4-AA USB Charger for Cellphones & MP3 players

Mabuhay! This instructable is a simple, portable and easy to use device. It is portable because I want my stuffs to be "on the go" anytime and anywhere -- especially during long travel and blackouts. It is a charger made for any kind of device or gadget that re-charges using USB charger like Apple iPod and Motorola and other phones. I don't have great knowledge in electronics so I made one without using capacitors, resistors and etc. Hope you like it.

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Step 1: Materials needed

Check out the photos.

The USB receptacle I used came from our broken CPU.

aussa says: Sep 5, 2011. 2:57 PM

Hi! nice hardware work, but dont think it will be reliable as when the batteries start to discharge they will reach 1.1 volts giving a total of 4.4 volts which is below usb standard voltage.. My recommendation is to use 5 rechargeable batteries with 5Volt low drop out regulator that can regulate at 5.5 volts input (5.5/5 = 1.1Volt/cell)

Also 1.2v rechargeable batteries are charged at 1.4 volts per cell, which gives 5.6 volts for 4 cells which is above the USB standard.

Hope the above adds value to your design.

Keep the Good Work coming ;)

acosicris (author) in reply to aussaSep 18, 2011. 7:18 AM

Hi thanks to all your comments!

I'm not really good at electronics, i just try it out with 4 batteries.
Your suggestion is noted and I'm considering it when I "edit" my ible in the future..
Kinda busy with my studies now. :D

Thanks again!

Frowney001 says: Jul 12, 2011. 9:38 AM

I made one also out of a Lego battery thing for a robot lego monkey.
it used 6 AA batteries at first, but then I soldered a few wires and a diode and a switch (to change the current flow in case the voltage goes too high). and i just tested it out as I am testing this and it works!!!

Frowney001 says: May 19, 2011. 2:56 PM

I tried this with my ipod touch 2nd generation and...

Nothing Happened!

I heard somewhere that you need to put resistance to the data pins or something?

I don't understand

aekara in reply to Frowney001May 29, 2011. 3:08 AM

on the usb port try touching the data pins together

(the data pins are the D+ AND D-)

Frowney001 in reply to aekaraJun 14, 2011. 11:59 AM

or you could put a 100K ohm resistor on each resistor and have them connected to hot.

the main voltage has to be between 4.8 and 5.2 volts

aekara in reply to Frowney001Jun 15, 2011. 8:00 AM

yea i know that but i did this becouse i din't have a 100k ohm resistor so i just touched them and it works!

Frowney001 in reply to aekaraJun 16, 2011. 1:10 PM

Thats cool

Havent tried that yet

Thanks

aekara says: May 7, 2011. 1:03 PM

i think ist better if you put a blocking diode between the positive leg of the battery pack and the usb connector

you can fing blocking diodes inside old wall adaptors,just use your soldering iron to desolder one diode

and also make sure that the white mark on the diode it whe "away" which meens that the white mark will be connected to the usb connector

HOPE I HELP AND ALSO

GREAT INSTRUCTABLE ;)