I have a question for you and any other people who were provided with the engineer-bent heads!
I have a flash light that is hand cranked. I have an emergency radio (with flash light) that is hand cranked. I have a wall plug-in battery charger. I have a solar battery charger.
The Question:
Can someone help me figure out to put together a hand cranked small battery charger? Can you or one of you gizmo creative types help me with some simple basic plans and/or instructions to build a device like this?
I’ve not seen any that are ready-made. My Darlin suggested that it might be possible to take components from some of these afore-mentioned devices, and then perhaps add some other components from Radio Shack and obtain the desired hand cranked small battery charger. But I don’t have a clue as to how to do that. Darlin (for good reason) doesn’t have time to mess with it right now.
Alas, the tech at our Radio Shack who is usually so helpful looked at me today as if I was asking for something that was totally impossible to imagine.
Thanks in advance!
My crank up radio has a 'USB' type connector for a phone charger. That's what I would recommend, so check RS or my favorite C Crane for what they have in that line. C Crane has a solar battery charge which I use.
BTW on those wind up radios and flash lights be advised they have an internal battery that you charge when you crank....and that goes bad after several years even if you wind it occasionally....'V'
Check Amazon. Search term:
handcrank flashlight USB
Eton has one for about $14 that has gotten good reviews. Thing is that the NiCad batteries don’t have a lot of capacity, so handcranking for a few minutes will get you a very short amount of air time. The LED flashlight uses less energy so that lasts longer and it’s easy to crank it back up as the light fades.
I’ve tried three or four brands and all seemed or were pretty flimsy.
Now it could be that some cases might have enough room to squeeze in slightly larger batteres.
My BOB now includes an Instapark Mercury 10 portable solar power supply. 2 USB outlets @ 5v 10 watt max. Nylon case folds up the 2 PV flex panels to a package roughly the size of a 7” tablet. Has numerous loops to aid in hanging. Works well flat on dash. Also has a pocket for cords and holding phone or device. USB outlets are inside the pocket.
I coupled it with a 12000mAh USB battery. Outputs 5v @ 0.5A, 1.0A, 1.3A and 2.1A. I can charge this from the folding solar panels. Got it through Amazon.
These two fit into pocket of my Duluth vest nicely with minimal bulge.
An easy place to start might be to cannibalize the parts from a flashlight or radio. These will be set up to charge 2-4 AA equivalent NiCad or NiMh cells. I’ve not done this experiment my self so don’t have any circuits/schematics handy. I’m gonna go waaaay out on a limb and say you just might be able to find such online.