How I built a Solar iPhone Charger for under $50.

To see my personal site with these tutorials and news, please visit http://www.BrennanZelener.com

**DISCLAIMER**

I am not responsible for any damage that you may cause to your iPhone or any device that you use with this charger. I can not stress the importance of checking your circuits with a multimeter enough, and I can assure you that I've done so at every step in this build process. Your phone is a very expensive device. Treat it like one!

Intro and Design:

Over the past month or so, I've been working on designs for a stationary solar iPhone charger. By stationary I mean a charger that will be kept in a fairly permanent place. I bring mine with me if I'm going to be camping or staying somewhere for a while, but it's really not meant to be portable.

This isn't only a solar iPhone charger. You can use it with any device that will charge via USB. I just happen to use it to charge my iPhone. Also, this design doesn't include a battery in the circuit - which means that you'll have to charge your iPhone when the sun is out and shining. I know it's a serious inconvenience, but adding a battery makes the circuit much more complex - and is a bit more costly. I'll be following up this design with an update on how to add a battery conveniently into this circuit.

The idea behind this panel is that it's simple (and cheap!). You don't have to have any prior circuit knowledge,or familiarity with electronics. I'm really just stepping out of the novice stage as far as soldering is concerned, so this is a great beginner project for just about anyone!

Step 1 Tools and Materials

As I say in the title, I built this charger for just a bit less than $50. That doesn't include the cost for tools and a few of the materials that were salvaged, but if you spend enough time on eBay you should be able to build yours for the same amount, if not less.

Let's take a look at what was used to build the panel.

Tools:

Soldering Iron w/ Solder and Flux
Needle Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters/Stripper
MultiMeter (IMPORTANT)
Materials and Prices:

Part/Material ------------------------------------- Source ----------------- Cost

10 Watt Solar Panel ----------------------------- eBay -------------------$41.45 w/ shipping
7805 5Volt Regulator ---------------------- RadioShack ------------- $1.59
iPhone/iPod Cable ------------------------------ eBay ------------------ $1.20
USB Extension Cable -------------------------- eBay ------------------ $3.00 w/ shipping
Red/Black small-guage wire --------------- On Hand --------------- Free
Electrical Tape --------------------------------- On Hand --------------- Free
Small Zip Tie ----------------------------------- On Hand --------------- Free

---

Comments

[ASCAS]

The 7805 only limits the regulated power supply by 1 ampere, probably this wouldn't work with the iPhone 4S nor the iPad. But it's a good guide though :)))

[garren11]

Im planning on downsizing this and including a battery for it. My concern is what would be the chance of it potentially short circuiting the iphone if there is any chance at all. All help is appreciated.

[Asmodeo]

Nice instructable!
I was thinking about something like this to recharge my cellular phone....
The regulator goes "hot" because the formula to calculate the disipated power is:

P=(Vin - Vout) / Iout
In your circuit:
P = (20v - 5v) / 0.5A = 15v / 0.5A = 30Watts!!!

Go get a heathsink for your poor regulator!

You possibly could use a 12V solar panel, with 0.5 Amperes output current, and the dissipated power would be

( 12v - 5v ) / 0.5A = 14W ...still in need of a heathsink...

I don't know if there are 9v solar panels.....

[solaralternatives]

Wrong. P=IE, not P=I/E, so P out(max) is 7.5W

[bananafred]

Just so you know, 15v at 0.5A is 7.5W, not 30. You multiply, not divide.

[Asmodeo]

OUCH! YES, you´r right!!! but....I made you think. huh!

[DraakUSA]

You should have spotted that since it's only a 10W solar panel. ;-)

[lloydrmc]

Darn, I thought that he had cold fusion or something going there.

[akbrennan]

Yes it is! I wondered where he was getting 30W, from calculation of a 10W panel... Thanks for pointing that out! Brennan

[ctfjustice]

Sorry, I forgot to mention that it has several different settings for different voltages. They are as follows, 3, 6, 9, 12 volt configurations. I got it just to tinker with, works pretty well for my purpose and curiousity.

[ctfjustice]

Hello Asmodeo, just a quick little blurp about you wondering if there were any 9 volt solar panels out there. Harbour Freight sells a neat little solar charger with battery power as well for around $12, not bad.

[DarkStarPDX]

Yo! I just picked up the "1.5 Watt Solar Panel w/Auto Lighter Adaptor" from a Harbor Freight store for $14.99. My plan is to build a USB charger as well, however I'm going to desulfate a 12 volt hobby battery (7 amp hour) and use that to capture the daytime sun, and then charge my USB devices at night.

After I make my prototype, hopefully I'll buy another to put together an instructable, but a sneak preview includes me using 5 volt switching regulators instead of 7805's (linear regulators). You can get the switching regulators from Dimension Engineering. Another problem I need to work around is moving the solar panel "smarts" from the "auto lighter adapter" to the inside of the actual solar panel.

Lookin' great, keep it up!

[lloydrmc]

Mouser.com has the Murata switch mode regulator

[akbrennan]

Thanks guys! @Asmodeo - There are 9V panels. However, this was the best one that I could find for the price. As I mentioned, it's certainly not the most ideal for charging via USB, most likely it was made for charging 12V batteries. I was considering building my own custom panel, which would be the most efficient - but this was the easiest and fastest method, which makes for a good instructable for beginners. I'll continue to document my projects. Thanks for your comments!

[monkyDJ]

Do you need more then 10 w???

[monkyDJ]

I hope this works man, because I doing this for a project and I need to get a good mark!!! lolz

[ginbot86]

Instead of a linear regulator, you could pick up a switched-mode PTH08080W from Texas Instruments. They offer sample parts free of charge, and even shipping is free. These offer over 2 amps of current compared to one of the linear regulators, and is adjustable with a simple potentiometer.

http://www.ti.com/product/pth08080w

[peppero]

i have a problem my phone not charge but discharge and the same for the mp3 player how it's possible?

[sdobbie]

There is a much quicker way to do this. If you got a usb car charger and connected it to the solar panel you would have a more efficient charger. Car chargers accept voltages from 12 to 24 volts usually.

[Phoenixmill]

What works for some good low voltage Solar panels are the Garden lamps that people use to line their driveway. you can ghetto rig those together to get really low voltages, or really high ones. you would be surprised at how many people have broken garden lamps they are willing to get rid of.

[Schooniedude]

if you decieded to use one of those, would you need the same parts and everything?

[lloydrmc]

Good idea!

[ReCreate]

I recommend you strap the Voltage regulator to something, It may overheat while the i-phone sucks electricity through it. Though they do have thermal shutdown to prevent them from burning themselves up.

[lloydrmc]

7805s do indeed have heat overload circuitry, as do, no doubt the murata switching version that's a drop-in replacement.

[butterflypoo]

This seems awesome! I am not sure if someone already mentioned this in the comments, but isn't it bad for electronics to be exposed to too much light? Someone told me that once and you can even read it on the back of the packaging. Simple solution: cover up that iphone with an empty dark container (as house to keep it cool)?

I am gonna try tackling this project this summer!

[lloydrmc]

Uhh - if I wanted to keep something cool outdoors, I might use something white or even reflective.

[krimb1]

 What a great guide! Really sturdy, and the built-in blocking diode is really awesome.

One question though: this setup won't trickle charge the iPhone after it's fully charged, right?

[lloydrmc]

I seriously doubt that an iPhone counts on the charger to do anything. The charge circuitry is going to be in the phone.

[lloydrmc]

Try the Murata 78SR regulator.  It's a drop-in replacement for the 7805, except that it's switch mode, can handle two amps, and is much more efficient than the linear mode 7805, to the point that it doesn't even need a heat sink.  I wouldn't sweat the higher current - the unit will draw what it needs.  I would do the resistor hack, though.

[jackzylkin]

WOw I never heard of that part -- sounds great

[lloydrmc]

It's not even expensive. Try Mouser.com

[senor taco]

For some reason my iPhone won't charge from this. I tested all the connections, and everything should be working, but when i plug my phone in nothing happens...

[Adam Manick]

Once again, build this circuit.

[dizingof]

Are you sure it's charging your iphone? :) A simple usb connection wont do it for the iphone, you need to add 2 resistors to the D- and D+ of the usb connector to let the iphone "know" it can start accepting current and start charging.. Note this, an icon for a REAL charging status is a small lighting and not a 'concected to usb' icon... google for more info on how to charge an iphone using USB . Good job!

[Adam Manick]

It is not actually charging his Iphone. For it to charge he needs to build this circuit.

[matroska]

 +1 on this comment. Apple stuff (and other picky devices) really need the USB signal in order to charge. (Hm, since yours charged anyway, it's not an absolute requirement I guess...)

For more info about this (or how to make your picky device charge with your custom charger) check out this instructable: 
www.instructables.com/id/How-to-get-your-iPod-to-charge-with-your-homemade-/

[senor taco]

Could you be a little more specific about those resistors? I think that is the problem I'm having with my charger, so if you could help me out that would be great.

[akbrennan]

Thanks dizingof! The charger seems to work beautifully - but occasionally my iPhone will refuse to charge from it. I just blamed it on the sun, - but your suggestion sounds much more plausible :D. I'll definitely look at adding the resistors on the next circuit. By D- and D+ do you mean the data cables? Thanks! Brennan

[akbrennan]

 Hi guys!

Thanks for all of your comments, they are all thoroughly appreciated. I'm sorry that it has taken so long for me to fully respond.

This solar charger was a very fun project. I am going to be working on a more efficient and smaller charger this summer.  - If you are interested in contributing to the project, feel free to email me at brennanzelener at gmail.com.

As the charger stands right now, if you are planning on building your own, I would recommend checking out the MightyMintyBoost. My charger, while simple, can run into problems with the 5V regulator being the only circuitry.

I'll be updating my blog and instructables with a new iPhone solar charger design, as well as a MacBook solar charger in a couple of months. I hope to talk to you all then!

[Johenix]

Cheap (perhaps even free) solar panels can be obtained at your local Volkswagen dealer. The panels are plugged into the cigarette lighter socket of cars in transit to keep the battery charged. They produce 12 volts at a few miliamps and have suction cups for attaching to the inside of a window. Or look for VW Solar on EBay.