Solar USB dual Power LED Rechargeable Flashlight

This is my first Instructable and my entry for the USB contest.  It is exactly as the title states. This instructable shows how to modify an Solar LED flashlight to take power from USB (and to charge it when it is dark, and the solar panel obviously does not work.)

I know there are other instructables about USB flashlights.  I got the idea reading this one when I saw how similar the circuits were. This is the only solar and USB one I know of though. I do not want  anyone thinking I copied this idea.
 
DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU FRY YOUR LED LIGHTS, YOUR USB PORT, SET YOURSELF ON FIRE OR KILL YOURSELF (SOMEHOW). WHAT YOU O WITH THIS INFO IS NOT MY FAULT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. 

Step 1 Materials

For this instructable you will need:
- One solar LED flashlight (these are widely available for about $1 on ebay. This is where mine came from)
- Male A USB cable (these can be cut from almost and USB cable)
-two resistors (1/4 watt), my LED light's battery was rated at 3.6v, so a 3 K ohm and a 4k ohm would probably be ideal. I could not find these so I substituted. My resistors only gave me 3 volts, and now my LEDs are dim when USB charged
-misc.: wire, solder, soldering iron, pliers, wire cutters, side cutters, dremel (optional), shrink wrap (optional, but recommended), and other hand tools may come in handy

Comments

[Kohaku]

Just an extra warning to anyone thinking of doing this mod; I bought an identical looking "solar torch" from a 99p store, took it apart and discovered that the solar panel wasn't actually wired to anything and the battery was two non-rechargable CR2016's instead of the LIR2032 (lithium ion rechargable CR2032 equivilant) I was hoping for - meaning when the batteries run down that's it, it's dead, and not suitable for modding in this fashion.

[ironsmiter]

I've seen that happen too...
Here's what you're missing though.
That is PERFECT for modding!

Once the batteries die, You have a project case, a couple LED's, a solar cell, and motivation to make it work! :-) That's over half the battle. All that's left wanting is a rechargeable battery, MAYBE a current limiting resistor for driving the leds, and a minimal charging circuit for your battery.

Being a bit wonky doesn't make things unsuitable for hacking, it makes the hack more interesting!

[kevinp1133]

Yes, I have seen solar and shake power electric devices like that before. It is most regrettable that that sort of thing happens; however I bought the cheapest one off ebay and it was wired so the panel worked. So this is not always a problem.