Introduction: Battery Powered Emergency USB Charger
In this, my first ever, Instructable, I will show you how to make a USB charger powered by 4 AA batteries. This is similar to the USB Solar Charger Instructables, except it runs off batteries. It costs about 25 dollars for the parts and that is a lot less than brand name chargers. Please don't over criticize my Instructable, as it is my first one.
Step 1: Purchasing and Collecting Parts
For this Instructable, I used the following materials, all purchased at RadioShack.
1. ABS Plastic Project Enclosure (6x4x2 inches) ($4.99)
2. Red and Black 18 Gauge hookup wire ($6.99) Product # 278-1226
3. 4 AA Battery holder with snap connectors ($1.79) Product # 270-383
4. 9 Volt heavy duty snap connectors ($2.69) Product # 270-324
5. DPDT Toggle Switch ($2.99) Product # 275-666
6. 5 Volt Regulator ($1.59) Product # 276-1770
7. TO-220/TO-202 Aluminum Heat Sink ($1.99) Product # 276-1368
8. Green LED Power Indicator ($1.99) Product # 276-271
9. A screw to hold the 5 Volt Regulator to the Heatsink (can be found anywhere, just find one that fits.)
10. A cable with a connector compatible with your device.
Tools Needed:
1. Phillips screwdriver
2. Drill and bits to drill switch and LED holes, and wire hole
3. Soldering iron and solder
4. Wire cutter and stripper
5. Pliers
6. Digital Multimeter
Lets get building!
Step 2: Constructing the Circuitry
Step 1: Drill 2 holes about an inch apart on the cover of the enclosure for the switch and LED of appropriate sizes.
Step 2: Screw the switch and LED onto the top of the project enclosure
Step 3: Take one of the snap connectors and solder it to the center 2 legs of the switch. They are labeled 2(red wire) and 5(black wire).
Step 4: Cut and Strip 4 inches of red and black wire.
Step 5: Twist the red wire you just cut and stripped to the red wire of the LED indicator. Solder this to the #3 leg on the switch.
Step 6: Twist the black wire you just cut and stripped to the black wire of the LED indicator. Solder this to the #6 leg of the switch.
WARNING: The next few steps are extremely polarity-sensitive. If you connect the wrong way, you will fry the 5 Volt Regulator.
Step 7: Solder the other end of the 4 inch red wire to the first leg of the regulator (# 1 in my schematic)
Step 8: Cut and strip 2 more pieces of black wire, about 4 inches long.
Step 9: Solder one of the new black wires to the middle (# 2 leg) of the regulator.
Step 10: Solder the black wire from the switch to the black wire from the regulator and the 3rd black wire.
Step 11: Check your work: Are you left with a snap plug? Do you have 1 red and 1 black wire with free ends? Make sure everything is connected correctly.
Step 12: Take a break and find 4 new AA batteries.
Step 13: Put the 4 AA batteries into the holder and hook it up to the snap connector feeding the switch. Get your digital multimeter and turn it to DC 20 Volts (or something close if you don't have 20).
Step 14: Connect the red and black leads of the multimeter to the the red and black free leads off of the regulator.
Step 15: Turn the power switch on. The green LED should glow. Your multimeter should read about 5 Volts.
Step 16: Drill a hole for the device cable to exit the enclosure through. Put the wire through it. It should fit snugly.
Step 17: Solder the red and black wires of your device cable to the free red and black regulated leads.
Step 18. Screw the heat sink to the 5 volt regulator.
Step 19: Cover all wire solder joints with electrical tape.
Step 20: Test the charger with your device. If it works, proceed to step 21. If it does not work, then check all connections with the schematic and test everything with the multimeter. Once you get it working, proceed to step 21.
Step 21: Screw the enclosure closed with the four included screws. You are now done!!!!!!
8 Comments
7 years ago
I'd suggest using a SPST switch instead as they can be cheaper, depending on where you get them from and the second pole isn't used. But great instructable I'll be making one soon
7 years ago
I'd suggest using a SPST switch instead as they can be cheaper, depending on where you get them from and the second pole isn't used. But great instructable I'll be making one soon
12 years ago on Introduction
WOAH!! There's a lot of loss!
12 years ago on Introduction
Thats so cool.But what will be the amp rating if we use the AA batteries?i want to connect my phone directly to it.So when there is excess current,it may damage the phone.Can you tell how to control it?
12 years ago on Step 2
You dida pretty nice job soldering!! :D
13 years ago on Introduction
Really nice one... I did one myself looking like yours, except that I use a single 9v battery or a cigarette lighter adaptor for car. It becomes kind of hot thought... Used a female usb connection for output. I can charge many things from there _
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Here is why it gets hot: The voltage regulator will get hot if you choose to put 7-12 VDC, because there is a lot more amperage than using 4 AA or C batteries. You can get a lot more charge out of D and C cell batteries, as opposed to the 9 volt. 9 volt batteries are not the best power supply for this, but they are workable. The car charging situation is edgy, because car power supplies are REALLY high amperage. This causes heat as the excess voltage is turned into heat energy. You did add a heat sink in yours, right?
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
kind of... the backplate of the enclosure is metallic. I screwed the regulator plate-to-plate with thermal paste. Didn't really take measurement of the temperature, but I think it'll get about 30-40 degrees when charging my cellphone. Other devices seems to make the regulator colder. On other hand, you're right about the 9v batteries, it works but I don't get much charge time... should modify it someday