Introduction: Water Resistant Motorcycle USB Charger - Under $10.
You'll need:
1. USB car charger(I got mine for $4.99).
2. LED flashlight(I got mine for free)
3. 2 hose clamps.
4. Some wire.
5. Soldering iron.
6. A drill.
Step 1: Disassemble Flashlight and a Charger.
1. Remove a battery from the flashlight.
2. Unscrew a '+' terminal from the charger.
3. Remove front cap from the charger.
Step 2: Cut Away Terminals
1. Remove spring.
2. Right where your spring is - that's a plus terminal
3. Remove minus terminal.
Step 3: Add a Power Cable.
1. Drill a hole in the flashlight case.
2. Poke a power cable through the hole.
3. Solder one wire to the MINUS terminal.
4. Solder additional wire to the PLUS terminal - this one will go to the switch.
5. Attach other wire from power cable to the switch.
Step 4: Solder Up a Switch and Assemble.
1. Solder two wires to the switch.
2. Put the charger back together(I used electric tape to hold it together).
3. Push the charger inside the flashlight case.
4. Put the flashlight case switch back on.
5. Add two hose clams - this will help you to mount it on the handlebar.
15 Comments
6 years ago
I've been going over this instructable with a fine tooth comb as it were since I want to build one myself. I see a major problem is some one isn't careful. The flashlight uses the case as one of the connections to the original LED set. This instructable has the switch connected to the positive of the battery. Most vehicles today have a negative ground. This is a potential short circuit waiting to happen (metal hose clamps clamped onto metal handlebars). In order to make this safe, either the switch connections need to be insulated from the flashlight wall with heat shrink tubing (GOOD),the switch needs to be wired into the the negative wire with the original spring terminal going to the charger and the outer switch connection and flashlight wall going to ground (BETTER), or both (BEST).
8 years ago on Introduction
Great idea. I have already gathered the parts.
8 years ago on Introduction
I made one but I modified it a little bit, Instead of mounting it on the handlebars I mounted it on my petcock and made a little box to hold my phone securely. I like your idea and mine was installed on a 82 honda cb750c with a lot of custom parts.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Awesome! Is there any way you can post a pic of your mounting solution?
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
My garage is dark because its solar powered light and its raining right now and the battery is dead cause I just used all of it. so I can most likely tomorrow.
8 years ago
What exactly powers this? I'm seeing no batteries nor input power...
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Not trying to be mean but its pretty obvious what, how, and when it gets powered. If you know its use you know what powers it.
Reply 8 years ago
Not trying to be mean but as an electrical engineer I inquire about everything. I also do these things to possibly help improve upon instructables later on. If I wanted I could make one of these from scratch by creating the circuit board, milling the aluminum and creating gasket seals to make a truly waterproof enclosure. But my question was merely intended to help others who are not as fortunate to have the education and experience that I do, or, from what it sounds like, you do. The maker was nice enough to inform me of how it was powered, which I, and others truly appreciate.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
As a electrical engineer you should know that anything with a sparkplug requires power. To answer your question specifically its used on a motorcycle. Which basic knowledge of electrical systems would tell you its a 6v(pre 1970s) or a 12v(post 1970s). This is a 12v system using a automobile cigarette lighter adapter, which gets hardwired(With a fuse) to the battery and/or stator. Which is pretty obvious to people who own a motorcycle because most of us do our own minor work and modifications.
As I agree the author did not provide a way to power it but it my roommate knew how to wire it and use it and she knows that electricity makes things work, Thats about it/
Reply 8 years ago
Also, I have my own bike, and I am humble enough to ask so others don't have to.
Reply 8 years ago
This is meant for the motorcycle handlebar.
Can be connected directly to a battery(remember to use a fuse).
8 years ago
Great idea! Is that the free Harbor Freight flashlight?
Reply 8 years ago
Thanks, yes it is Harbor Freight flashlight.
8 years ago on Introduction
This is a really awesome idea! And the best part, is if it ends up getting fried from the rain, it's not that expensive to make another one!
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
I used one for 3 years now with no issues during rain.
It recently got stolen. Seems like somebody liked my idea... So I had to make another one :)