Step 2: Specifications (warning details and science)
An iPod requires 2.5 Watts to charge (5V 500mA).
Chargers for other devices are rated at around 0.5W to trickle charge and 10W to fast charge.
Our seebeck unit is rated to generate 6 Watts so its more than enough to charge an iPod.
So how do we do this? Well we need a heat source and a cooling source. We can easily attach this to a car or a motorcycle since the exhaust easily goes over 200F and the wind over the element would cool it.
Phones and MP3 players have internal charging circuits. If you supply the right voltage and enough current it will start charging. Most phones and iPods need 5 volts so we decided to use a 5V regulator. The regulator will make sure the voltage never gets too high.
If we use a seebeck unit with an efficient regulation circuit we could charge an iPod at the same rate as an outlet charger. We could even charge batteries or a super capacitor and use it as a battery booster when the iPod dies.
We had designed a boost charging circuit but it is not quite ready for prime time. Sorry :-( For now, we will show you how to use a 5V linear regulator instead. Its not as efficient but it works.
It was the G1-1.4-219-1.14 $75 from tellurex.
http://tellurex.com/thermoelectric-power-modules.htm
Chargers for other devices are rated at around 0.5W to trickle charge and 10W to fast charge.
Our seebeck unit is rated to generate 6 Watts so its more than enough to charge an iPod.
So how do we do this? Well we need a heat source and a cooling source. We can easily attach this to a car or a motorcycle since the exhaust easily goes over 200F and the wind over the element would cool it.
Phones and MP3 players have internal charging circuits. If you supply the right voltage and enough current it will start charging. Most phones and iPods need 5 volts so we decided to use a 5V regulator. The regulator will make sure the voltage never gets too high.
If we use a seebeck unit with an efficient regulation circuit we could charge an iPod at the same rate as an outlet charger. We could even charge batteries or a super capacitor and use it as a battery booster when the iPod dies.
We had designed a boost charging circuit but it is not quite ready for prime time. Sorry :-( For now, we will show you how to use a 5V linear regulator instead. Its not as efficient but it works.
It was the G1-1.4-219-1.14 $75 from tellurex.
http://tellurex.com/thermoelectric-power-modules.htm
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