Aura H2O Solar cover for the aura H2O (DIY)

[surquizu]

I present my last distraction: build a cover with solar panels to charge the reader. It makes little sense for ereaders with long battery life, but it's fun to do.

materials:

- A cheap cover (10-15 eur. I had one unused),
- Cable USB micro (about 4 eur.)
- Pair of solar panels 5v (about 6 eur in aliexpress)

I hope you like.

[oren64]

Great job

I thought myself once maybe to do it by connecting the solar panel to the back cover, but your idea is match better.

Originally Posted by surquizu

- Cable USB micro (about 4 eur.)

Edit: this USB cable is more suitable, http://www.ebay.com/itm/angled-90-de...H5vbhKor7HTGXw

[drjd]

Wow! Great engineering.
You have illustrated this mod in very nice details. I would love to have a similar thing on my Kobo. I'll search for these solar panels locally, and try it out, though I am not good at soldering.

[Ken Maltby]

Hmm... I remember a kid's science experiment "The Potato Battery", you might not need the panels.

Luck;
Ken

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Hmm... I remember a kid's science experiment "The Potato Battery", you might not need the panels.

Luck;
Ken

I think it's easier to take these panels on a camping trip than a lot of potatoes

I really like this! But aren't you afraid the panels and screen will scratch each other when you close the cover?

[drjd]

Originally Posted by Ken Maltby

Hmm... I remember a kid's science experiment "The Potato Battery", you might not need the panels.

Luck;
Ken

A perpetual machine for me? Seems a great idea!

[drjd]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I really like this! But aren't you afraid the panels and screen will scratch each other when you close the cover?

That is what I was thinking too. There can be used a sort of protective soft layer in between solar panels and screen, to avoid mutual damage by scratches.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by surquizu

I present my last distraction: build a cover with solar panels to charge the reader. It makes little sense for ereaders with long battery life, but it's fun to do.

materials:

- A cheap cover (10-15 eur. I had one unused),
- Cable USB micro (about 4 eur.)
- Pair of solar panels 5v (about 6 eur in aliexpress)

I hope you like.

According to your site those panels cost 8 euro!

Anyway, what panels are they? When I search on aliexpress, I found a lot of them...

[theducks]

Originally Posted by surquizu

- Cable USB micro (about 4 eur.)
- Pair of solar panels 5v (about 6 eur in aliexpress)
.

Don't you mean a pair of 2.5V panels?

1)USB is 5V
2)It appears you wired them in series (black wire between) without a charge controller. Did I obsevve incorrectly? I now see the attachment to the USB wires has them in parallel

3) Great job

Aliexpress had a 5V 5W folding charger (almost the same current as a standard Kindle charger) for a fast charge, but it is a bit larger than the device

[rem736]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I think it's easier to take these panels on a camping trip than a lot of potatoes

and if you decide to eat the potatoes during your camping trip, there would be nothing left to charge the reader.

[howyoudoin]

Originally Posted by rem736

and if you decide to eat the potatoes during your camping trip, there would be nothing left to charge the reader.

Imagine a remake of "The Martian" where Matt Damon grows potatoes on Mars not for sustenance, but because he wants to continue e-reading

[Ken Maltby]

My camping solar charging setup:

12v 10w battery maintainer panel w/cig lighter plug.
7/8" copper pipe just long enough so the two plug tips make a good contact
a car USB charging plug

[Image violates Posting Guidelines for size - MODERATOR]

Luck;
Ken

[rem736]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

But aren't you afraid the panels and screen will scratch each other when you close the cover?

and the other thing about this configuration is that the reader will be sitting in the full sun the entire time. i'm not sure if this is a good idea. i know that iphones really heat up to the point of not being usable if it's under direct sunlight for a period of time. it may be the same for the reader. in fact, i think it's best to have the charger portion completely separate from the reader. when charging, you can put the charger over the reader (or and other 5V device), shielding the device from direct sunlight.

[surquizu]

But aren't you afraid the panels and screen will scratch each other when you close the cover?

The panels do not touch the screen.

Anyway, what panels are they? When I search on aliexpress, I found a lot of them..

.

http://es.aliexpress.com/item/5V-250...ilNewVersion=2

I now see the attachment to the USB wires has them in parallel

exactly

and the other thing about this configuration is that the reader will be sitting in the full sun the entire time. i'm not sure if this is a good idea.

No problem. As you can see in the photos, the solar panels works with artificial light and natural light in the shade.

[Stingo]

Why didn't you put the panels on the front or back so that you could charge the unit when it is closed between readings? I don't personally like holding the cover open that way. i prefer to fold it around the back.