After looking at ransomhall's solbooster build at http://www.ransomhall.com/Pages/solbooster.aspx, i was inspired to build my own. I wanted, in addition to a standard shorted dataline USB port for android devices, a 5V 2A USB port to charge iPads and iPhones.
I ordered 2 2W panels and a solar lipo charger board from adafruit. I have used those 2W panels in an earlier project, and I am very satisfied with its build quality and performance.
I also acquired a texas instruments ptn04050c booster module to do the job. It has a 12W maximum output, perfect for charging an iPad(iPads require 10W). Also, it could boost voltage anywhere between 5 to 15V by setting resistor values. I figured a 12V 1A output might come in handy, so i designed the charger to have 2 outputs that are switchable.
I got a 3.7V 6000mAh lithium polymer battery from the local electronic hobby store. It should provide at least 2 full charges to my phone after factoring for losses and inefficiencies.
But, the solar charger could only output a maximum of 1.8A through the LOAD port. I bypassed the LOAD port, and connected the power input directly to the lipo battery, sacrificing the ability to solar charge the device while charging a high powered device like an iPad.
Best of all, I had access to a laser cutter in my college. In my free time, I designed a case around the parts I have lying around, and a plate to hold the 2 solar panels together.
Then, I got my laser cut acrylic parts. Pretty!
Some test fitting..
and finally...
I hope anyone who comes by here will enjoy reading it!
