Simple USB Altoids AA Charger!

Step 4 Your done!

After you charged your batteries up put them in and you made your own AA charger that outputs around 5 volts!

Comments

[8888tx]

I've got a slight problem. The as soon as I touch the wires to the batteries it turns whatever im using off,

[Andy-K]

 Would this work better if you put a 4.8v regulator in it. Between the USB cable and the battery holder. Since my 4 NiMH Batteries are equaling 4.8 volts (4*1.2v) I think this would be safer. Im not sure if Im correct though, Im kind of new to electronics.

[dabomb1022]

 yes it would

[Brad79]

Send power down the data ports the middle ones on the usb . But with these batterys i cant see it charging it for long . The batterys will drain.

[Wiggin]

Is this safe for expensive cell phone equipment? I looks really cool and easy. Almost too cool and easy to be safe ;-)

[Padlock]

It isn't regulated; with alkaline or lithium ultra batteries it would be 6 volts or lower, with NiMh it would be around 4.8. Defiantly not! I would only use this for simple, hard to break stuff. (Say a keyboard light, or fan.)

[dabomb1022]

Wow, you need to buy ni-mh and it is right around 5v which is safe

[Padlock]

NiMh batteries have a nominal voltage of 1.2 volts. 1.2 times 4 = 4.8. But, as NiMh batteries are used, their voltage decreases. That means it's all a guessing game... low voltage can mess up IC's, voltage transducers, and the like. So, it is NOT safe. If this had a step-up and regulator, it would be much, much more safe. The only thing I would trust with this is non-voltage dependent objects (like a keyboard light or fan) and defiantly NOT expensive cell phone equipment.

[dabomb1022]

Ya but for some reason mine are always around 5.3 volts

[Padlock]

I'm guessing that you have the "Ultra" type batteries, which have been specifically engineered to provide power more congruent to that of a AA. I'm just here to point out that it isn't safe for everything, and in fact could be quite destructive on some technologies.

[dabomb1022]

It is safe, 4 AA rechargeables equal 5 volts to make sure test it with a multimeter

[superken67]

I have built a usb charger based on these instructions. I have tried it with both 4 AA and 4 AAAA batteries, but the outcome has been the same. When I connect it to my iPod or Zune, nothing happens. However, when I connect it to a flash drive, the light turns on, so the circuit works but something else is wrong. Do you have any ideas on what I can do? (P.S. it is set up in a series circuit, not parallel). Thanks.

[axeman911]

What you want to do is connect the middle to pins of the Female usb together, this tricks the ipod into thinking that it is a legite apple charger.

[dabomb1022]

It's because apple is dumb and wants you to buy their chargers, you can bypass it by searching around for a tutorial. And I guess zunes are the same

[Unclefisty]

I've connected both a Zune and iPod to non OEM chargers and they worked, I have a generic 12v car socket usb charger that works with both.