Charge ipod by USB

Sometimes there's just nothing worse than a USB-powered gadget (you have like, a thousand, right?) that doesn't have any juice.

I found out yesterday that there’s a shuffle shortage and gadget battery life can only be expected to get worse.

At least you can make the most of your waiting-for-shuffle blues and solder yourself a ‘usb battery’.

This little gizmo runs off a 9 volt battery and supplies your favorite little device with the proper 5 volts of mobile power. 

Step 1 Need

 I tested it with an mpx220 smartphone and it should work fine with any low power mobile device that can charge via usb cable.  

Here’s what you need to scrounge up:

1) 5.1v zener diode.


2) 100ohm or slightly greater resistor. all i had was a 330ohm which works. 
Don’t try anything lower than 100ohm.

3) 9v battery connector and 9v battery.

4) Flat female usb connector that mates with your device’s usb cable.
This is the hardest part to find. I tore mine off an old usb extension cable.

5) Bread Board

Comments

[nodoubtman]

i think that doesnt work for a ipod touch 4 G?

thank you!
marC:)

[atombomb1945]

Is that B&W photo from Hack A Day?
Nice job on the build. I am trying to put together one using D Cell batteries so I can charge my phone / tablet multiple times without the need to change out batteries as often.

[Indiana67]

Very cool and useful !!!
Thanxs...!!