Introduction: USB Cell Phone Charger Hack! (With Video)
Step 1: What You Need
1. Standard USB Cable
2. 12v Cell phone car adapter
3. Wire Strippers
4. Solder
5. Shrink Tubing
6. Voltmeter
Step 2: Instructions
1.Cut off the end of the USB cable that does not plug into the computer.
2. Strip the wires. You should have four wires. Red, black, green and white.
Step 3: Instructions (cont)
3. Cut off the end of the 12v Car adapter that plugs into the car leaving the end that plugs into the phone.
4. Strip the ends. You should have 2 wires.
Step 4: Instructions (cont)
5. Slip on shrink tubing now! If you forget, you have to unsolder like I have done before and kicked myself.
6. Plug the USB cable into your PC. Check the wires for voltage. You should have 4.9-5 volts on one of the wires. Usually red. Black will be the ground. Unplug from your PC
7. Check continuity and solder the red from the AC adapter to the red on the USB cable and the ground to ground.
8. Add a piece of electrical tape to your solder connections to keep them from making contact
9. Heat up the shrink tubing.
10. Plug in both ends and voila! You've made it!
62 Comments
11 years ago on Introduction
its nice post, i have also do it but not with it i have done it with charging lite.
14 years ago on Introduction
Could please someone explain me why it does not work with nokia 6061? I did "exactly" as in the instructables, but as others I receive the message "NOT CHARGING". I know that my wall charger output is 5.7V 800mA and the battery requires 3.7V. So what is different?
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
I realize this question is really old, but it's because some phones won't charge unless the feel a small charge from the wires that carry information.
13 years ago on Introduction
I did something similar; I took an old ipod connector cable, cut it, found the positive and negative wires and hooked the end with the connector cable to a 6v 4AA battery pack, and took it down a half a volt via resister.
I then strapped it to the back of my ancient (really, it's a dinosaur) ipod. If I have time I will post pics.
13 years ago on Step 3
agh cheater! you have only two!
kidding
but really, what do I do if I find 7 wires instead?
14 years ago on Introduction
Works perfectly fine on my Samsung SCH-N370 Battery doesn't even get hot.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
So it worked on your Samsung phone. I have a Samsung GT-S5233A (Star). Do you think this will work on my phone? On my cellphone charger it said that the output is 4.75V.
14 years ago on Introduction
this didnt work for me my wall charger is 5v my usb cable has red green black and blue wires and my phone plug red and white and red to red and white to black dont work phone shuts off compleatly and wont turn back on unless i unplug it? any ideas?
14 years ago on Introduction
What is the value of the current??
14 years ago on Introduction
For those who had mismatching colors when splicing cables, just remember that the main goal is to connect positive to positive, and negative to negative. In my experience messing around with stuff like this, I have observed that common colors for power wires in electronic cables (in order of common use) are: Positive: Red, White, Green Negative: Black, Gray, Blue Note that for USB, the standard would dictate there be four cables: Red, Black, White, and Green. White and Green in that case are for data, and Red and Black are Positive and Negative, respectively. So, for example, if you have one cable with Red and White wires, and another with Red and Black, connect Red to Red and White to Black. This should work ok, but if you get no response, switch them around and try again; the voltage is low, and unlikely to cause damage.
14 years ago on Introduction
on your phone charger somewhere there is the specifications of the charger, I don't know about all of them but the Nokia charger uses 5 volts. so just check your wall charger first.
14 years ago on Introduction
Two types of chargers are wall chargers to plug into the wall and car chargers to plug into your car's cigarette lighter.
g1 accessories
15 years ago on Introduction
Nice thing, but not working with my nokia 5140 — just saying "not charging"...i wonder why it is so, because 220v charger provides less curent than USB...but working OK with 3310! )))
15 years ago on Introduction
cool instructable, but my phone uses a standard usb cable to charge, so I can skip all but step 1 :)
15 years ago on Introduction
Kipkay, I liked your USB charger project, I took the basics of your charger and adapted it to apply to other hand held electronics.
15 years ago on Introduction
As in the video Kipkay tested the wires with a volt meter, not all cables use the same coloring. Try using a volt meter for checking polarity, current and continuity. Also it does not hurt to double check your connections you just soldered.
16 years ago on Introduction
I do not know what you guys have for phones, but mine usually used about 3.7V or !!!LESS!!! (2 Boshs, 2 Erricsons, 2 Nokias, 1 Motorolla - I checked the voltage because of a project I made.)
Check the battery first! I certainly would not try this one out.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
Yes most cell phone batteries are 3.6 to 3.7 volts but the voltage you want to look at is out much the out put is on your Charger/ adapter. Vast majority of cellphone chargers are approx 5 volts. Hence check your charger and not your batteries.
Reply 15 years ago on Introduction
my battery is 6 volts
NiMH
15 years ago on Introduction
lol, why there a cat in almoest all of your video's :) very ammusing :D