USB Wall, Car, and Battery Charger

Has your iPod battery ever run out when you really needed it?

This simple instructable will show you how to make a wall charger that can charge / operate any USB device, including iPhones and iPods.

Most DIY chargers can not charge iPods and iPhones. This one can, however!

This charger takes input from both a 9v battery and a size N DC Coaxial plug.
A wall charger or car charger with the right voltage and amperage can be modified to have a size N DC Coax plug with a cable coming out of it.

Most of the pictures of the charger itself are on the last page (Step 7).

Step 1 Materials

You need the following items:

5V regulator and SMALL Heatsink: I used Radio Shack part: http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=5v%20regulator&origkw=5V%20regulator&sr=1

Resistors: 22 Kohm (1), 27 Kohm (2), 39 Kohm (1).
I used Radio Shack part: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062306#

DPDT Toggle Switch: This will be used to switch between the battery and the DC Coax Jack. 

USB Extension Cable: Any cable with a type A Female USB port will work.

AC / DC Wall Transformer: Try to get one with <10 volts and equal to or less than 1.5 amps. The regulator will overheat and / or blow if you put more than 1.5 amps into it.

Cigarette Lighter Car Adapter: 12V dc

Size N DC Power Plug (2): With wires attatched.

Size N DC Power Jack (1): Panel Mount with solder leads.

Prototyping Board: I used Radio Shack Part: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104052

Project Box: Whatever kind you need to fit the components inside

Wire: I used a mix of 22 gauge solid and stranded wire.

Heat Shrink Tubing: An assortment of sizes would help.

9V battery and 9V Battery Clip

Cable Stress Relief Joint That Fits The USB Cable: I cannot stress (No pun intended) how important this is. If this fails then the USB cable solder joints can be damaged

Tools:

Soldering Iron with Solder

Wire Cutters

Pliers

Third Hand (Optional, but would be very useful)

Comments

[kpataska]

Your charger may very well work fine, but your schematic does not reflect a correct switch for switching power sources. Don't read into raw text - you don't seem able to do it well.

[Data643]

Well, I'm not the best with electronics yet.

[kpataska]

Your schematic is missing the N connector and the other pole of the DPDT you show with the switch above with. This is a good instructable, but needs the simple change mentioned above for clarity!

[Data643]

Sorry,it might be a single throw, but I'm not sure. The switch only has two positions. Hope that helps.

[kpataska]

The schematic is incorrect. The left leg of the 7805 regulator is IN. That is where the bat of the switch is located. The other end of the SPST switch should be to your N jack positive to use it to connect to an AC adapter instead of chewing up the 9V. Connect all grounds - don't use the switch! That way, your switch works to switch between power sources. Also, the parts list needs to be changed to reflect the change from DPDT to SPST - you don't switch the grounds. Ground is permanently connected. I guess the picture showing the switch can just go away if you correct the schematic as I suggest.

[Data643]

My charger works perfectly fine and I used the schematics in this instructable. My charger does not "chew up" the 9v battery at all since the leads from it are not leading to the circuit board unless the switch is in the battery position.