Mobile Survival Guide

Don't be powerless in a storm.

Fall and winter are welcoming storms all across the country. Hurricane Sandy on the east coast is projected to cost between $10 and $20 billion worth of damages with 1.5 million people currently without power. Back-up chargers, back-up batteries and laptops are three excellent methods in creating a support charging system. Many people view their cell phone as their life. These days a cell phone can be your survival in a desperate situation. Here are four ways to keep your phone charged during a power outage.






1. Mobile is the way to go these days with staying up to date on news and alerts. Remember to end all running apps on your phone. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS are all common used apps that could be sucking the life away from your battery. Another way to boost your cellular juice is to turn down your screen's brightness. Texting is a better option to communicate as it takes less battery than calling. However, there are also apps that can be of good use. Carat is an app that collects usage data on your mobile apps and suggests what apps to remove from your phone in order to preserve your battery life.

Laptops offer USB ports to charge your phone.

2. Another way to stay prepared is to buy multiple chargers both for the wall outlet and your car. Amazon and other online sites are great for finding phone chargers for reasonable prices. You can even score chargers that operate on solar power. If you can spare the space, try to save extra cell phones when you upgrade. Put yourself in a situation with multiple resources to rely on for communication. Buying additional cell batteries is always a great investment too.




3. Laptops may be bulky, but they offer another source for charging. If you are in the mindset for preparing for inclement weather, charge your laptop to full and then use it as a power source for cell phones, tablets or radios via the USB ports.

4. A power inverter is a useful tool to charge electronics bigger than your cell phone. Use a power inverter to charge a laptop or desktop computer during a power outage.The inverter can be used to convert DC power from your car battery into AC power for devices usually plugged into the wall outlet. Batteries Plus is a helpful store that sells a variety of power inverters, just ask for a sales associate to determine your best option in charging your electronic devices.

Storms and power outages are inevitable for fall and winter. Use any of these sources to preserve your electronic power. Remember you've got the power! Share your suggestions on our Facebook page.