DIY projects are awesome. DIY solar projects are uber awesome. DIY solar projects that are actually helpful are epically awesome. With 4th of July coming up on Monday, this little gadget will most definitely up the eco-friendly cool factor of your party.
With all of the grilling, yard games, photo taking, tweeting, music playing, patio drinking, and other outdoor activities, your iPod, iPhone 4, or Android Device are bound to run out of juice. There are great solar chargers on the market, but most of them will set you back a minimum of $50.
Instructables guru Joshua Zimmerman has created lots of tiny solar DIY projects (like the legendary $3 solar powered radio...also in an Altoids tin), but this DIY solar powered USB charger pretty much takes the cake. Joshua says,
Instructables has quite a few guides on how to make Solar USB Chargers, including the very well done guide on how to combine a Lady Ada Minty Boost circuit with a solar + lithium ion battery. Great, but a bit expensive to make and not a very simple project for the weekend DIY person.
Well luckily for us I know how to make one for under $20 that is better
in nearly every way and also completely fits into an Altoids Tin.
Covert style.
All you need for this project are these simple DIY items:
- USB Charging Circuit
- Solar Panel 4V or greater
- AA Battery Holder
- AA Rechargeable Batteries
- 1N914 Diode
- Altoid Tin (or whatever)
- Wire
- Soldering Iron
- Solder
- Tin Snips
- Melt Glue Gun and Glue
- Tape
If you don't want to spend time running around to local electronic stores or bargain shopping the web, Joshua sells DIY kits for his popular projects on his website, BrownDogGadgets.com.
He sells this the DIY kit for this solar USB charger for $16.99, or you can buy it pre-assembled for $29.99. Something important to note is that this configuration will NOT work for iPhones and iPods. No worries though, Joshua has DIY kit for an iPhone or iPod USB solar charger available for two bucks more -- $18.99. Again, if you'd rather just buy the charger pre-assembled, pick up the iPhone or iPod compatible solar USB charger for the same price as the normal USB version, $29.99.
So if you want to green up your 4th of July party gadget charging needs, build or buy a one or two of each of these solar chargers and make them available for your guests. When the party is over, just keep the chargers for the next event, give them as super-cool gifts, or make your money back by selling them on Craigslist.
Imagine the green geek points you'd get from all of your friends...
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