount of 7 quid!) and it lasts now 2 days! PowerMonkey now obsolete :-(
 
Teutone said:
it doesn't cost the caller anything more because he is ringing a UK based sim. Doesn't matter where in the world the sim owner currently is. But the sim owner will get charged to RECEIVE the call whilst abroad. It's called roaming.
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I knew somebody got charged more but as its this way even more reason not to have it switched on unless absolutely necessary especially at new year when any drunken friend who has your number is liable to call it ;)
 
carol said:
Thanks for that, a good idea though the one you posted only had two reviews and one of them is terrible! Yes, will definitely sample the coffee. Any more recommendations?
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Carry some anti-bac gel with you and use it on your hands at every opportunity or a small bar of soap in a tin. I followed this method and didn't get Delhi belly when I've been there. Treat ice cubes,salads,cold meats and ice cream with utmost caution,best to avoid unless served in an international hotel.
If you want to make a small amount of emergency cash take a few bottles of Johnnie Walker and sell it to a Sikh taxi driver best price available especially if it is Black Label.
An Indian cure for Delhi belly is a boiled rice with chopped raw onion eat as much as you can then eat some yoghurt,the rice is a binder the onion prges the gut,yoghurt bacteria stays alive throughout the digestive system and gets rid of any nasties
In addition take some Imodium and/or Collis Browns if you do get the'trots' when you want to go again afterwards eat an orange
 
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carol said:
Not exactly for the motorhome but as will be travelling around India for a month was wondering if it might be useful? Am staying in hotels and rooms etc but wondered if it might be useful as a precaution? Does anyone have one they could recommend or would it be a waste of money and an unnecessary item in my backpack?
Click to expand...

When I went to China for a month last year I got a phone charger from Maplins. Fairly small it also charged rechargeable batteries which meant that when near sockets I could recharge my camera as well. Took a pen sized hone charger in case of emergencies.

As far as your phone is concerned if you put it on flight mode calls wont get through unless you turn it on. Do warn friends you wont be answering if they phone because if they do phone as soon as you pick up you will be charged. If you use your phone for telling the time it's worth you getting a cheap watch if you haven't got one. I used email where I could to keep in touch

I found the small bottles of hand gel you can get from poundland invaluable as they fitted perfectly in a waist bag. Also the small pkts of tissues.

One of my crowd went to Argos and got the lightest luggage they could buy so they could use the extra allowance for pressies. Another took a very small carryon bag and few clothes with an iron; she always looked great and had little laundry to do! They had learnt from going on Safari that you actually need very little luggage.

Thanks; I've never been anywhere really and have been dying to bore someone with what I learnt. Have a great time. Is there room in your luggage for me please?
 
Thanks for those useful tips! I went to India about 30 years ago...in those days I had to BOOK a telephone call to the UK. I also remember the thrill of the Post Restante when I found letters from home, or cards from travellers I'd met along the way, waiting for me! And now I'm worrying about phone chargers and whether to take my tablet and kindle. I wonder what travellers in 30 years time will think about my dilemmas! :rolleyes2:
 
carol said:
We're travelling around, Rob, though we have booked a boat for a few days travelling up river somewhere! First two weeks planned, up to Christmas in Mysore but haven't planned next two weeks yet! Excited but nervous as I'm not a keen flyer! It'll make a change from Ribblehead! :)
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And i bet its not p**sing down blowing a gale and freezing :lol-053::lol-053::lol-053:
 
I've got the previous version (only bought in March lol) of this: Anker® 2nd Gen Astro E4 13000mAh External Battery with: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics

It is absolutely brilliant!!
I use mine when I'm away (I'm a sailor) as finding somewhere to plug gadgets in isn't always easy. And being away for 4 months at a time, any time I can spend ashore with free wifi is a bonus. Unfortunately, video calling drains batteries quite quickly...my battery pack can completely charge both my S5 and my Galaxy Note (2014 edition, 10.1") from flat (I tested it deliberately) - both very power hungry devices!!

Haven't had much chance to use it, been off work since May :(

Enjoy India!!
 
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