Last Updated on October 1, 2020 by
Emergency hand-cranked radios are great to have during power outages and can come in handy for a variety of different survival scenarios. But if you’ve never owned a hand-crank radio, the question of “how long do hand-crank radios last?” seems to come up more often than not.
So today we are going to answer that question and look a little deeper into how these little emergency radios work and why you should own one.
How Long Do Hand Crank Radios Last?
Hand crank radios can last on average up to 2 weeks if not in use after being fully charged by either the built-in solar panels, the hand crank, the battery, or the power cord. As soon as you start using it, the longevity of the charge will go down, depending on which features you are using.
What Exactly Is A Hand Crank Emergency Radio?
An emergency hand-crank radio is a must-have in a bug out bag, that will provide you with peace of mind if the power goes out during a SHTF situation. They are designed to run on alternative power sources such as solar, AAA and Lithium batteries, and a hand crank. These emergency radios come equipped with NOAA weather alerts, a light source, and come with their own self-sustaining power.
If you can imagine yourself in a situation where chaos has ensued and you’ve had to bug out of your house by yourself or with your family, how would you be able to understand what’s going on in the outside world? That’s the biggest use of this radio.
One of the most important features is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its weather updates. If you’re going to be spending your time outside, or you’re in a hurricane-prone area, it’s nice to know what’s happening with the current weather situation so you’ll know what to expect.
The nice thing about these radios is that once they are charged, you can plug a USB cable into them and charge other devices like your cell phone. So essentially you have a self-contained power unit that doesn’t rely on electricity. It’s fantastic!
How Long Does A Hand Crank Radio Last?- A Detailed Look
The bottom line is that the lasting capabilities of a hand crank radio that’s been fully charged will depend on how and what features you are using.
In my experience with emergency radios, the charge can last up to 2 weeks with no use. But as soon as you start to use it, you will start draining the power. And of course, you are going to use it, so the true question is may become something like this:
How long will a hand crank radio last just using the AM/FM radio?
How long will a hand crank radio flashlight last?
How long will a hand crank radio last if I’m using the flashlight and the AM/FM radio at the same time?
As you can tell, the answer to the main question will depend on how you use the radio. The other thing to realize is that the solar panels that are built into these radios are designed for extending the radio charge time, so it should help keep the radio working a little longer if you’re in the sun when using it.
Why You Should Own A Hand Crank Radio
Hand crank radios are essential in a survival kit because it has a lot of features to offer and it doesn’t require electricity. This amazing little device is lightweight and compact, making it portable enough to carry around easily. You can easily put it in your bug out bag and go fearlessly wherever you want.
Think of a situation where you are stuck in an emergency, there aren’t any people around. Your cellphone and internet connections are more than likely unavailable, and you won’t be able to tell what’s going on in the outside world. This radio is your window to the outside world when there are none!
In times of crisis, there is nothing better than being updated about the civil emergencies and severe weather storms coming your way, so the NOAA weather alert radio informs and sends the weather alerts instantly.
Moreover, you can rely upon your emergency radio more than your cellphone because their network can easily be affected by the harsh weather while the emergency radio remains energized because of the multiple power source options.
Related Questions and Answers About Hand Crank Radios
How Long Does It Take To Charge A Hand Crank Radio?
How long it takes to fully charge a hand-crank radio will depend on the manufacturer and whether you are using the solar panel, the hand crank, the batteries or the charger.
If you try to use the hand-crank to charge your radio, you’ll get tired really quickly. After about 15 minutes of cranking, I barely got any power to my radio, for example. But that’s not to say other brands might work better. But to be honest, I’ve tried to crank my little radio and it takes forever! I would not recommend trying to fully charge your radio using this method.
If you use the solar panels, it could take as long as 2 days. It depends on the size of the solar panels and the brightness of the sun. But please remember that the main purpose of the solar panel is to maintain and extend battery life, not to charge.
When you first get an emergency radio, you can charge it using batteries, and that should take a few hours as well, but once it’s charged, it will hold its charge fairly well.
Unfortunately, this is an emergency radio, and the best way to charge it is by using the power cord that comes with it. I know that’s probably not what you want to hear, but it just makes the most sense and keeps the charge pretty well.
How Does A Hand Crank Radio Work?
A hand-crank radio works almost like magic because you don’t need electricity to power it. It’s designed to use alternative sources of power to get it working. Those alternative sources of power include the hand-crank, the solar panel built into the radio, and usually a set of batteries.
Who Makes The Best Hand Crank Radio?
The market is saturated with a lot of hand-crank radios nowadays. However, Kaito’s solar panel integrated radios and MidLand’s high-quality technology is none other than the exception. FosPower and Sangean are also manufacturing reliable devices that offer great results.
If you are looking to buy a hand crank radio, I recommend that you read our review of emergency hand crank radios so that it can help you in making a decision.
Final Thoughts
Hand crank radios can be a great tool during SHTF situations and I recommend to everyone reading this that you’ve got one in your survival kit. I’ve got mine stashed in my bug out bag with some extra batteries and I couldn’t feel better!
If you have any questions or comments let us know below.