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While Ladyada's Mintyboost design is great, there is a cheaper and much easier way to build one- with Sparkfun!
If you'd like to save a few bucks and skip assembling a board, a quick trip to Sparkfun can net an already assembled equivalent of the original Mintyboost.
By the way, please use what you save on this project to buy something else from Ladyada- she's got some sweet kits- especially arduino related, and she keeps everything open source and transparent! Her kit was the grand-daddy of all things Mintyboost, so please remember to support her!
Mintyboost Original- http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/index.html
Adafruit (Her kit store-check it out!)- http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index
If you'd like to save a few bucks and skip assembling a board, a quick trip to Sparkfun can net an already assembled equivalent of the original Mintyboost.
By the way, please use what you save on this project to buy something else from Ladyada- she's got some sweet kits- especially arduino related, and she keeps everything open source and transparent! Her kit was the grand-daddy of all things Mintyboost, so please remember to support her!
Mintyboost Original- http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/index.html
Adafruit (Her kit store-check it out!)- http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=index
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Signing UpStep 1Components and Tools
The Ladyada Mintyboost design (v1-2) uses something called a boost converter to "boost" the 3 volts you can get off a pair of AA's, up to the 5v required to charge a usb device. Her kit is a boost converter of her own design, and comes with a pcb and components that you need to solder together. An attractive kit, and the v2 kit can source 400ma for faster charging. Her kit, shipped to my house in PA, runs about $23.25.
However, if you're cheap, lazy, or know all about boost converters already and don't care to solder a pcb, there is another solution! Sparkfun sells a pre-assembled 5v boost converter, with a AA holder already attached. Hooray!
So, with a pre-assembled boost converter, our parts list shrinks immensely, as you might imagine. Conveniently, we can buy all the electronics components at Sparkfun.
Components
5v Boost Converter http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8249
USB Type A Female Connecter http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9011
Total Price with Shipping: $15.44
Alright! We saved over 7 bucks, or ~ %30! You'll also need an Altoids tin of some sort. I used a cool round one, mainly because I had it already, and I could wrap the charge cord around it. You can use whatever will hold the components.
Tools
1. Soldering iron- Basic one is fine, just for soldering pins.
2.Solder
3. Drill/ Hammer/ Knife/ Hole Punch- To start the hole for the USB connector
4. File- To shapes and smooth off the edges of that hole.
4. Glue gun/ Double Sided Foam Tape- For insulation and holding things down.
**Must Read Stuff**
Boost Converter Background http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_converter
Ladyada Mintyboost design process (Very Interesting)- http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html
However, if you're cheap, lazy, or know all about boost converters already and don't care to solder a pcb, there is another solution! Sparkfun sells a pre-assembled 5v boost converter, with a AA holder already attached. Hooray!
So, with a pre-assembled boost converter, our parts list shrinks immensely, as you might imagine. Conveniently, we can buy all the electronics components at Sparkfun.
Components
5v Boost Converter http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=8249
USB Type A Female Connecter http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/product_info.php?products_id=9011
Total Price with Shipping: $15.44
Alright! We saved over 7 bucks, or ~ %30! You'll also need an Altoids tin of some sort. I used a cool round one, mainly because I had it already, and I could wrap the charge cord around it. You can use whatever will hold the components.
Tools
1. Soldering iron- Basic one is fine, just for soldering pins.
2.Solder
3. Drill/ Hammer/ Knife/ Hole Punch- To start the hole for the USB connector
4. File- To shapes and smooth off the edges of that hole.
4. Glue gun/ Double Sided Foam Tape- For insulation and holding things down.
**Must Read Stuff**
Boost Converter Background http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_converter
Ladyada Mintyboost design process (Very Interesting)- http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/process.html
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if it works than chapeau (good job in french
Anyone looking to build a non-Minty charger should review this recent boost circuit review: http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2663
FYI it looks like you can get the SF board now for $6 http://www.sparkfun.com/products/8999
Note you can build the v1 Minty real cheap, using a free sample max756 and protoboard.