Voltage: 5 volts
Regulator Current: 1 amp max
Power: 5 watts max
Weight: 18.2 ounces
Dimensions: 4.5" × 5.5" without bowl/lid or 4.5" × 8" with bowl/lid
Volume: 46 oz.
By Ben Sobieck
The PowerPot is a portable generator that converts heat from hot water into electricity for charging cell phones and other gadgets.
The PowerPot works like this. First, fill the 46-ounce pot up 2⁄3 of the way with water. Attach a USB 2.0 plug into the side of the pot. Connect your cell phone or other gadget to the USB 2.0 plug. It cranks out electricity as soon as the water warms up. That’s it. No moving parts. No degree in thermodynamics required. All you need are a heat source and some water. Phones will charge in 1-2 hours.
In addition to being able to charge gadgets, the PowerPot does a lot more.
For starters, it’s a pot that can boil water inside, and the ability to boil water is a major advantage in a survival situation.
There’s nothing special about the way it needs to be used. Heat water with it just like you would any other pot. The only exception is that the water doesn’t need to be boiling for it to work.
That means you can use the PowerPot on or near a fire, on a portable stove, inside a solar oven, on the hood of a hot car or any other method that heats water. The stove in the Living Ready kitchen was used for this review out of convenience, but field tests have shown how responsive this device is to any heat source. Charging times may vary depending on heat intensity, but who cares? It works. That’s what matters.
Second, the PowerPot comes with an LED attachment that’s painfully bright. It could easily light up a room in the dark or a camp. This might seem redundant considering a heat source may also be producing light (fires, for example), but remember that illumination at night can equal safety. And it’s just not possible to be too safe.
Third, the PowerPot comes with a small bowl for cooking. The bowl sits on top of the larger pot, creating a double-boiler for food. It can’t heat a lot of food, but this added functionality really adds to the versatility of the overall product.
However, PowerPot stresses that the pot with the water should not be used to also cook food. Only water should be used. Food goes in the separate bowl.
None of the PowerPot cons are bad enough to make this product not worth the money. But there are some that are worth noting anyway.
The PowerPot can’t be run through the dishwasher. I know that’s not a big deal for most prepared folks, including me, but it should be mentioned.
In the words of the instructions, “the bottom of the PowerPot becomes much hotter than a typical cooking pot during operation.” This isn’t a product for kids or people with butterfingers.
It’s not a large item, which is both good and bad. It’s built for portability, so rely on something else if a large amount of water or food is needed.
Finally, there’s an inherent risk any time electricity, heat and water are put into close quarters. I wouldn’t rate that as a high risk, but it’s worth considering.
The PowerPot floored Living Ready staff, and it couldn’t be recommended higher. It should be a required item for any emergency kit, from rural to urban. I even personally have one.