Keeping Your Phone Charged When the Grid Goes Down
Wondering how to keep your phone charged if the power grid goes down? With summer storm and wildfire season around the corner, you might be considering adding a practical portable power option to your bug-out bag. It's important to get our emergency gear in place now so we aren’t caught off guard.
While cell phone power banks are great—what happens when you don't have anywhere to charge your power bank?
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| A reliable setup for any Canadian emergency kit: my orange solar-powered crank radio used to charge my high-capacity power bank. This versatile tool ensures you have access to NOAA weather alerts and a backup power source, even during extended outages. Unfortunately, my dearly beloved solar crank radio charger is a little worse for wear now and it is no longer available. |
Table of Contents
- The Versatility of Solar Crank Radios
- Top Solar Crank Radios on Amazon.ca
- Comparison: Which Radio is Right for You?
- Realistic Expectations for Charging
- About the Author
Affiliate Disclosure: I am a fellow pensioner sharing my personal journey and deal-hunting finds. I may earn a small commission or referral bonus from some of the links in this post at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work! For more info see the policies page.
The Versatility of Solar Crank Radios
While there are some great solar-powered phone chargers out there, you can't always depend on there being a sunny day. That's why I'm looking into getting a solar crank radio.
Solar crank radios are great for staying informed during a grid failure. I know I have really appreciated the versatility of my solar crank radio when I’ve been off-grid. I have personally used my crank solar radio repeatedly for charging my phone while on the road. My trick is to pop into a library to charge the radio up fully, and then I keep it in the window of the car to let the trickle charge keep it topped up while I drive.
However, using one as a primary phone charger can be physically demanding if you are relying solely on the crank. Most models require 10–15 minutes of vigorous cranking just to get enough power for a few minutes of emergency talk time.
If your goal is to keep an Android phone alive, I have learned that it's best to prioritize radios with larger internal batteries (10,000mAh+). Having a large internal battery allows you to pre-charge it via a wall outlet before the storm hits. Then you can use the crank or solar trickle charge to help keep it topped up.
My little solar crank radio has been through a lot over the past two years and I have to admit it's getting a little worn out. Lately, I got thinking—it's wearing out—what if it crashes the next time the power goes out?
It just might be a good time to secure a backup plan, so I started looking into what I might be able to get on Amazon. After doing some research, I discovered some great recommendations for solar crank radios on Amazon.
Top Solar Crank Radios on Amazon.ca
All of these solar crank radios often have finance offers, which is a big help for the budget. I actually just managed to get my newest one for free! I used a gift card I got just by scanning in my shopping receipts—it feels so good to check an item off my prep list without spending a dime.
iRonsnow Condor 1 (20,000mAh)
This is the one I just grabbed! I managed to get it with a $20 discount, and because it has a massive 20,000mAh capacity, it can charge multiple devices at once. It even features a "multifunctional survival handle" with a built-in compass, fire starter, and whistle. Check to see if the discount is still active at this link.
Raynic Emergency Weather Radio (Upgraded) – 12000mAh/44400mWh
This is a top-tier choice for Canadian users. It features an exceptionally large 12,000mAh battery and dual solar panels designed for better efficiency in lower light. It was also on sale today. Available on Amazon CA here.
Leston Hand Cran Emergency Radio with 10,000mAh Rechargeable Battery
This is another great high-capacity option on the market. Initially, I wa going to get this one, because it was cheaper than the others, but I was incredibly blessed to get the iRonsnow on sale today. It features a bright flashlight and multiple charging methods. However, 10,000 mAh is quite a bit less than what the iRonsnow offers See the current price at this link.
Midland ER310 Emergency Crank Weather Alert Radio
This is my "wishlist" pick! It can run on its rechargeable battery, solar, crank, or six standard AA batteries, giving you a truly reliable backup. See the current Amazon sale price at this link.
Comparison: Which Radio is Right for You?
| Model | Battery Size | Best For... | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| iRonsnow (My Choice) | 20,000 mAh | Long Blackouts | Massive Power Storage |
| Raynic Upgraded | 12,000 mAh | Canadian Winters | Dual solar panels |
| Emergency 10K | 10,000 mAh | Daily Road Use | Compact & HD Display |
| Midland ER310 | 2,600 mAh | Ultimate Backup | Uses standard AA batteries |
Realistic Expectations for Charging
- Hand Crank: 1 minute of cranking typically provides ~5 minutes of radio play or ~5 minutes of talk time.
- Solar Panel: These are generally meant for "trickle charging"—keeping the internal battery from self-discharging.
- Emergency Only: View the crank and solar as ways to get just enough juice for an emergency services call rather than a full phone recharge.
About the Author
Su is the creator of Canadian Senior Savings, a dedicated space helping retirees navigate discounts, rewards programs, and smart shopping strategies across Canada.
Connect with Su: Linktree/Sister_Su
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