Turn a wind up torch into a wind up battery charger?

comeradealexi · 31 Dec 2008 at 23:54

Turn a wind up torch into a wind up battery charger? *** COMPLEATED!*** (pics)

when spinning the wind up mechanism as hard as possible i can produce up to 12V or electricity and my phone requires 5V in order for my battery to be charged so i was wondering, how can i do this?

do i just hook the + and - wires on the wind up mechanism directly into a usb cable attached to my phone and just start spinning or do i have to do more to it?

i've seen other people do this but i cant find the video where they do it...

any help would be great!

*** Project Compleated - See Post at bottom of page ***

Aod · 31 Dec 2008 at 23:57

theoretically it would work, but in all probability you'd fry your phone.

retail hand-crank chargers use voltage regulator circuitry to ensure they don't produce more than 5v.

comeradealexi · 31 Dec 2008 at 23:58

Aod said:
theoretically it would work, but in all probability you'd fry your phone.

retail hand-crank chargers use voltage regulator circuitry to ensure they don't produce more than 5v.

so ur saying i need a voltage regulator?

comeradealexi · 1 Jan 2009 at 00:28

the wind up torch has a 3.6 V rechargable battery in it currently and there are 3 LED's in it - and it uses a "Bridge Rectifier Diode - DB107" im not to sure what that is but i know that it charged the battery when i turn the motor

comeradealexi · 2 Jan 2009 at 10:09

any one??

im stuck!!

J.B · 2 Jan 2009 at 11:45

I wouldnt want to do it personally for fear of frying my phone, Im not expert but I would have thought the mA would be an issue?

I would take the wires that feed the battery and connect them to the + and - of the USB cable if you really want to try!

VFR_KID · 2 Jan 2009 at 12:08

So how long would you be sitting there winding this mechanisim like a deranged fool to charge your battery, all i can envisage is someone franticaly winding the handle going red falling over and shaking to get 3% of battery.

Good theory tho i like it

AtaRo · 2 Jan 2009 at 17:54

you need a voltage regulator like this one http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/psu_5v.html

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 01:22

AtaRo said:
you need a voltage regulator like this one http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/psu_5v.html

awesome thanks i will try and buy one of those - also do i need a conveter to change the ac current from the wind up to DC?

i assume one like that which can achieve 150mA will be enough current too?

Revenant · 3 Jan 2009 at 10:45

I'd love to know the results of this experiment - as noted earlier, it's usefulness kinda depends on how much winding is required to get some usable charge. And if you fry your phone!

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 11:41

Revenant said:
I'd love to know the results of this experiment - as noted earlier, it's usefulness kinda depends on how much winding is required to get some usable charge. And if you fry your phone!

lol - i'll let you know how it turns out - i've asked a few other people for advice on what to do - i know i need a voltage regulator though

AtaRo · 3 Jan 2009 at 13:35

comeradealexi said:
also do i need a conveter to change the ac current from the wind up to DC?

i assume one like that which can achieve 150mA will be enough current too?

I bet that your wind up torch already got an ac to dc converter as i needs to charge a battery but in case you need one check this out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier

the 7805 Regulator ic is very flexible and is made by diff. manufacturers and some of these can provide up to 1 ampere depending on your design and chosen part/model and the power source.

DireEmblem · 3 Jan 2009 at 14:05

Just curious, but what made you decide to try this in the first place?

If you get it to work, will you move onto anything else?

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 15:59

DireEmblem said:
Just curious, but what made you decide to try this in the first place?

If you get it to work, will you move onto anything else?

lol i got a wind up torch for xmas and i thought i could put it to better use lol

i dont know if i will do anything else lol

i will upload some pics of what i've done so far though

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 16:00

AtaRo said:
I bet that your wind up torch already got an ac to dc converter as i needs to charge a battery but in case you need one check this out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectifier

the 7805 Regulator ic is very flexible and is made by diff. manufacturers and some of these can provide up to 1 ampere depending on your design and chosen part/model and the power source.

hmmm - is there any way to test what it is?

AC or DC?

Deadude · 3 Jan 2009 at 16:59

volt meter

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 17:01

Deadude said:
volt meter

go on..... im have a voltmeter but how do i test to see?

AtaRo · 3 Jan 2009 at 17:34

to check if it is AC

for this test it is convenient that you must confirm that the AC voltage is there.
So put your DMM in AC and test the supply in question to confirm that the DMM has a reading just to confirm that the voltage is present.
put your DMM in DC and measure the voltage.
if it does not display anything, it means it is AC.

So to summarize this.
If it is AC and the DMM is set to DC it will not read anything.

to check if it is DC
the DMM will show a reading in both AC/DC setting.

the easiest way to check if it is AC or DC though is to try it in an oscilloscope and look at the waveform.

the other way of checking it, is if you're familiar with the AC/DC circuits.

Xandos · 3 Jan 2009 at 17:35

It'd be neat if you could get it to work.

comeradealexi · 3 Jan 2009 at 17:42

AtaRo said:
to check if it is AC

for this test it is convenient that you must confirm that the AC voltage is there.
So put your DMM in AC and test the supply in question to confirm that the DMM has a reading just to confirm that the voltage is present.
put your DMM in DC and measure the voltage.
if it does not display anything, it means it is AC.

So to summarize this.
If it is AC and the DMM is set to DC it will not read anything.

to check if it is DC
the DMM will show a reading in both AC/DC setting.

the easiest way to check if it is AC or DC though is to try it in an oscilloscope and look at the waveform.

the other way of checking it, is if you're familiar with the AC/DC circuits.

awesome will do that now - i have been measuring with the V- and the dots underneath the line and that means it is DC yes?

awesome so now all i need to buy a voltage regulator!

it shows a reading under AC and DC settings so it must be DC - yay!

thank you!!!