[pct-l] USB Solar Charger

[Mike]

Just wanted to let you know you can charge USB devices on the trail from
solar.  you can purchase a USB solar charger that has a battery pack built
in for around $30 and some only weight 5oz.. Or you can make a solar charger
as well..  Do keep in mind the Iphone charges out side the USB power
standard and is very picky that it has a clean perfect 5V on the power wires
of USB and 2V on the data wires. in other words I do not recommend making a
charger for the Iphone. Making a solar charger does work for the Ipod and
the Itouch that I know of. If you would like to carry a spare charger for
your Iphone and you know how to solder.. You can make a MintyBoost.. check
out this link http://www.ladyada.net/make/mintyboost/index.html
Basically its a little circuit board and two AA batteries with a USB port.
You can plug any USB device into it and there is enough power to fully
charge even an Iphone.  Also the board is well designed and gives you a very
clean 5V on the power wires and 2V on the data for Iphone charging.

If you want to make your own solar panel USB charger, I will have a blog
post later today that I have been working on that is instructions on how to
do this.  I am going to use the solar panel to charge our MP3 players and
the cell phone we will have with us.   Changing the design a little you
could even charge a Iphone. If you use a 3V 500mA panel and wire the
Mintyboost circuit board into the panel.. Do some searching and you will
find commercial product that work with the Iphone.  I'm just kinda nerdy and
like to build things so ill be making my own.. I did order a commercial USB
charger to see if I like it.  Ill let you know when my blog on how to build
this is done..


Thumper & Stumbling Goat
www.mspct.com