Bicycle Dynamo USB Charger

I've looking for a way to charge my electronics while I excercise on my bike. I couldn't find dynamo powered USB charger so I decided to try and make one. I used what I could find and cobbled it together based on information from Instructable and other on-line sources.

Step 1 Installing the Dynamo

This was not complicated. I just followed the instructions that came with the dynamo. I tested the voltage coming from the dynamo and soon realized it exceeded my listed specs. The specs specified a 6 volt output but my testing confirmed not only was the voltage AC instead DC (which I expected) but the output could acheive up to 13 volts.

Comments

[bknepp]

The dynamo I purchased didn't come with instructions, how do I connect it to the circuit? Here's the one I bought: http://iteadstudio.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=29_8&products_id=380. I think it's basically the same. My guess is the small metal stub on the bottom is the positive and the larger metal part is the negative/ground. Just feel I should check before trying anything.

[smrtcar]

be sure to test the voltage and poles using a multimeter. I suggest doing that after installing the rectifying bridge since that is when you will have stable pos and neg leads.