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Author Topic: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel  (Read 12890 times)

Dowser

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Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« on: February 01, 2012 »
NERD CORNER

I hate travelling anywhere without my Mobile Phone and that includes when I'm hiking in the Mountains.

When I'm in the hills I always find myself trying to conserve the battery life on my iPhone, when what I really want to be doing it using it as normal, while knowing that if I need to make an emergency call the battery will not be dead.

Quick overnighters do not pose a problem, but when I decide to go on longer expeditions, say four or five days, I like the idea of being able to lie in my tent listening to music, reading an ebook, watching a movie or playing a game if the weather turns bad.

The battery on my phone has an average life of about 24hrs when being used for any of the above, so I decided to make a portable charger that will charge all USB devices, including my iPhone and Portable Speakers.

I bought the following items to assemble my Charger and this is what I came up with:


10 x AA 1.2v 2900mAh Ni-MH Batteries
£12.00


10 x AA (12v) Battery Holder box with PP3 clip connection
£0.75



BELKIN F8Z445ea Micro Car Charger with USB Output
Input 12v DC
Output 5v/1000mAh
£2.29


PP3 Connectors
£1.39 for 10


Solar Panel 12v 1.5w @ 17.5v Trickle Charger
£19.99



This is the finished article


I removed the circuitry from the Micro Car Charger with USB Output and soldered on a PP3 Connector so that it can be easily connected to the Battery Pack.  I also removed the green LED power indicator from the charger circuitry so that it would not be an additional drain on the power supply.

Once the USB Output is connected to the battery pack I can then charge any USB device including my iPhone, iPad and USB portable speakers.

I have also attached a PP3 connector to the Solar Panel output cable so that the solar panel can be easily connected to the battery pack.  When I am on the move the solar panel can be attached to my Rucksack and it will replenish the power supply/battery pack whilst I am travelling.

This solar panel does not need direct sunlight and will still put out a decent charge on a cloudy day.  If I am only going for a couple of days the solar panel would not be necessary as the battery pack alone will carry ample charge of all my gadgets.

The battery pack weighs 300g
The Solar Panel and cables weigh 400g

I am travelling so light these days I do not feel that 700 grams will make to much difference to my pack and it's an additional weight that I'm willing to carry if it will allow me to have a constant supply of power in the hills for as long as I decide to stay there.

I will be testing it out over the next few weeks and will let you know how it performs.

8)

« Last Edit: February 02, 2012 by Dowser »
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Spud

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2012 »
Good job, will be interesting to see how it performs!
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RedLeader

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2012 »
This is a great idea, will be interesting to see how it works out.
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Kayakgirl

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2012 »
Are you taking orders?
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dean1970

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2012 »
I wonder would a dynamo from a torch or something work?  ;D

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Dowser

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2012 »
Quote from: Kayakgirl on February 02, 2012
Are you taking orders?

Let me see how it performs first.

I am going to to try and power my iPhone and Speakers from it alone for a month and see if it does the job before going commercial  ;D


Quote from: dean1970 on February 02, 2012
I wonder would a dynamo from a torch or something work?  ;D

You can buy wind up chargers for iPhone but you would have to do a serious amount of winding to charge 10 AA Batteries.  Most wind up torches run on LED's which require a very low level of power.  If you don't get your Amps and Volts correct you could end up blowing up your phone  :-[

The idea behind the solar panel is that I don't have to do anything but strap it to my ruck.  Might not work, but I'm pretty sure all the physics are correct.  I'll be doing a trial period before relying on it.

8)
« Last Edit: February 02, 2012 by Dowser »
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Kayakgirl

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2012 »
Whilst we are talking about gadgets I bought lenses on EBay for my I Phone.
For £14.00. Today I received a fish eye, macro and .67 wide lens. It also comes with magnetic rings to place round the camera lense on the phone for the lenses to connect. Looking forward to getting out on the hills to take some photos!
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LandyLiam

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2012 »
i see you've been out in this fine weather testing   ;D



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Kayakgirl

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #8 on: May 30, 2012 »
Lol
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Dowser

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #9 on: May 30, 2012 »
Quote from: LandyLiam on May 30, 2012
i see you've been out in this fine weather testing   ;D



Did you hack my computer!!! Thats my entry for this months "Footprints" photo comp  :P
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LandyLiam

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #10 on: May 30, 2012 »
phew, i thought it was for the "grab a friend/partner/relative and go out and experience something outdoors with them" competition for the firesteel  :)
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Spud

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #11 on: May 30, 2012 »
Quote from: Dowser on May 30, 2012
Quote from: LandyLiam on May 30, 2012
i see you've been out in this fine weather testing   ;D



Did you hack my computer!!! Thats my entry for this months "Footprints" photo comp  :P

 ;D
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Matthew

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2012 »
Quote from: Dowser on February 02, 2012
  If you don't get your Amps and Volts correct you could end up blowing up your phone  :-[


That should help sort out the voltage issue from using a kinetic source of power. With a change in the capacitor values it would produce a 4.7V output for charging.
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Rusty Madra

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Re: Portable Charger for USB Devices with Solar Panel
« Reply #13 on: June 04, 2012 »
I'm quite happy that the lessons Macgyver taught us as children have been remembered  ;D
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