DIY Ikea Box Charging Station Black
Intro: DIY Ikea Box Charging Station Black
So I've been reading Lifehacker.com and found some really nice DIY charging stations. I really liked the Ikea box versions, but I decided to change a few things.
These were bluesman and PROD's instructables on making a charging station without switches or with individual switches:
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-IKEA-charging-box---no-more-cable-mess!-Very-e/ (Ikea charging box)
https://www.instructables.com/id/IKEA-Power-Charging-Box-with-individual-switches/?ALLSTEPS (Ikea charging box with individual swtiches)
I was really excited about this and decided to make my own version. First of all, I like black, so it had to be a black box and I wanted one general powerswitch. I also wanted to make a few ventilation holes in the back.
I used the following materials:
Ikea Ladis (40x30 box, 70 eurocents)
Ikea Ladis (40 lid, 30 eurocents)
Ikea Koppla (power strip with general switch, you get 2 of them for 4,99 euros)
A few tie-wraps.
Tools:
Drill, different sizes (depends on the tie-wraps and chords you're using)
Vile (round)
Knife
Thanks to bluesman and PROD for their nice instructables!
These were bluesman and PROD's instructables on making a charging station without switches or with individual switches:
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-IKEA-charging-box---no-more-cable-mess!-Very-e/ (Ikea charging box)
https://www.instructables.com/id/IKEA-Power-Charging-Box-with-individual-switches/?ALLSTEPS (Ikea charging box with individual swtiches)
I was really excited about this and decided to make my own version. First of all, I like black, so it had to be a black box and I wanted one general powerswitch. I also wanted to make a few ventilation holes in the back.
I used the following materials:
Ikea Ladis (40x30 box, 70 eurocents)
Ikea Ladis (40 lid, 30 eurocents)
Ikea Koppla (power strip with general switch, you get 2 of them for 4,99 euros)
A few tie-wraps.
Tools:
Drill, different sizes (depends on the tie-wraps and chords you're using)
Vile (round)
Knife
Thanks to bluesman and PROD for their nice instructables!
STEP 1: Materials
Materials used:
Black box (Ikea Ladis) 40x30
Black lid (Ikea Ladis)
Power stip
This powerstrip would fit entirely into the box, but I decided to keep the part with the switch on the outside so I can easily flip it. The side with he switch is to the wall anyways!
Black box (Ikea Ladis) 40x30
Black lid (Ikea Ladis)
Power stip
This powerstrip would fit entirely into the box, but I decided to keep the part with the switch on the outside so I can easily flip it. The side with he switch is to the wall anyways!
STEP 2: Fitting the Power Strip
I made a hole for the powerstrip which was a little bit smaller, in this way I was able to push it in with some force, making it stay in place a bit more easily.
I just drew around the powerstrip's end holding it against the box and then cut the hole using a knife.
I chose not to cut all the material away, I didn't cut the bottom off, providing some support for the switch-part of the power strip.
I just drew around the powerstrip's end holding it against the box and then cut the hole using a knife.
I chose not to cut all the material away, I didn't cut the bottom off, providing some support for the switch-part of the power strip.
STEP 3: Securing the Power Strip
I wanted the power strip to stay in place, so I drilled four holes in the bottom of the box, just big enough to fit my tie-wraps.
Two tie-wraps is more than enough to keep it in place, though I needed to combine two tie-wraps into one to be able to circle the power strip.
Two tie-wraps is more than enough to keep it in place, though I needed to combine two tie-wraps into one to be able to circle the power strip.
STEP 4: Preparing the Lid
So, now I needed to make some holes in the lid to hold the connectors I wanted on top. In my case, these are two battery chargers for my cameras and two for my cellphone.
I also made some holes to tie-wrap the Panasonic battery chargers to the lid, making them stay in place.
I had to make large holes for the two camera chargers, because the connector is pretty large.
For the Nokia connectors, I made the hole just big enough to push them through with some force, making it unable for them to fall back in!
I also made some holes to tie-wrap the Panasonic battery chargers to the lid, making them stay in place.
I had to make large holes for the two camera chargers, because the connector is pretty large.
For the Nokia connectors, I made the hole just big enough to push them through with some force, making it unable for them to fall back in!
STEP 5: Ventilation
After reading some comments about the fact that these boxes could get a little warm with all those adapters inside, I decided to drill some holes for ventilation in the back side.
This should be enough in combination with the switch (it'll only be on for a few hours a day max).
This should be enough in combination with the switch (it'll only be on for a few hours a day max).
STEP 6: Put Everything Inside!
Now it was time to put everything inside the box.
I have some extra space, which I tend to use. I can easily remove the lid and put in an extra adapter, for istance for a one-time use (and just put the lid on).
I have some extra space, which I tend to use. I can easily remove the lid and put in an extra adapter, for istance for a one-time use (and just put the lid on).
STEP 7: Final Result!
So, here it is!
I actually quite like the result, though I might think about changing the power strip to a black one with a black chord.
I actually quite like the result, though I might think about changing the power strip to a black one with a black chord.
2 Comments
wiedo 15 years ago
gingertech 15 years ago