Have you ever run out of phone battery because you can't find a place to charge it? Thanks to this portable charging device, you'll never have to look for a power outlet to charge your phone on the go. The device is rechargeable so you can use it over and over again.
Step
Step 1. Empty the can of Altoid mints (put the mints in a plastic bag so they can still be eaten)
Step 2. Set up the female USB port
This port is usually on a USB extension cable.
Step 3. Cut the portion of the cable you want to connect to the battery compartment as far as possible from the unused portion of the cable, if you are using an extension cable
Open the wires and look for the black (-) and red (+) wires. Make sure they are separate from the data cable (the green and white ones).
Step 4. Increase the length of the cable if your cable is very short (less than 23 cm)
The trick, you can solder the USB cable with an additional cable. However, don't add so much cable length that it won't fit in the Altoid can. It is recommended that your cable be 23 cm long from the female USB fork.
Step 5. Insert four rechargeable AAA batteries into the battery compartment
These batteries do not need to be charged. (Tip: You can buy cheap rechargeable AAA batteries on eBay or sites where people sell used goods). These batteries are rated according to the power they can hold, and not according to their output power. The unit used is milli-Amp Hours (mAh), which is the current (in milli-Amp) required to fully charge the battery in one hour. A 1000 mAh battery can last twice as long as a 500 mAh battery. These battery cases can be purchased cheaply at electronics stores, but you'll need to make sure they fit in the Altoid can (you may need to buy a thin, square one).
Step 6. Connect the cable from the battery case with the USB cable
Remember, you have to connect the black wire to the black wire, and the red wire to the red wire. We recommend that you solder the cable connection so that it is strong. You can also choose a cable connection, but this method is not recommended. Do not forget to cover the exposed part of the cable with insulating material (such as cable tape or PVC) so that the positive cable does not touch the negative cable.
Step 7. Make a square hole on one side of the Altoid can which is slightly larger than the USB port
If you are using a Dremel, be careful as sparks can ignite flammable materials. Make a hole on one of the short sides of the can, not on the top, bottom, or both long sides of the can (only on the right or left).
Step 8. Insert the female USB connected battery case into the Altoid can
Make sure the On/Off button (if available on the battery case) is facing up so you can see it when you open the Altoid can. Slide the female USB port into the hole on the can, and position it so that the port doesn't stick out of the can.
Step 9. Glue the female USB port so it doesn't slide using hot glue
You can use double-sided tape or hot glue to attach the female USB port to the can so it doesn't move.
Step 10. Close the Altoid can
Your charger is now ready. If the battery has not been charged, follow the last steps in this article.
Step 11. Create a male to male USB cable, if you don't already have one
Cut the ends of the 2 USB cables so that they are long enough from the USB connector. Open the wires to reveal the colored wires inside. Cut the green and white wires. Unscrew the red and black wires, and connect them (red wire to red wire, and black wire to black wire) using solder or twist until connected (not recommended). Cover the exposed parts of the cable with cable tape (don't glue the red and black wires together). Now that the two wires have been tapered separately, you can now wrap the two wires with tape so that they form one thick cable.
Step 12. Use a male to male USB cable to charge the battery
Plug one end into your computer (or USB AC adapter), and the other into the USB port of your charger. Wait until the charging is complete. After a few hours, your batteries will be fully charged.
Tips
You can buy these project kits cheaply on eBay or sites where people sell used items, such as Olx.co.id
Warning
- Do not leave the device charging unattended. You don't need to monitor it all the time, but check every 2 hours to make sure it's not overheating. (rarely happening). Also, NEVER charge overnight (left to sleep). The device can be charged for a maximum of 4 hours. The electrical circuit will NOT stop charging once the battery reaches a certain voltage. Your battery will be damaged if it is charged too much.
- Do not expose the device to wet or exposure to heat, fire, or extreme cold temperatures.
- When charging, make sure your battery doesn't get VERY hot. Just being warm is fine, but don't let your battery get so hot that it burns your skin. Throw away your charger immediately if this happens.
- Since you are dealing with electricity, be careful when making and using the device.
- Know the risks! We are not responsible for any potential damage to yourself or your device!
- Do not store the device in areas of extreme heat or cold.
- Don't panic if there are brown marks around the holes the Dremel made. This is normal because it is caused by heat from sparks.
- Watch out for sparks when using Dremel to punch holes in Altoid cans. Make sure sparks do not ignite flammable materials. If the spark is too big, slow down your speed.
- DO NOT breathe fumes from metal friction when using the Dremel.
- Using a charger that is too strong can cause the battery to overheat and leak. We recommend using a computer or laptop USB port, or a USB AC port with a voltage and current of less than 1000 mA (1A), iPhone, HTC USB, and Kindle chargers to charge your battery. Check the back or side of your USB AC charger (below output) and make sure the current is less than 1000 mA. If possible, use a current of 500 mA. We STRONGLY recommend charging the battery using the computer's USB port.
- Do not short the battery.
- This charger cannot be used for iPod and other devices.
