Learn How to Make a DIY Solar-Powered Cell Phone Charger
Stay connected in emergency situations by learning how to create your own solar-powered charger!
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Steps to Create a DIY Solar-Powered Phone Charger
The Importance of Cell Phones
In today’s world, cell phones are an essential tool for communication and information. Most people would find themselves lost without their devices, especially if they face an unexpected blackout, power outage, or while out camping and in a survival situation. When your phone battery dies, access to help diminishes. Luckily, a portable, rechargeable, DIY solar-powered cell phone charger can solve this problem!
Check out the following steps for your homemade solar power system.
Step 1: Gather the Materials
You’ll need the following materials to make this DIY solar-powered phone charger:
- Superglue
- A short length of stranded wire
- Multitool
- Micro USB cable with a stripped end
- 7805 regulator chip
- 4-port USB hub
- USB power bank
- Solar panel

Step 2: Solder and Mount the Regulator
The regulator is crucial; it not only charges the power bank but also protects it from overvoltage. Solder the USB plug to the regulator and attach the two stranded wires to the appropriate terminals on the regulator for your solar panel (+ and -). Use a bit of superglue to secure the regulator in the terminal block of the solar panel.
If needed, trim the regulator's heat-sink mount before soldering the other ends of the stranded wires to the solar panel.
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Step 3: Mount the Remaining Devices
Next, mount the remaining devices to finalize your DIY solar power system. For this, you can use strong double-sided adhesive to attach the USB hub and power bank behind the solar panel. For a more permanent installation, epoxy or hot glue will work best.
Connect the power bank's charge input to the solar panel's charging cable, then plug in your phone to the USB hub's output to start charging. You can check here for the complete DIY steps.
With this DIY solar-powered charger, you can maintain communication in times of need, making it an excellent addition to your survival kit.
This project not only enhances your solar skills but also prepares you for outdoor adventures. So start building your solar power system now, and ensure you're ready for anything the great outdoors throws your way!
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In summary, creating a DIY solar-powered cell phone charger is an essential skill for anyone looking to maintain communication in emergency situations or while enjoying outdoor adventures. By gathering easily accessible materials and following the simple steps outlined, you can construct a solar charger that ensures your devices remain powered, no matter the circumstances. This project not only enhances your self-sufficiency but also showcases the versatility of solar power in everyday survival scenarios. Equip yourself with this knowledge, and you’ll be better prepared for unexpected challenges ahead.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on April 9, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
You left out three very important parts: Two small ceramic capacitors and a diode.
The 78xx family can self destruct if the output exceeds the input for a few microseconds and any of the devices can oscillate without bypass capacitors.
A 1N400x diode with the cathode to the input and the anode to the output means that the worst case is one diode drop from output to input, protecting the device.
Two 0.33 uF ceramic capacitors, one from the input to ground and one from the output to ground, with VERY SHORT LEADS will prevent the potential oscillation, which may make your cell ‘phone useless while it is charging.
References to these changes come from TI’s datasheet, page 14, figure 21 and page 11, figure 21. This datasheet can be found on Digikey’s site.
Oops, that is figure 28 on page 14, not figure 21.
Make it yourself thanks to inplix page. I think it’s the best way to learn how to build it in the cheapest way.
yeah
Um interessante discussão é definitivamente vale a pena comentário.
Não há dúvida que que devia publicar mais sobre isto questão ,
pode não ser um tabu importa mas geralmente pessoal não discutir tais questões.
Para a próxima! Tudo de melhor !
I didn’t understand a thing!