Originally Posted by
gordyb
Has anyone used one of these on a tour for the purpose of charging lights, iPhone (and maybe handlebar speakers?)??
Just wondering if any brands are recommended?
Do they cause any drag?
Do they keep said electrical items charged easily?
Would a solar charger be a better idea?
You can't charge devices directly from a dynamo hub, because the voltage varies with speed. You need a voltage regulator. Until pretty recently, these basically didn't exist, but I notice that Peter White sells them now:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/pedalpowerplus.asp
I would also be interested to hear from anybody with experience with these.
With respect to the hubs themselves, the gold standard is the Schmidt. Mine does not cause noticeable drag, and puts out plenty of power for a bright LED headlamp. A wonderful device.