It’s always a good idea to be prepared for an emergency and this multifunction, hand-sized gadget from Eton makes it easy. Called the FR150 Microlink, it features a radio, a flashlight and a cell phone charger and powers the lot with either solar energy, or good ol’ fashioned hand-cranking.
Like Energizer’s new solar charger we saw recently, this gadget would also be ideal for adventurous types when going camping. The built-in cell phone charger will make sure you’ve always got some battery life to call for help should you need it, plus you’ll never have to worry about carrying extra batteries for a flashlight.
The hand crank will provide you with a virtually unlimited source of power to get through an emergency or blackout. It can apparently recharge the FR150’s battery in less than 2 minutes, which can get you as much as 20-30 mins of radio play. If there’s some sun about, the solar panel on top will also contribute and help keep you charged up.
The radio receives AM/FM/Weatherband stations so you can stay informed during an emergency and the flashlight uses bright LEDs, to help you get around when the lights go out. The unit measures a small 4.96″ (126cm) x 2.36″ (60mm) x 1.81″ (46mm) which could even be used as a day-to-day portable radio in sunnier climes.
The Eton FR150 Microlink is available on Amazon.com for $30 and is available in green, blue, black or orange. It has received mostly glowing reviews, though some customers have pointed out that you must send in the registration card in order to get the cell phone adapters.
Sources:
Eton and Amazon.com