Solar and Kindle

tarke9891 · 10-01-2010, 09:21 AM

I was playing with the idea of charging the kindle with solar power. The amp are less the AC plug but maybe it would work. I'm hoping someone has tried this and I save myself $15.

How to:
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...6/Test-it-out/
Radioshack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2131051

MrPLD · 10-01-2010, 09:29 AM

Well, this is my sort of field (I'm an EE, I do stuff like this for a living).

You can make/create a solar charger but the problem is that you'll need a battery + regulator in the 'assembly' to ensure that the USB connection gets a steady 5V @ 500mA or more if needed - at least if you want to do it 'right'.

What'll happen if you don't have a battery to buffer the panel is that the lipo controller chip in the Kindle will be switching on/off intermittently and that could have a knock-on effect to the K3 as it keeps changing its status.

Yep, sure you can try it the hack way and likely it'll work okay for a while - but I guess I'm talking from the other side of the fence where you can't afford to have things 'go wrong' lest consumers rip your soul out

Paul.

tarke9891 · 10-01-2010, 10:37 AM

Thank you, that is a great idea. My first one was lost to a over charge through a 12v to usb, so yes i don't want to lose another one. Took a week to get this one replaced.
Question, so like use a 6v battery for it?

MrPLD · 10-01-2010, 10:50 AM

A small 2-cell lipo (7.4V pack) with a 5V regulator following that - ultimately you start to find that it's just 'cheaper/simpler' to go to somewhere like DealExtreme and pick up a prefabbed solar battery solution with USB output.

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30012 (just search for "solar usb" and be prepared to be awash with options). Looks like the decent ones start at about $50 where's the cheap are as low as $8.

Paul.

tarke9891 · 10-01-2010, 06:42 PM

Wow, that really takes the fun out of making. Cheaper just to have someone else do it.

el_brio · 10-01-2010, 07:26 PM

I still don't get why people want this. The Kindle's charge lasts a long time. Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse maybe?

tarke9891 · 10-01-2010, 07:50 PM

I like the 3G part and it doesn't let the battery last long. If i was only doing books, I wouldn't care. I want to take it camping and stuff.

ConstantineXVI · 10-01-2010, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by el_brio

I still don't get why people want this. The Kindle's charge lasts a long time. Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse maybe?

Not so much increasing the battery life as much as never needing to plug the charger in.

MrPLD · 10-01-2010, 08:49 PM

I doesn't take the fun out of making your own but it does certainly push you to reconsider just how much fun it might be

judith009 · 10-01-2010, 09:39 PM

You could just get a DC powered USB hub, cut the hubs power cable after the adapter box, then connect those two wires to a 12V sealed lead acid battery. You can find such batteries for about $30 or $40, and they'd have enough power to charge the kindle many times over. Plus they don't lose their charge over time (you'd only have to charge it a few times a year if you're not using it, just to keep it fresh.) Basically, instead of the USB hub being connected to the AC adapter (which is converting the AC power to 12v DC), you're skipping the adapter and plugging it right into a 12v battery. You just have to make sure the voltage of the hub matches the voltage of the battery. For example, if your hub has a 5V adapter, you would obviously use a 5v battery instead.

MrPLD · 10-01-2010, 09:52 PM

That's a good option too judith - just so long as the hub has its own built in regulator (and if it's a 12V type one then it certainly will).

The simplified version is a 12V battery with one of those car USB power adapters.

Getting solar 12V solutions is easy - but you're starting to look at $50+ now and rather bulky

Aaah, so many choices :\

SamuraiXSendai · 10-02-2010, 07:28 AM

Scosche Solbat II. 20 bucks, solar, comes with a microUSB cable which you can use to charge it, charge a kindle. 1500mAh Lithium-Ion battery ;windshield mount cradle & universal carbineer mount. Love it.

Doesn't come with the satisfaction of build-your-own, I admit.

jgumphress · 10-02-2010, 08:28 AM

You could also try a remote battery pack. I purchased a rechargable USB battery that powers/charges USB devices. It is about the size of an iPone and charges my Droid and Kindle both on it's one charge. So, it would charge the Kindle twice giving you a couple weeks of reading. Mine is a Lenmar and I got it at Fry's Electronics.

judith009 · 10-02-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgumphress

You could also try a remote battery pack. I purchased a rechargable USB battery that powers/charges USB devices. It is about the size of an iPone and charges my Droid and Kindle both on it's one charge. So, it would charge the Kindle twice giving you a couple weeks of reading. Mine is a Lenmar and I got it at Fry's Electronics.

Yeah, that's probably the best idea here. I have one for my iPod, and it works with anything that has a USB connection.

10-01-2010, 09:21 AM	#1
tarke9891 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 126 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3 3G	Solar and Kindle I was playing with the idea of charging the kindle with solar power. The amp are less the AC plug but maybe it would work. I'm hoping someone has tried this and I save myself $15. How to: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...6/Test-it-out/ Radioshack: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2131051

10-01-2010, 07:50 PM	#7
tarke9891 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 126 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3 3G	I like the 3G part and it doesn't let the battery last long. If i was only doing books, I wouldn't care. I want to take it camping and stuff. Last edited by tarke9891; 10-01-2010 at 07:52 PM.

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10-01-2010, 09:29 AM	#2
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Well, this is my sort of field (I'm an EE, I do stuff like this for a living). You can make/create a solar charger but the problem is that you'll need a battery + regulator in the 'assembly' to ensure that the USB connection gets a steady 5V @ 500mA or more if needed - at least if you want to do it 'right'. What'll happen if you don't have a battery to buffer the panel is that the lipo controller chip in the Kindle will be switching on/off intermittently and that could have a knock-on effect to the K3 as it keeps changing its status. Yep, sure you can try it the hack way and likely it'll work okay for a while - but I guess I'm talking from the other side of the fence where you can't afford to have things 'go wrong' lest consumers rip your soul out Paul.

10-01-2010, 10:37 AM	#3
tarke9891 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 126 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3 3G	Thank you, that is a great idea. My first one was lost to a over charge through a 12v to usb, so yes i don't want to lose another one. Took a week to get this one replaced. Question, so like use a 6v battery for it?

10-01-2010, 10:50 AM	#4
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	A small 2-cell lipo (7.4V pack) with a 5V regulator following that - ultimately you start to find that it's just 'cheaper/simpler' to go to somewhere like DealExtreme and pick up a prefabbed solar battery solution with USB output. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.30012 (just search for "solar usb" and be prepared to be awash with options). Looks like the decent ones start at about $50 where's the cheap are as low as $8. Paul.

10-01-2010, 06:42 PM	#5
tarke9891 Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 126 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Kindle 3 3G	Wow, that really takes the fun out of making. Cheaper just to have someone else do it.

10-01-2010, 07:26 PM	#6
el_brio Enthusiast Posts: 40 Karma: 30 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Commodore 64	I still don't get why people want this. The Kindle's charge lasts a long time. Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse maybe?

10-01-2010, 08:49 PM	#9
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	I doesn't take the fun out of making your own but it does certainly push you to reconsider just how much fun it might be

10-01-2010, 09:39 PM	#10
judith009 Groupie Posts: 151 Karma: 2000 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Kindle 3, Voyage	You could just get a DC powered USB hub, cut the hubs power cable after the adapter box, then connect those two wires to a 12V sealed lead acid battery. You can find such batteries for about $30 or $40, and they'd have enough power to charge the kindle many times over. Plus they don't lose their charge over time (you'd only have to charge it a few times a year if you're not using it, just to keep it fresh.) Basically, instead of the USB hub being connected to the AC adapter (which is converting the AC power to 12v DC), you're skipping the adapter and plugging it right into a 12v battery. You just have to make sure the voltage of the hub matches the voltage of the battery. For example, if your hub has a 5V adapter, you would obviously use a 5v battery instead.

10-01-2010, 09:52 PM	#11
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	That's a good option too judith - just so long as the hub has its own built in regulator (and if it's a 12V type one then it certainly will). The simplified version is a 12V battery with one of those car USB power adapters. Getting solar 12V solutions is easy - but you're starting to look at $50+ now and rather bulky Aaah, so many choices :\

10-02-2010, 07:28 AM	#12
SamuraiXSendai Addict Posts: 229 Karma: 1234 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Earth Device: Kindle 1. Kindle 2. IPAD. KDXG. Kindle 3.Fire	Scosche Solbat II. 20 bucks, solar, comes with a microUSB cable which you can use to charge it, charge a kindle. 1500mAh Lithium-Ion battery ;windshield mount cradle & universal carbineer mount. Love it. Doesn't come with the satisfaction of build-your-own, I admit.

10-02-2010, 08:28 AM	#13
jgumphress Connoisseur Posts: 59 Karma: 948 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arlington, TX Device: Kindle Paperwhite	You could also try a remote battery pack. I purchased a rechargable USB battery that powers/charges USB devices. It is about the size of an iPone and charges my Droid and Kindle both on it's one charge. So, it would charge the Kindle twice giving you a couple weeks of reading. Mine is a Lenmar and I got it at Fry's Electronics.

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