SHTFPreparedness may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.
Nowadays, technology has become such an important part of our everyday life, that we sometimes don’t even notice how much we depend on it until it goes missing. Take our mobile phones, for example. We use them to keep in contact with family and friends, and with work.
We use them to wake up in the morning, to know our schedule for the day, to keep up with important news…we even use them to navigate, and to pay for things!
But what if the power went down, and we were left without electricity to charge our phones? It is one of the most useful devices we own when it comes to an emergency situation. Maybe it’s a short power outage due to a storm, and nothing to worry about.
But what if it’s a more serious power outage, and the state of emergency lasts a long time?
Luckily, there are a few ways in which you can recharge your phone, without the use of electricity. It sounds impossible, we know, but it’s all about using the right tools and knowing the tricks, which we will gladly show you!
After all, it’s important to be prepared, and being able to charge your phone when the power goes out, can very well be a lifesaver!
Methods For Recharging Your Phone Without Electricity
Here is a list of all the best methods we have come across, for recharging your phone battery, without the use of electricity. It is perfect for situations in which there has been a mass power outage, or for other emergency situations in which you do not have access to electricity.
Some of them might seem a little odd and weird, but at the end of the day, you have to try anything that might work!
So let’s get right into it, here are the methods for recharging your phone without electricity:
With A Power Bank
One of the first things you should look for, as soon as the electricity is out, is a power bank. Portable power banks can store a few charges of electricity, and if they are big enough and fully charged up, they could power your phone for a few days.
In fact, many people use power banks in everyday life, especially during travel, as they’re highly convenient and great at charging your phone when needed, while you’re out of the house.
Even if you do not need a power bank in your daily life, it is a good idea to have one or two, always charged and ready, just in case there is an emergency or power outage. You never know when it’s going to be needed!
And again, power banks come in many different sizes and designs. Some small ones are compact and perfect for just one device, while others are bigger and can charge multiple devices at once!
A Solar Lantern
Solar lanterns are incredibly convenient, not only in emergency situations but for camping trips and similar occasions. They are lightweight, inflatable with air, and portable, and also highly efficient at recharging small devices such as your mobile phone!
Plus, as long as there is a sun in the sky, they will be able to create electricity, meaning they are sustainable for when the power is out for long periods of time.
This solar air lantern is one of our favorites, as it is fast to inflate, great for gathering solar energy, and it can also store quite a lot of battery for when it is needed!
Hand Cranking
Hand cranking is a good way of powering up and recharging your phone when you do not have access to electricity. The only thing to remember is that it takes effort because a hand-crank device creates electricity through manpower!
So it’s not super convenient, because you have to be actively using the hand-crank device until your phone is sufficiently charged, meaning you can’t just leave it to one side while it charges.
But it can be used for as long as you have the energy to keep on hand cranking, and therefore, it is pretty reliable regardless of the situation.
The good thing about a hand-crank device is that they are usually very versatile and multi-use, and therefore come in extremely handy during emergency situations. Not only do they recharge your phone and other small devices, they also provide light, have radio access for communications, and more!
Harnessing Solar Energy
One of the best sources of energy that you will almost always have access to is the sun. You can harness solar energy, and turn it into electricity to recharge your phone, with the use of a solar power bank.
Basically, this is a power bank with in-built solar panels, so it absorbs power from the sun throughout the day, and you can then use that to recharge your phone or other small devices.
The main issue with this method is that it takes a lot of time, as the solar power charge builds up very slowly, and will run out quickly.
However, it is incredibly sustainable, in that you can continue using it for as long as you want, meaning it’s great for situations in which there is no electricity for weeks, months, or even years!
Plus, solar power banks come in many different sizes, most of them compact and portable for convenience, so they are easy to have around the house or in an emergency bag, just in case they are ever needed!
Taking Power From A Car
If you have a car or are able to find and access a car, you can turn the DC current of the vehicle into an AC current, and use that to power up your phone and other small devices, which can be a real lifesaver.
To do this, you will need a power inverter, and there are many different types and sizes, to suit different needs. For surviving several days, a big power inverter would be best, so you can charge multiple devices.
But at the very least, having a small power inverter, that can easily be stored in the back of the car, will be good in order to always be prepared for this kind of situation.
However, make sure it is a good quality power inverter so that it protects both the car and your mobile phone from any sort of damage.
Use A Landline
Not many places have a landline nowadays, as it is becoming a thing of the past. However, if you do find a landline, then you should be able to extract some emergency power from it.
Basically, you tap into the power from the telephone company to which the landline is connected, and you “steal” from their electricity.
Of course, this is something that should only be used in emergencies, and even then, it could be that their power is also down, but even during blackouts they tend to have backup power to keep the landlines running, so it’s worth a shot.
To do this, it is best if you have some basic knowledge of power circuits, so you are tapping into the power safely, and without risking your phone. All you will need then is a phone cord, a USB cord, and a power voltage regulator.
You then essentially connect the cables of the phone cord to the voltage regulator, which is then connected to the USB cord, and you create a make-shift cable that can connect your phone to the landline, extracting power from it.
Using Wind Turbines
A good source of energy is the wind itself, and with the use of wind turbines, you can create electricity. Now, you can’t have a full-sized wind turbine like the ones they use to create renewable wind-powered energy, but you can have some pocket-sized wind turbines that will be enough to power up your phone or any other small device.
However, take into account that you will need wind and that it will take a long time to fully charge up your phone, so it is not always the best method for quickly accessing your phone during an emergency.
With The Use Of An Onion And Some Gatorade
Okay, so this is probably one of the most crazy-sounding methods we have included in this list. Like, how the hell is an onion and some Gatorade supposed to recharge your phone? But trust us, it’s possible!
To do so, you need your phone, a charging cable, an onion, and some Gatorade (or any other energy drink that contains electrolytes). Take the onion, and create a hole on either side.
Next, fill a cup up with the Gatorade, and place the onion inside it so that it is submerged in the liquid. Leave the onion to soak up the Gatorade for about 30 minutes or so, then dry the onion on the outside.
Finally, insert the charging cable directly into the onion (this might require some force) and plug your phone in. This should instantly start charging your phone up!
Now, it’s important to take into account that this method will only be able to charge your phone up for around 10 to 15 minutes, and that is only if you let it soak for 30 minutes or more. But this should be enough to make an emergency phone call!
With The Use Of Kinetic Energy
Kinetic energy can produce electricity through movement, and so it allows you to recharge your phone, or other small devices, by simply walking around, being active, or moving and spinning your phone. There are quite a few devices that allow you to harness kinetic energy.
Of course, these devices will require you to be active during the amount of time that it takes to recharge your phone, but if you are on the go, or walking to get somewhere, then this shouldn’t be a problem at all!
With The Use Of Sticks
Do you know how you can use sticks to start a fire during an emergency? Well…it turns out they are useful in more ways, and they can actually help you recharge your phone when there is no electricity around. We know this one sounds a little crazy, but hear us out.
It’s not exactly the sticks that will charge your phone, but rather, the device that the sticks will feed. We’re referring to a Biolite Campstove, which is a device that can turn fire into electricity, to charge small devices such as a phone.
It is lightweight and portable, perfect for camping trips or emergency situations, and all you have to do is light a fire inside it (with the use of sticks!) and it will work as a battery, charging station, and power bank.
So essentially, the sticks feed the device so that a fire is kept alive in it, and the device then harnesses the thermal energy to generate electricity, to recharge your phone!
Plus, a Biolite Campstove is incredibly versatile, and not only will it charge your phone, but also, it is a small stove in which you can cook some rations, boil some water, or simply stay warm!
How To Make Your phone Battery Last Longer
Knowing how to recharge your phone in an emergency situation in which you do not have access to electricity, is an important skill to have, and it means you will be prepared to face any sort of power outage that comes your way.
However, it is equally important to be able to make the most of what you already have, for example, making your phone’s battery last as long as possible.
So…how do you make your phone battery last longer? Well, we can give you some tricks and tips, so that you can delay the inevitable death of your phone.
- Turn the brightness down! This uses up battery life, and it is pretty unnecessary when you are trying to make your phone stay alive for as long as possible. So dim the screen, and try to not look at your phone unless necessary.
- Make sure your phone is kept at room temperature. If the battery overheats, it will die a lot quicker, so if it’s a hot summer day and you want to stop your phone from dying, a good idea is to place it in the fridge, so that it is nice and cool.
- If you’re the kind of person that always has their phone on vibrate, switch it to the normal ringtone. It might not seem like it, but the vibration takes up a lot more battery life than the normal ring tone!
- Shut down as many apps as you can, and keep open only the ones that are strictly necessary. So turn off the wifi, turn off the location, shut down all of the unnecessary apps…you could even put your phone on airplane mode, as this will save you a good chunk of battery!
- Switch to battery-saving mode. Most phones will have the option to switch to a battery-saving mode, and this essentially optimizes the phone in a way that will save battery, by automatically adjusting the brightness to a dimmer setting, and shutting down all unnecessary apps!
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself in a power outage, or an emergency situation in which you cannot use electricity to recharge your phone, you’re going to have to find another way. Your phone can be a lifesaver, whether it’s to contact someone for help, or another.
Luckily, there are quite a few methods in which you can recharge your phone without the use of electricity, and becoming familiar with them will allow you to be more prepared, should the situation come to be.
However, charging your phone isn’t enough, you should also learn all the tricks and tips to prolong battery life so that you can optimize your phone in your time of need!
