Fuel rods-- what's the capacity (mAH)

[nemodeb]

Haven't been able to find a definite answer. How many milli amp hours are the fuel rods at WDW? I see that there are a few different sizes available at fuelrods.com and amazon.
Oh, and how much do they weigh? Thanks!!

 

[CAS239]

I believe the end of it says a number that's around 2000 mAh, but they've been tested out and it's believed their right about 1000 mAh. So it's pretty low

Their very light. Maybe the size and weight of two lipstick containers stacked on top of each other

 

[smcabee]

No clue as to the mAh but it charges my Iphone 7+ to full from about 10% and then I dump it and get a new one at the nearest kiosk. 10% is about as low as I let it go.

 

[subtchr]

The actual Fuel Rod brand, which is the only one you can exchange in the parks, only comes in one size, and the website is https://www.fuel-rod.com/.

The capacity isn't much, as CAS239 wrote, but that's not the point, to me. I have several 20000 mAH chargers that I use outside of Disney. They work great (for a year or so, at least), charging my phone several times. But they are heavy and a bit bulky.

The Fuel Rod is tiny and very light, and since I can get a new one anytime, it lasts "forever". I know where all the kiosks are, and if I have used it at all, I swap it when I am near one.

I bought mine at an airport for $20, and I am down to pennies per use, if that.

 

[dreiwhit]

Its really brilliant marketing: you get people to pay inflated prices for a low capacity battery pack with the carrot of being able to swap them out.

FWIW, on our last trip, I bought a 4400 MAh no-name battery pack at Wal Mart. It recharged our Go Pro several times each day and I charged it up each night with the double charger I used for my phone. Best part of it was that it only cost me $8.88 plus tax. Yeah, I couldn't swap it out, but it also didn't cost $20 or $30.

 

[subtchr]

Its really brilliant marketing: you get people to pay inflated prices for a low capacity battery pack with the carrot of being able to swap them out.

FWIW, on our last trip, I bought a 4400 MAh no-name battery pack at Wal Mart. It recharged our Go Pro several times each day and I charged it up each night with the double charger I used for my phone. Best part of it was that it only cost me $8.88 plus tax. Yeah, I couldn't swap it out, but it also didn't cost $20 or $30.

That "carrot", as you describe it, is value added, not just a gimmick. You will be lucky if your $8.88 charger is effective after a few months of use. But my Fuel Rod, which I originally purchased for $20 over a year ago, has been replaced with a new one over 100 times. That's great value.

 

[Tomh]

The Carrott is indeed that you can swap it out. You can also swap it out when it is two years old, or has gone through 500 charge cycles, and the battery in it stops working. And, when you reach 500 charge cycles on that one, or 2 years, assuming that the company is still in business, you can swap it out again. The value in these devices is indeed in the ability to swap it for a fully charged replacement at any time. We used just one fuel rod last summer, and kept 5 phones charged and running with it.

 

[WEDWDW]

And another carrot is not having to "charge a charger" every night in the room-one less "daily task".

 

[WDW_Ding]

This is the first I have heard about this product/service.

Are there places at WDW to swap out "dead" fuel rods for fully charged ones?

Their web site only lists Sea World when I search for Orlando.

 

[CAS239]

This is the first I have heard about this product/service.

Are there places at WDW to swap out "dead" fuel rods for fully charged ones?

Their web site only lists Sea World when I search for Orlando.

Yes there's FuelRod kiosks at the parks and at the Disney Hotels.

It's a one time fee of $30 at Disney (or $20 outside Disney like an airport). It comes with a few cables to plug into your phone so it'll work whether you have Apple or Android. There's a barcode on the FuelRod so when you run out of battery in your FuelRod you just find a FR kiosk, deposit your FR in the machine and it'll give you a new fully charged one free of charge

 

[dreiwhit]

That "carrot", as you describe it, is value added, not just a gimmick. You will be lucky if your $8.88 charger is effective after a few months of use. But my Fuel Rod, which I originally purchased for $20 over a year ago, has been replaced with a new one over 100 times. That's great value.

I'm on month three right now, and its still going strong.

IMHO, its only a value if you can swap them out. I looked on Fuel Rod's website a while back, and the closest location is a two hour drive away. I'm willing to bet Fuel Rod is counting on folks NOT swapping them out.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on the so-called value added.

 

[lynn_s]

There are many places to exchange fuel rods at WDW, I don't know why they don't show up on the fuelrod site. But they do show up on MDE, go to Guest Services, and look for "Portable Phone Charging System Kiosks"

Mine says 2600mA, and weighs 2.4 oz. I don't think they really get the full 2600mA though.....

 

[CAS239]

There are many places to exchange fuel rods at WDW, I don't know why they don't show up on the fuelrod site. But they do show up on MDE, go to Guest Services, and look for "Portable Phone Charging System Kiosks"

Mine says 2600mA, and weighs 2.4 oz. I don't think they really get the full 2600mA though.....

Yea it's listed at the 2600 but few sites that have tested it say it gets nearly about 1000.

 

[jo-jo]

Last trip, I stayed at BLT and forgot my charger. Had the cords but no plug in unit. If there is a USB port in the room, I couldn't find it. Anyway, I had a 20,000 brick, a small lipstick size and the fuel rod. Replaced the fuel rod every chance I could. Used it for our phones and mini fans. Even used it to charge the lipstick one.

Managed the whole week without buying a replacement charger.

 

[WEDWDW]

IMHO, its only a value if you can swap them out.

EXACTLY-there are Kiosks all over WDW.

 

[marcyleecorgan]

Fuel rods are a natural fit for the Parks.

For the inexperienced users, it's a one-time expense that you can't necessarily enjoy when you get home, but for the few days that one finds their cell phone a constant companion, it's a wonderful opportunity.

For those who are experienced users, of course it makes more sense to bring in your own - and cheaper too! But at some point you will have to stop and find a charging point!

 

[Lesley Wake]

The Carrott is indeed that you can swap it out. You can also swap it out when it is two years old, or has gone through 500 charge cycles, and the battery in it stops working. And, when you reach 500 charge cycles on that one, or 2 years, assuming that the company is still in business, you can swap it out again. The value in these devices is indeed in the ability to swap it for a fully charged replacement at any time. We used just one fuel rod last summer, and kept 5 phones charged and running with it.

And another carrot is not having to "charge a charger" every night in the room-one less "daily task".

And yet another “carrot” is that it makes it easier when you are in a group of people. Rather than having a 4,000 mAH which could run out before everyone gets a chance to charge up, you can just keep exchanging the fuel rods!

I’d also recommend if people have any worries about capacity, to bring their own cord (I have the 4” for a couple bucks from amazon). Works better than the cords they provide!

For the not needing to charge in-room it’s also one less thing to need to remember to throw in my park bag before leaving, because it’s always in there!

 

[subtchr]

I'm on month three right now, and its still going strong.

IMHO, its only a value if you can swap them out. I looked on Fuel Rod's website a while back, and the closest location is a two hour drive away. I'm willing to bet Fuel Rod is counting on folks NOT swapping them out.

We're going to have to agree to disagree on the so-called value added.

Oh, I never use it outside of Disney World. I have more powerful chargers for that. But I visit Disney often enough that the value added is immense. I thought that is what we were talking about!

 

[subtchr]

And if you ever have a problem with your fuel rod, such as having a cord stop working, there is a toll-free number on the kiosk to call. They are extremely helpful, and can trigger the kiosk to give you what you need.

 

[Tomh]

Indeed, outside of the parks, I rarely use my Fuel Rod. DW has a pair of larger battery banks, and those are what we use at home. Inside the parks, the Fuel Rod is my go to, because we are always walking past a Kiosk, it takes just a minute for my son or I to swap it out for a freshly charged one, and we are on our way. We charge a phone while we are walking, swap the fuel rod when the opportunity arises, and then charge up the next phone.