Introduction: $3.00 Altoids Charger (EASY BUILD) (CHEAP)
I know your thinking i have seen hundreds of these but have you ever seen one so easy to build?
LETS GET STARTED
Things you will need :
LETS GET STARTED
Things you will need :
- L78MO5CV Voltage Regulatorhttp://www.taydaelectronics.com/ic-integrated-circuits/voltage-regulators/lm7805-l7805-7805-voltage-regulator-ic-5v-1-5a.html
- Toggle Switchhttp://www.taydaelectronics.com/mini-toggle-switch-spdt-on-on.html
- LED [ any color :) ] http://www.taydaelectronics.com/leds/led-3mm-green-water-clear-super-bright.html
- Female USB port http://www.taydaelectronics.com/usb-type-a-female-connector.html
- Resistor (sorry forgot what ohm it is you can use a decoder on it and i will post a pic of the resistors)
- Resistor (sorry forgot what ohm it is you can use a decoder on it and i will post a pic of the resistors)
- Some type of board to solder connections on to
- 9V battery Clip http://www.taydaelectronics.com/9v-9-volt-battery-clip-connector.html
- Some type of Board http://www.taydaelectronics.com/hardware/prototyping-boards/small-stripboard-94x53mm-copper.html
- And ALTOIDS TIN (DUH HAHA) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blank-Altoids-Type-Metal-Tin-Survival-Kit-Containers-/281113404892
Step 1: STEP 1: Soldering L78M05CV Voltage Regulator to Board
Soldering L78M05CV Voltage Regulator To Board\
Follow Picture Diagram
Step 2: STEP 2: SOLDER SCRAP METTEL PINS TO FEMALE USB
SOLDER SCRAP METEL PINS TO FEMALE USB
THEN TRIM PINS TO MAKE IT LOOK NEAT
(THIS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SOLDER TO BOARD IN THE NEXT STEP)
Ideas for scrap mettle
THEN TRIM PINS TO MAKE IT LOOK NEAT
(THIS IS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO SOLDER TO BOARD IN THE NEXT STEP)
Ideas for scrap mettle
- LED Legs
- pins from old components
- Metel Wire
Step 3: STEP 3: Solder Female USB to Board
Solder Female USB To Board
Follow Diagram
Step 4: STEP 4: Adding the Power
Solder The Positive (+) And Negative (-) 9V Battery Clip Wires To Board
Follow Diagram
Step 5: STEP 5: SOLDER SCRAP METTEL PINS TO Toggle Switch
SOLDER SCRAP METTEL PINS TO Toggle Switch (Same thing as step 2)
(Click on step 2 for merle pin ideas to use)
Follow Diagram
Step 6: STEP 6: Solder Toggle Switch to Board & LED
Solder Toggle Switch To Board & LED
Follow Diagram
Step 7: STEP 7: Solder Resistor 1
Follow Diagram
Step 8: STEP 8: Solder 2nd Resistor
Solder 2nd Resistor
Step 9: TEST TIME
Test to see if it works!
Step 10: STEP 9: Line Tin With Electrical Tape
Line Tin With Electrical Tape To Prevent Shorting Out
Or Put HeatShrink Tubbing On All Wires
Step 11: ENJOY =]

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103 Comments
9 years ago on Introduction
Get off! I think it's a pretty cool little project. Thanks Snow! You took the time to explain (with photos) and even sourced your parts. So, it's not a Segway! To all of the "newbs" and curious people out there, go ahead and build it. If nothing else, you will get a little practice with your soldering technique and end up with something that could actually charge your phone even if you have to "steal" a battery out of your meter to do it. To all of the members who obviously have way to much time on their hands and would be better off not using a soldering iron, show Me something. You value your keyboard time and opinion more than anyone else. S.T.F.U. and make something better. I'm sure your first project was far more interesting and probably put satellites into orbit! Oh yeah, it's you. Never mind. Stay off the keyboard if you can't appreciate quality, and effort, large or or small. You probably don't really belong here anyway....
9 years ago on Introduction
Hats off to you. For a 16yr that's cool. A lot of 16 yr olds are dropping out of school & don't know what mAh or ohm even means. Keep it up! Don't let these haters get to you.
9 years ago on Introduction
Doodz! It's got a skull and biohazard on the PCB! Why you all be hatin on it!
LAMOZ!
Word snow1434! Dis iz TIIIGHT bitchiz!
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
THANKS MAN! this means a lot
9 years ago
I will be GIVING AWAY a
3 MONTH PRO MEMBERSHIP that I received for being featured to the first person to tell me the CORRECT resistors I used (both) I forgot and don't feel like decoding it right now message me your answer first person wins DONT COMMENT ANSWER I WILL UPDATE POST LATER WITH CORRECT ANSWER
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
The blue resistor is a current limiter for the led. It should have around 100 ohms, but anything between 80 and 330 will work.
The brown resistor is useless because his both ends are shorted anyway, so it can be left away.
Reply 9 years ago on Introduction
If I've seen the colours right I would guess at
Blue Grey Brown 680 Ohm 5%
red black black black brown is 200 Ohm 1%
7 years ago
instead of the circut use 2 9 volt batteries in seiries with a $1 dollar car charger, you can use almost all the power in the batteries that way
8 years ago on Introduction
Could I use a 7.2v 3000mAh NiMH battery?
Reply 7 years ago
I believe the voltage regulator he's using can handle up to 3 amps so I would say YA just not any bigger
7 years ago on Introduction
I built one using a configuration close to this one (minus the circuit board, resistors, and LED). My only big difference is that I used 2 9v batteries connected in a parallel circuit through the switch to the voltage regulator. Although the voltage regulator runs a little hot, it gives my design a little extra kick to last a little longer and charge larger devices...like my Samsung Galaxy Note 3 for example.
8 years ago
you can buy various sizes of copper wire at hobby stores
8 years ago
How do you charge the pack itself?
8 years ago on Introduction
Could I use a 7.2v 3000mAh NiMH battery?
8 years ago
Nice
8 years ago
Will it work on iPod touch?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
If you add the extra resistor between pins 2, and 3
8 years ago on Introduction
i dont want to down the user or maker of this system your circuits its self is waste of time i mean i dont want to say bad because i made it before you make it lm3805 is 5v regulator but it cant be use as a charger and put a resistor it will say its charge horray for that !!! but its not charging you why the modern phone a mah that need make your system i was you use a li pol or li ion and dont use regular bat use a hi amp and volt choose 18v ten thousand mili amps per hour and for that top some more caps rated 30v 470 or much hi micro farad and some diode for sure done multimeter for make sure the rate will flow to 5volts ok if you dont understand me let me show it to you ill post my own work for you im not insulting im just a bro that your work will be perfect aight!!!!!!!
9 years ago
Are you absolutely sure that this is a safe way to charge an iPhone or any other type of device
9 years ago
Where did you get the board