How do I build a bicycle powered phone charger?
My bicycle has a 6v 3.5w AC dynamo hub, and a phone which charges from USB (5v). There are many LED/halogen headlamps with NiMH/LiPoly battery packs which are 6v DC. What I’d like to do is rectify the dynamo’s AC to DC and charge the battery from the dynamo. Once the battery is being charged by the hub I will not only have a headlight, but I could also easily convert the 6v AC to 5v and use a USB outlet to charge my iPhone. I’ve been wanting to do this project for months now, but I need help with the details of the electronics. Please advise about which battery packs will work best, and how I’d wire them up to the hub.
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you want to charge your phone by riding a bike?
@forestGeek: Good sites, thanks.
@Comedian: Why on earth not? :)
This could work easily but I wouldn’t recommend it. I only charge my phone with the wall charger. The battery could last for five years or so if you only use the wall charger but only one year or so if you use a car charger all the time.
This is because your car puts out slightly different voltages at different states of drive and idle. It’s sending slightly more juice down the line when you’re driving and slightly less when you stop. This is what tends to wear phone batteries out.
You can imagine how this same type thing would happen as you stop and start pedaling your bike.
Batteries are getting better all the time and the new lithium ion are suppose to be immune to this phenomena (but they are not).
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