We have seen many personal solar panel products before but the Hymini is the first personal windpower device we have seen. While the energy generating windmills we are accustomed to seeing are mammoth structures lined up in open fields, this one is handheld and meant only to provide enough juice for charging your portable electronics, but with a slight twist.
Even though it is the most noticeable part of the design, the turbine is only able to supplement charging the internal battery and is not able to fully charge the battery on its own. The hymini is meant to be plugged in to to a traditional outlet to fully charge. The wind turbine is basically there to slow down the rate at which the charge depletes...perhaps if the personal solar panel devices took this approach they would be much more usable.
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-via Core77
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Well, since wind is usually found outside a home, while electrical outlets are usually found inside a home, I am not sure how one can easily plug this thing in AND have the turbine spin.
view verasue's profile
verasue - Maybe people could put it over the A/C vent...
view JohnnySlimane's profile
Y'all are joking, right?
I mean, the makers say that you charge it fully at the outlet, and then you take it along with you as a portable charger. While you're bicycling with your iPod or whatever, the wind power component gives the Hymini more "juice" to charge your iPod. You're not supposed to both plug it in and have the turbine spin. But you knew that...
view wende in the twin cities's profile