DIY 10$ solar cell phone charger

When I'm stuck without battery on my cell phone for either a power outage or I'm on the go & my phone dies then it just sucks, so I found a real cheap and ridiculously easy way to fix that

Here's what you need:
New AA Battery Emergency USB Charger with Flashlight For IPhone 4G 3G 3GS Ipod | eBay 3$
6V 100mA 0.6W mini epoxy solar panel polycrystalline new small solar panel led | eBay ( make the seller an offer for 5$ he will take it ) 5$
1PCS 2XAA 2×AA 2XAA(3V) 3V 2*AA(3V) 2*AA Battery Holder Box Case w/ Wire | eBay 2$ I had some lying around but those will do or any other AA or battery holder,
And a tin, you can find them anywhere

With this setup you can only use rechargeable AA's or any NimH batteries, Li-ions will explode if you try with this setup so don't!

You will have to destroy the casing from the emergency charger & get the 5V boosting circuit from it, the easiest way is to put it in a vice and snap the casing, then the PCB just falls out

There is a battery + & - indicated on the circuit

Wire the red to the + & and black to the -

Wire the solar panel + & - leads to there also,
You should add a diode to prevent the batteries from discharging.

Then put it in a case and voila

Sweet project! I keep wanting to rep you for many things but it tells me i need to spread the love a bit more. I owe you +1 many times over and over again.

Keep up the awesome projects!

Fretwrecker94 said:

Sweet project! I keep wanting to rep you for many things but it tells me i need to spread the love a bit more. I owe you +1 many times over and over again.

Keep up the awesome projects!

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Lol thanks I owe you a few + 1's also

AnthoT said:

Wire the red to the + & and black to the -

Wire the solar panel + & - leads to there also,

Click to expand...

I dont get this part?

daawood123 said:

I dont get this part?

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Wire colors, the battery pack has red & black wires, + & - you connect them to the + & - of the boosting circuit

Erm, wouldn't the solar cell overcharge the batteries if you leave it in the sun too long?

That's kind of dangerous, and it's pretty easy to fix too... Just add a simple LM317 voltage regulator set to whatever the battery's voltage is. That way you don't risk destroying your batteries.

Or alternatively, even better, get a buck driver that's set to the battery's voltage.

Yes but it charges so incredibly slowly its never overcharged for me, off course if your going to use a huge solar panel then that would be a smart thing to do but when you have a 100mA solar panel you will want all that going to the batteries, also these are nimh not Li-ion I have a different Li-ion setup but I like this better