Trình duyệt của bạn đã tắt chức năng hỗ trợ JavaScript.
Website chỉ làm việc khi bạn bật nó trở lại.
Để tham khảo cách bật JavaScript, hãy click chuột vào đây!

How to Make a Portable and Rechargeable USB Charger

Chủ nhật - 05/05/2024 23:24

Learn how to build your own portable USB charger from an Altoids Mints tinEver caught nowhere near a charger and you just need to use your device? With this easy to make portable charger you'll never be caught without power ever again. And...

Table of contents

Ever caught nowhere near a charger and you just need to use your device? With this easy to make portable charger you'll never be caught without power ever again. And this charger can be recharged so you can recharge on the go again and again.

Steps

)

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

These ports can frequently be found on USB extension cords.

Advertisement

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Strip the wires Find the black (-) and red (+) wires. Make sure these are separate from the green and white data wires.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Be careful not to add too much as it may not fit in the Altoids tin. About 9 inches (22.9 cm) branching off of the female USB should suffice.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

For now, they do not need to be charged. (Hint: rechargeable AAA batteries can cheaply be bought on eBay or a similar auction site. These batteries are rated by the amount of power they can store not the power that they output. The units used are milli-Amp hours (mAh), which can be explained as the current (in milli-Amps) needed to fully discharge the battery in an hour. A 1000 mAh battery will last twice as long on one charge as a 500 mAh battery. AAA battery holders can cheaply be bought from Radio Shack, make sure it will fit in the Altoids tin--this usually means to buy the thinner square looking one--see picture in Things You'll Need.)

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Remember red to red and black to black. Soldering is usually the way to go. Other methods are twisting the wires together, but this is unreliable. Remember to cover the exposed connected wire in insulated material (like PVC or electrical tape) to avoid letting the positive and negative wires touch.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

If using a Dremel, beware of sparks that can ignite flammable materials. Make sure it is one of the shorter sides--not the sides above or below the text--to the left or right only.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Make the ON/OFF switch (if your battery holder has one) to the battery holder is up so that when you open the tin you see it the female USB port not stick out of the USB port, but have it line up so it doesn't stick out.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

You can also put double sided tape or hot glue on the battery holder so it doesn't move.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Your charger is now complete. If your batteries are uncharged, follow the last step to charge.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Cut the ends off 2 USB cables, leaving as much wire possible after the USB connector. Strip the wire exposing the colored wires. You may cut the white and green wires. Strip the red and black wires. Connect the wires together (red to red and black to black) by soldering or wire twisting (unreliable.) Cover the individual wire connections together with electrical tape, having 2 separate pieces (cover the black to black separately and red to red separately.) Then after the reds and the blacks are separately covered in tape, you can cover these connections with electrical tape so you are left with a single wire.

License: Creative Commons<\/a>
\n<\/p>

\n<\/p><\/div>"}

To charge--using your Male to Male USB cable, plug one end into your computer (or USB AC Adapter) and one into the USB port of your charger. Your charging. After a few hours, charging is complete.

Warnings

Don't leave device charging when you aren't present. You don't have to watch it like a hawk but you may want to check it every 2 hours to check for overheating (Rare.)

Thanks
Helpful 67 Not Helpful 11
Do not wet or expose to fire or heat or freezing temperatures.

Thanks
Helpful 49 Not Helpful 9
As with anything electrical, use caution when operating and making.

Thanks
Helpful 57 Not Helpful 13
When charging the charger, make sure the batteries do not get VERY VERY hot. Warmness is okay but if it becomes so hot you cannot touch it without getting serious burns is not. Immediately throw out the charger if this occurs.

Thanks
Helpful 52 Not Helpful 12
Beware of jealous friends that may try to steal you totally awesome charger.

Thanks
Helpful 89 Not Helpful 32
Do not use or store in extreme cold or heat.

Thanks
Helpful 41 Not Helpful 15
Know the risks: I am not responsible to potential damage to you or your devices

Thanks
Helpful 41 Not Helpful 15
Browning around the hole from the Dremel is normal--it is from the heat of the sparks.

Thanks
Helpful 34 Not Helpful 13
If using a Dremel to make a hole in your Altoids tin, beware of sparks. If you see sparks make sure you are careful not to ignite a flame on flammable material. Do not let sparks touch you, your clothes, or your hair. If you have very large sparks, make sure they do not ignite anything. If sparks are large, lower the speed.

Thanks
Helpful 39 Not Helpful 16
Smoke from the metal on metal from the Dremel carving a hole is not to be inhaled.

Thanks
Helpful 39 Not Helpful 17
Using a too powerful charger may overheat batteries and cause the batteries to leak. Suitable chargers are: a computer's or laptop's USB port or an AC USB port with a voltage of 5 volts and a current of less than 1000mA (1A.) iPhone chargers, HTC USB chargers, and Kindle chargers are fine. You can check your AC USB charger this by reading the back or side of your charger under the output and verifying the current is less than 1000mA. 500mA is recommended. I STRONGLY recommend you use a computer's USB port.

Thanks
Helpful 36 Not Helpful 17
Do not short the batteries.

Thanks
Helpful 28 Not Helpful 15
This may not charge iPods and all devices.

Thanks
Helpful 32 Not Helpful 22
Do not charge for extended periods of time. NEVER overnight. 4 hours maximum. This circuit does NOT stop charging after the batteries reach a certain voltage; overcharging will destroy the batteries.

Thanks
Helpful 16 Not Helpful 9