Wind Up's are great fun! But these are the genuine article.

We take a closer look at the technology that are wind up radios, mobile phones and more.

Not quite 'crank the handle and out pops the sausage' more a case of 'crank the handle' and listen to your favourite radio station (assuming you're in range'), or listen to your favourite CD or how about having a chat with base camp whilst away on that expedition ( even if it is one of the kids just across the yard!).

This innovative technology that lets you wind up almost anything that otherwise would just be powered by batteries can be a real life saver, quite literally. The uses of wind up technology spread far and wide and include among many others, Mobile phone chargers, portable radio power sources, walkie-talkie reserve power, GPS battery charging and the list goes on.

Wind up technology is one of those simple ideas packing some quite complex technology depending upon the application. Quite often they are combined with solar technology in the form of solar cells which supply a float charging capability for the devices batteries whilst there is plenty of sunlight on tap. The hand operated wind up generator augments the alternative solar source when light is no longer strong enough to be any real benefit.

Wind up generators combine Winding handle, gear box and small rotary generator coupled with miniature electronics to regulate the output such that it is suitable for the target device. I have a small unit for my Treo mobile phone that has proved most useful when on a camping trip when the batteries went flat. Despite what normally would have been a real worry for the folks back home I was able to put enough power into the treo to allow me a chat with home and thereby prevent any unnecessary concerns as to whether we were all o.k. Couple these advantages with solar cells and you have a real winner on your hands.

So crank up devices should be on the short list for those trips away. There are plenty of combinations to choose from starting with your basic crank battery charger right up to shortwave radios like the First Alert unit shown.

Who knows? you might just get yourself into an awkward situation and be thankful for the wind up when your batteries turned up flat.

As this technology has become more mainstream it's price has fallen such that wind up LED torches for example can be had for just a few dollars. How often on a dark night have you gone to the trunk of your car for the old trusty torch only to find it flat? Well not any more you don't - time to get crankin!