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

[Lilsia]

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!

I travel with 2 teenagers that use their phone for pictures and sharing with their friends. The fuel rod has been a great investment considering we can charge everyone's phone throughout the day. Plus I take a 2nd trip solo for a 2 week stay. I purchased our a few years ago right after they came to WDW and obviously will continue to use it. I am pretty sure we got our money's worth out of it by now.

 

[hertamaniac]

And the answer is, because the two most popular smart phones right now are iPhones, and Samsung, and neither are capable of making it through a full day in the parks with moderate use without needing a charge. With many guest using those phones to check wait times, double check ADR's, select FP+, take photos and video, text with other members of their travel party, and update social media, battery power does not last nearly as long in the parks as it does at home.

Hence the reason I stated IF, not the current scenario and battery limitations. If you read it in that context, you should be able to understand my statement about internal capacity increasing to the point of reducing a requirement for a fuel rod (or akin) system.

 

[hertamaniac]

The discussion was about a battery (which is what Fuel Rods are) getting hot upon discharging. The "myth" was that a lower capacity battery wouldn't generate heat because of it's lower capacity.

You are indeed correct that there is some correlation between capacity and heat, in that a battery of lower capacity will get hotter than a battery of higher capacity, if both are discharged at the same rate.

What I don't understand is this: Since this actually supports my assertion that the lower capacity of the battery doesn't mean that it won't get hot (because it will actually get hotter), what was the point of quoting me to correct me? While I did simplify things, and didn't go into technical details, the point that I was making si very much valid.

Perhaps I took your statement about debunking a myth out of context. Sorry.

I was referring to your statement that "Just to dispel a myth here, capacity has nothing to do with the battery getting hot". It appears your latest statement agrees that capacity does have a correlation with heat.

But, I will absolutely call out inconsistencies or mis-information on batteries and/or capacitors. In that sense, I felt it prudent to help anyone/everyone understand that battery design and operating parameters are very much technical. We had top domestic battery engineers and scientists work with me on just how complex a battery, and it's associated software controls, really are.

Again, I apologize if this comes across as touting my background as opposed to trying to help educate.

 

[Tomh]

Hence the reason I stated IF, not the current scenario and battery limitations. If you read it in that context, you should be able to understand my statement about internal capacity increasing to the point of reducing a requirement for a fuel rod (or akin) system.

I was speaking to the current situation, as I felt that is what is relevant to people who are considering the purchase of a Fuel Rod right now. What happens down the road in a few years probably is not relevant as regards making that purchase now.

I do wonder though, do you really see battery capacity reaching a point where recharging phones on the go is no longer an issue? It seems to me that every time there is and advancement in battery capacity, manufacturers shove new features, more memory, and faster processors into the phones, and make the screens bigger and brighter, and use up every bit of that new found capacity. Do you see a big enough jump in capacity in our near future that it won't be instantly eaten up by devices that draw more power?

 

[hertamaniac]

I was speaking to the current situation, as I felt that is what is relevant to people who are considering the purchase of a Fuel Rod right now. What happens down the road in a few years probably is not relevant as regards making that purchase now.

I do wonder though, do you really see battery capacity reaching a point where recharging phones on the go is no longer an issue? It seems to me that every time there is and advancement in battery capacity, manufacturers shove new features, more memory, and faster processors into the phones, and make the screens bigger and brighter, and use up every bit of that new found capacity. Do you see a big enough jump in capacity in our near future that it won't be instantly eaten up by devices that draw more power?

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I personally don't feel that usable capacities will ever meet consumer/market demand.

Now the question keeps going back to is, will there be "adequate" battery capacity to a guest at WDW to perform all the "normal" functions on a device that they won't see a large enough advantage to invest in a fuel rod device. I don't have an answer, but in my case my smartphone does all it needs to do that I don't require a boost throughout the day; however I don't push the apps limits, etc.

Capacity is one thing, cycle life is another animal.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

Do all resorts have a location to purchase initial fuel rod?

 

[Tomh]

There is a map available on the Disney World website, which shows the locations of all the kiosks throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/portable-phone-chargers/

I did take a quick look, and it seems most resorts are covered, though not necessarily all.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

There is a map available on the Disney World website, which shows the locations of all the kiosks throughout the Walt Disney World Resort.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guest-services/portable-phone-chargers/

I did take a quick look, and it seems most resorts are covered, though not necessarily all.

Could be my tablet but I don't see a link to any maps on the link you posted. Also checked MDE and the only locations that show them there are MK.

 

[thegales]

Could be my tablet but I don't see a link to any maps on the link you posted. Also checked MDE and the only locations that show them there are MK.

It may be your tablet, but you also need to click a bit to see the resorts. Right under Find Portable Pone Charging Systems Kiosks, there are two parts to the graphic. The right side defaults to Magic Kingdom. But on the left side, you can scroll down to expand Resort Hotels, then click on the appropriate area hotels. You cannot just move the MK map to where the resort is.

 

[tinkerbellybutton]

It was my tablet. I don't know why I even touch the kindle any more. Lol. I checked on the iPad and the map was there. It doesn't show up at all on the kindle.

 

[Mrs~Incredible]

I bought a portable charger from amazon from last trip and it was great- plugged it in over night, and lasted all day keeping mine and dh’s Phone charged whenever we needed a boost. I liked not having to look for the fuel rod stations for replacements.

 

[yulilin3]

Do all resorts have a location to purchase initial fuel rod?

I know for a fact that Caribbean Beach does not have a fuel rid station. Otherwise i think all the rest have them. Not sure on old key West it Saratoga, I've swapped in all other resorts

 

[b52hbuff]

I'm so excited, I get to post in a "Fuel Rod" thread before it closes.

Full disclosure, I prefer to bring my own power to the parks. During our Xmas break, we travelled with 2x Anker 20000maH battery packs. Each pack has 2x USB ports to allow charging of two devices at the same time. It will deliver 2.4A per port. Translation is that it delivers >4x current of a standard iPhone charger. The battery has enough capacity to charge an iPhone 6S 7.3 times.

...we also travel with a ten port USB charging hub. We are a family of five, each with an iPhone. We have a couple of batteries and a couple of Apple Watches that need charging every night.

We never ran out of power. And since we charge our phones every night, there was minimal "disruption" in having to charge a couple of extra batteries.

From a little research, it seems like a Fuel Rod can't even fully charge a discharged iPhone 6S. Everything is tradeoffs. For the "hassle" of carry and charging my own batteries, I gain the independence of not having to look for a Fuel Rod kiosk. And I gain the independence of being able to charge up everyone's iPhone without having to get up and get a new Fuel Rod. Sit down for a parade, then charge up. Sit down for a meal, charge up. With the Fuel Rod, I may have to get up in the middle of the parade/meal if the FR doesn't have sufficient capacity to top off what ever I'm charging.

ropedrop.net/2016/07/disneys-new-fuel-rod-service-seems-like-an-unnecessary-hassle/

Unfortunately, Fuel Rod doesn’t really advertise the size of their…ummm…rod? (Sorry.) The only Fuel Rod review I was able to find said that he got about 65% of an iPhone charge with one of the rods. (This is consistent with what I heard on an episode of DIS Unplugged, but it seems that they used the same review I did to come up with their number.) For those mathematically inclined, 65% of the current’s iPhone’s battery would mean a Fuel Rod would have just over 1,100 mAh of capacity (the current iPhone has a 1,1715 mAh).

http://pizzainmotion.boardingarea.com/2016/05/10/battery-life-of-a-fuel-rod-and-swapping-one-out/

I plugged in the iPhone adapter and began charging my phone. For point of reference I have an iPhone 6s. My phone was at around 20% when I plugged in the battery. Like previous battery tests I’ve performed, I did my best to stay off the phone and minimize screen usage. I got a grand total of…..66 points of battery life. Maybe the battery wasn’t full charged when I got it? I plugged it in overnight and tried again. I got 68 points that time. Truly abysmal given the $20 investment. As one last attempt to salvage the $20, I tried exchanging the battery for a new one.

 

[bryanb]

Fuel Rods aren't for everyone, except it's good to know they're an option if you ever find yourself in need of one.

As for folks worried about the future, I'm sure many Fuel Rods are purchased by people who forget to bring their own external chargers. And I'm sure many Fuel Rods are forgotten at home as well or lost before they ever reach the end of their useful life. But in a pinch, they'll do what they're supposed to do.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Amazing to me that a TPAS Fuel Rod discussion can go on for 4 pages and 74 (now 75) posts. I think we need a new Carousel of Progress last scene soon!

 

[b52hbuff]

Amazing to me that a TPAS Fuel Rod discussion can go on for 4 pages and 74 (now 75) posts. I think we need a new Carousel of Progress last scene soon!

Ha! Can we discuss circumventing the Fuel Rod dispensing kiosk?

 

[Tomh]

Well, to my way of thinking, keeping your phone charged, so that you can take pictures, video, and keep tabs on your ADR's, check wait times, grab 4th FP+ etc would certainly fall under the auspices of Theme Park Strategies. Added bonus, this thread is not nearly as contentious as some threads have been

 

[Robo]

Added bonus, this thread is not nearly as contentious as some threads have been

Oh, go mind your own business!

 

[DisneyOma]

Well, all I can say there is that has not been my experience ever with any kind of battery pack charger. Not sure what the difference is, but just want to put it out there to the op that your experience has been far different than mine.

My fuel rod is charging my Note 8 right now. The phone started with a 70% charge, and the fuel rod was at 71 degrees. It has been about 15 minutes, the phone is now at 93% charge, and the fuel rod is at 110 degrees.

Mine all get really hot too (disclaimer - none of them are Fuel Rod brand) but then I have something to warm my cold hands with! Even the converter that goes into the wall outlet gets hot, and not just mine. I work in a school, and move/unplug kids' charging cords all the time (because I have to walk around the desks and those cords are a hazard) and if they have been plugged in for more than a few minutes, they are very warm to the touch.

My backpack has a built-in charger, and I worry that it will get too hot in my bag while I am using it.

 

[Tomh]

Oh, go mind your own business!





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Well, you fixed that in a hurry lol