PSP Portable Power

Intro: PSP Portable Power

I needed a way of charging my psp at work, I work in earthmoving equipment where 12v is not always available. So I made this up from mashing up various other instructables. Don't try this and blame me when you fry your PSP - always test the final product with a multimeter and ensure the polarity is correct before plugging in your PSP.

STEP 1: Get the Goods

Bits you will need......

PSP case
Two old garden solar lights (the two AA flavour)
4 AAA Nimh Batteries
Tape
Foil
5volt regulator link
Shrink tube
Spare wire
PSP Plug

STEP 2: Break Stuff Up

Trash the garden lights remove the solar panels and one of the diodes which look like the image shown. Solder wires onto the solar panels, poke the wires through the lid and mount the panels with glue to the lid.

STEP 3: Battery Pack

Make up the battery pack, postive to negative to get your 5v, fold up the foil and use it to bridge the terminals, attach the tape nice and tight to ensure good contacts. I used some 9v plugs to make it easier to remove.

STEP 4: Solder On

Wire up the diode and resistor as shown in image, make sure they are the right way around (the current only flows one way) before soldering by testing with a multimeter (I had photos on my laptop but my dog ate them), check voltage with multimeter. Put layers of shrink tube on to stop any wires from breaking. Solder on the plug, test and re-test.

STEP 5: Enjoy!

Comments

[MediocreNinja]

Your dog ate photos on your laptop? How is that possible?

[mail fail]

what does solder mean

[Adum24]

Seriously (no offense)? It means using a soldering iron to heat up solder (a small tube of metal) and wiring electronic components with it.

[knektek]

you need a switch for power to the regulator. even if it is not plugged in, the regulator will draw current.

[beehard44]

I was wondering if i can use the nokia batteries that give around 3.6v if i am not mistaken and use it directly. An added feature is that it can be recharged with a Universal Battery Charger

[Tombini]

although quite complicated and crude Very Clever! How much would it cost in total?

[daiatlus79]

pfft.. i bought solar lights at my local walmart for like 4 bucks a piece.. they are dirt cheap...

[Tombini]

Where would you buy them in Australia?

[daiatlus79]

any 'big box' store or discount store.. i am in canada so i don't know for sure

[Belleye]

Bunnings?

[luketanti]

If you are using 4 re-chargeable batteries the regulator will not be needed. Total voltage of the batteries is about 4.8v. The regulator at least it wants about 7v. So without it it is better. But nice Idea!!!

[daiatlus79]

smart actually... you never know when something can short and spike the power.. consider the regular an insurance poilcy or food for thought

[Belleye]

4 batteries plus the output of the solar panels would exceed 5v well that's what I thought back when I made it.

[LasVegas]

Without any charging logic, you'd be safer using NiCad batteries for this rather than NiMH that could potentially be overcharged and destroyed.

[Belleye]

I thought any extra power would be vented off in heat, and not a generate that much heat because of the low power output of the solar panels considering they were originally designed for AA NiCad batteries that had no charging logic.

[LasVegas]

The current of the solar cells is low enough that the NiCad's internal resistance will stop the charging process on their own. The only problem with NiCads is that if you recharge from a partial discharge often enough, they develop a "memory" and seem to run dead quicker. Just periodically run the batteries completely dead. NiMH requires more logic to avoid damage to the cells. Even most consumer battery chargers don't have enough logic. It's very easy to fry NiMH batteries by putting already charged batteries into a charger. You should always let a NiMH battery run dead before recharging.

[daiatlus79]

zapping nicads with a high current like a welder will decrystalize them (thats what happens with nicads.. they crystalize and lose their potency). a welder notwithstanding, something else of high current for a split second can fix it as well.. but the NiMH arent as dangerous as you would think.. the cheap chargers will kill them though if you arent careful.. the good ones like energizer have the shut offs in them that checks them for current

[futbolfreak129]

i am hoping that you do not keep your psp in the case when you are charging it... that to me just spells disaster. if you are leaving a black case in the sun for long enough for it to charge your psp wont the case and what ever is in the case get really hot?

[flashcactus]

there is no more space for the psp. you just couldn't put it in :+) There will be place for some UMD's, though.

[Belleye]

not if the air conditioner is on ;)