Mobile Technology

Plan V lets you charge your phone using a 9-volt battery

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Plan V, by Sydney-based Flintu
The idea is, if your phone dies or gets too low on juice, you whip out the Plan V and attach it to a 9-volt battery
For those wanting to take a punt that Plan V becomes a product, the cheapest current pledge point for a Plan V is a pretty reasonable AU$15 (US$12.8) for a Plan V with Micro USB adaptor
At present, the Plan V charges devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 via Micro USB, but Flintu aims to get Apple MFI certification and offer a version for the iPhone too
Plan V, by Sydney-based Flintu
View gallery - 4 images

Smartphones are more powerful than ever, but they still have an annoying tendency to run out of juice just when you need them most. The Kickstarter-backed Plan V could get you out of such a fix, as it's a small and light keyring-based device that can be used to charge your smartphone from a 9-volt battery.

Likened by its Sydney-based creator Flintu to a car jumper cable for phones, the Plan V isn't a typical battery charger like the LithiumCard, as it contains no power of its own. Rather, it's a very small adapter that enables you to plug your phone or similar device into a 9-volt battery that you supply.

The idea is, if your phone dies or gets too low on juice, you whip out the Plan V and attach it to a 9-volt battery, thus getting you around four hours additional talk time on a Galaxy S5 (as an example).

The idea is, if your phone dies or gets too low on juice, you whip out the Plan V and attach it to a 9-volt battery

This comes with a glaring drawback, in that you'll need to either carry a battery around or be near somewhere that sells one. Still, at least the Plan V only weighs 7 grams (0.24 oz), and is around the size of a key, so it shouldn't weigh heavy on your keyring.

At present, the Plan V charges devices like the Samsung Galaxy S5 via Micro USB, but Flintu aims to add a stretch goal to its Kickstarter to try and get Apple MFI certification and offer a version for the iPhone too.

For those wanting to take a punt that Plan V becomes a product, the cheapest current pledge point available that should hopefully snag you a unit is AU$15 (US$12.80). The $25 Charge2Go is similar in concept, although it utilizes a AA battery.

The video below provides more information on the Plan V.

Sources: Flintu, Kickstarter

View gallery - 4 images
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8 comments
Mr T
This is a really dumb idea. Firstly, 9V batts are expensive, the el-cheapo ones have very little stored energy in them so you would have to use an alkaline or lithium to get any real benefit. At around $5 retail per battery, I can't think of a more expensive way to charge a phone. And that's not even considering the waste aspect of using non-rechargeable batteries to charge a phone.
Even if you used rechargeable lithium 9V batts, very few people have those and it makes no sense to carry one around with you, you are better off carrying a spare smartphone battery, unless, of course, you are one of those foolish people who bought a phone with an non-removable battery...
phissith
When it is not attached to the battery, the connector is it water proof?
Paul Anthony
Mr. T I agree. Also for the cost of the adapter you can get a spare battery and a charger, possibly even two batteries and a wall charger.
Stephen Mann
This is a really brilliant idea. You don't need to carry a spare battery with you and in an emergency, 9V alkalines are available almost everywhere. A $5 battery is cheap compared to a missed important call. Better yet, a 9V source will recharge your phone a lot faster than a pair of AAA batteries because of the reserve of power available. And it's Grandma-safe. You can't connect a 9V battery backwards. The "Jumper Cables" analogy is spot on.
Armando knight
Not sure about you guys but i's happily pay 5 bucks to call my wife in an emergency or even find my friends at the bar for that matter. The key word here is... emergency. Not an everyday charger. I'm with Stephen.
pmshah
I think this is a very stupid and very expensive idea. I have a fkash light - (torch) which cost me under $ 0.20 Sports 2 high intensity LEDs. Has a hand crank which drives a mini dynamo built in to charge a kind of super capacitor. Weights no more than about 150 gm. Although I never needed nor bothered to but I am pretty sure it could be adapted to charge a phone battery. As a matter of fact way back in mid 70s Rollei had this brilliant idea and included this hand crank gizmo as part of the Rollei 66 camera since the camera and the film back could only be operated by built in battery.
Gregg Eshelman
Will it work with a wall wart that has a 9V battery connector?
wle
would be what about 1/10 of a full charge for $3-5? yeah but no