Duracell myGrid Cable-Free Mobile Phone Charging Station

This Duracell mobile phone charging station should be released sometime in the autumn. The idea's simple; just place your mobile or mobiles on the silver surface and they'll recharge automatically with no cables required.

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Duracell kindly sent us a myGrid to have a go with, so we set to work straight away. The first thing to check was whether or not it worked with the iPhone, as Apple's mobile isn't shown in any of the myGrid's promotional photos, and it isn't mentioned in most spec sheets we found online. The good news is that the myGrid is fully compatible with the iPhone, so long as you use the special charging case supplied (see below).

The myGrid may be cable free, but you'll need to fit your mobile with one of the charging cases or adapters supplied for it to connect to the silver surface and recharge. The iPhone charging case covers it like a regular protective case, except that there are four little metal blobs on the back that suck in electricity from the metal plate and transfer it to the phone. Compatibility for other handsets depends on the brand and model, and whether they can be used with one of the charging cases or connectors included.


The little connectors plug into the phone directly.


Here, for example, is a connector and a compatible socket on the HTC Hero. The thickness of the phone makes connection with the charging plate a little precarious. The sloping design of the phone's base really doesn't help things either.

Just make sure your phone or phones are compatible with the system before you buy.

How much power does it use?

Hardly any at all! We measured consumption of just 0.3 W on standby with no phone charging and 3.4 W with one phone charging (it was an iPhone, if you're interested). That's similar to a regular charger (2 to 7 W), except that with the myGrid, you can charge several phones at once without pushing up power consumption.

What's the point?

So why would you want a myGrid at home or at work when you already have a charger? Well, it can be used instead of your regular charger or as an extra charger, and you won't have to plug your phone into the wall with a cable.

Visitors to your home or office, for example, might appreciate the presence of a universal charging station if they don't carry their regular charger around all the time. If a friend's mobile is low on juice, they can fish around for a compatible adapter and with a bit of luck they'll be able to power up using your charging station.

One last test ...

Romain asked me:

• Do you get an electric shock if you touch it?
• No (taps the surface).

• What if it's a bit wet?
• Nope, still nothing (licks finger and taps surface).
  

• What if you lick it?
• Aaaaaaaaaargh!

Drawback number one: it stings when you lick it!

Drawback number two: the charging covers, where necessary, could be more stylish. The material feels rough and thick, and although they're almost certainly very resistant, Duracell could have made a little more effort with the design! If you buy the product to help out visitors from time to time than that's not really an issue. However, if you plan on keeping the cover in place on a permanent basis, then you'll have to put up with the sticking out connectors and the dull colour.

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