Hi,
In this step-by-step guide i'm about to teach you how to design and build a simple solar charger.
What you'll need:
1) Solar panel.
2) Adjustable Boost Converter Charger Module.
3) Electrical Wires.
4) USB female cable.
5) A box.
6) Recommended - portable USB charger, a cord, led.
7) Soldering Tin.
8) Duct tape.
Tools:
1) Plier.
2) Soldering iron.
3) Hot glue gun.
4) A knife.
5) Tweezers.
6) Voltmeter.
In this step-by-step guide i'm about to teach you how to design and build a simple solar charger.
What you'll need:
1) Solar panel.
2) Adjustable Boost Converter Charger Module.
3) Electrical Wires.
4) USB female cable.
5) A box.
6) Recommended - portable USB charger, a cord, led.
7) Soldering Tin.
8) Duct tape.
Tools:
1) Plier.
2) Soldering iron.
3) Hot glue gun.
4) A knife.
5) Tweezers.
6) Voltmeter.
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Signing UpStep 1: Attaching wires to the panel
Solder electrical wires to the solar panel (Red to +, black to -).
Cover it with the duct tape.
Cover it with the duct tape.
Step 2: Adjusting
Connect a power source to the charger module and a voltmeter to the output of it. Now adjust the module to 5v output.
connect the panel to the module (to the input).
connect the panel to the module (to the input).
Step 3: Connecting USB
Cut the USB cable and then solder the + cable to the + output in the module and the - cable to the - output.
Step 4:
Mark on the top of the box the size of the solar panel.
Cut near the borders that you've marked so the hole is a bit smaller than the panel.
Cut near the borders that you've marked so the hole is a bit smaller than the panel.
Step 5:
Use hot glue to glue the panel to the hole.
Now glue the other parts to the bottom of the box so they wont move, in the side make a hole as big as the USB cable.
* I recommend gluing the USB output well so sand and dirt wont come in.
**If you had cotton wool in the box i recommend putting it between the panel and the bottom it will also help preventing the parts moving.
Now glue the other parts to the bottom of the box so they wont move, in the side make a hole as big as the USB cable.
* I recommend gluing the USB output well so sand and dirt wont come in.
**If you had cotton wool in the box i recommend putting it between the panel and the bottom it will also help preventing the parts moving.
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so i have a 4 AA battery holder, and a 7.2V NiMh RC heli battery. which would be more feffective with the use of a 6V solar cell?
Thank you for your Instructable
Nice job.
Rima
Thank you for your Instructable
Nice job.
Rima
Could you please provide a part # and source for the solar panel
Adjustable boost module-
http://www.dx.com/p/dc-3-34v-to-dc-4-35v-adjustabl...
Solar panel-
http://www.dx.com/p/lx-b580-0-8w-pet-laminated-sol...
great project...well done...
Tnx :)
http://www.dx.com/p/dc-3-34v-to-dc-4-35v-adjustable-boost-converter-charger-module-149681#.U0kgWPmSygY
That's the one i bought
Great tutorial! Does it matter if you cover the wires with electrical tape or duct tape?
Thanks :) i agree with nqtronix about the tape issue, i used it to prevent wires from touching each other.
As long as the tape is none conductive it should be fine in this aplication. When working with higher voltages however you should use proper isolation with either electrical tabe or heatshinking tube just to make sure you're out of danger.
Awesome! Thanks :)