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PowerPot Review
There is a lot of so-so survival gear out there. It's hard not to become just a little cynical here at Living Ready. So when staff first heard of a portable generator called the PowerPot that converted heat from hot water into electricity, the first reaction was, “Prove it, wise guy.”
But after a test run, there's no doubt about it: The PowerPot is the real deal. Read the full review below or get started right away by ordering the PowerPot from the Living Ready Store (hey, you even get a free rechargeable battery on the house). Yep, staff liked it so much that the PowerPot is in the official Living Ready store.
PowerPot Review: An Innovative Portable Generator
The PowerPot works like this. First, fill the 46-ounce pot up 2/3 of the way with water. Attach a USB 2.0 plug into the side of the pot. Connect your cell phone or other gadget to the USB 2.0 plug. It cranks out electricity as soon as the water warms up.
That's it. No moving parts. No degree in thermodynamics required. Phones will charge in 1-2 hours.
PowerPot Review: More than Just a Portable Generator
In addition to being able to charge gadgets, the PowerPot does a lot more.
For starters, it's a pot that can boil water inside. I don't have enough space in this article to list why that's so important in a survival situation, but Living Ready readers know the significance of that trait.
On that note, there's nothing special about the way it needs to be used. Heat water with it just like you would any other pot. The only exception is that the water doesn't need to be boiling for it to work.
That means you can use it on or near a fire, on a portable stove, inside a solar oven, on the hood of a hot car or any other method that heats water. The stove in the Living Ready kitchen was used for this review out of convenience, but field tests have shown how responsive this device is to any heat source. Charging times may vary depending on heat intensity, but who cares? It works. That's what matters.
Second, the PowerPot comes with an LED attachment that's painfully bright. It could easily light up a room in the dark or a camp. This might seem redundant considering a heat source may also be producing light (fires, for example), but remember that illumination at night can equal safety. And it's just not possible to be too safe.
Third, the PowerPot comes with a small bowl for cooking. The bowl sits on top of the larger pot, creating a double-boiler for food. It can't heat a lot of food, but this added functionality really adds to the versatility of the overall product.
However, PowerPot stresses that the pot with the water should not be used to also cook food. Only water should be used. Food goes in the separate bowl.
On Next Page: The Final Verdict & How to Get a Free PowerPot Battery