| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| windnovice |
Posted - 02/07/2008 : 23:39:26
hello,
I have some older broken solar garden lights laying around and was wondering how hard it would be to use them and make a solar cell phone charger. Ive tried looking it up on the internet about how to do make one however im not very convinced it will work b/c all they show is hooking it to your regular cell phone charger and nothing more. has anyone else seen or heard of how to do it. i am very interested in building one and if anybody has any ideas or a good website to reference that would be great.
~WN~ |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| ghurd |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 16:20:48
Piece of cake.
I like the idea of the videojug link, but he doesn't know much about it.
ie: Designing around open circuit voltage, testing under a light bulb, testing outdoors with shaded cells...
Decide the output voltage (same as the phone input voltage). Figure 0.45V per cell (easy to count on the mini panels, often 5 to 8 cells per unit). Add 5 or 6 cells, minimum. Feed the output to a 1A voltage regulator (a 5V or USB can use a 7805, 6V can use a 7806. Other voltages may need an LM317). Adaptor to fit the phone.
Done.
G- |
| Jerry-S |
Posted - 04/07/2008 : 22:16:26
You are correct in that a USB port on a PC delivers 5 volts at a max of 500ma.
|
| gotwind |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 19:41:20
From what I have learnt from mobile phone charging, most phones require a constant current (My Nokia does), otherwise the phone rejects the charge.
Interestingly, most phones can charge from a USB computer socket, which as I understand are 5v - 500mA max
Some of the more electronically minded guys may help explain this further.
Ben. |
| Jerry-S |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 18:58:47
I haven't looked at the other links, but fond this one while having a surf.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-make-a-solar-powered-usb-charger |
| windnovice |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 13:24:57
thanks, but is it as easy as that just hook it up and go. i guess i was just thinking that there would be more to it but i guess not, but thats a good thing. ill have to see what i can make b/c this would be perfect for me at work because my window gets sun almost all day and i can just sit it on the window seal and charge my phone all day.
~WN~ |
| gholt |
Posted - 03/07/2008 : 03:07:30
Hello Windnovice,
This one's a bit over the top but interesting:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Rain-or-Shine-Solar-Charger/
This one is fairly direct if one has the spare parts lying around:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Universal-Solar-Charger/
This one is an Altoid special and uses solar cells from garden lights:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Solar-Cell-Phone-Charger-made-from-old-parts-and-a/
Enjoy ...
G. |
