N900 Solar charger
 

Heya,

I do some ramble and as we got a poor battery i was curious about solar charger.

Would love fix solar charger on bag and get cable to N900, then i can recharge it while walking.

Anyone tryed one ?


Ty

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I highly recommend the PowerFilm solar panel w/ USB-out. This is where I ordered mine:

http://www.hodgesmarine.com/ProductD...SB-AA&click=19

You also probably need the 2-headed Seido cable to get the N900 to charge off of a "dumb" USB power source:

http://www.cyberguys.com/product-det...roductid=35678


Sam

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Note: The PowerFilm solar charger:

1) Is compact, lightweight & folding with soft/bendable solar panels (ideal for travel and throwing in a bag).

2) Trickle-charges from the panel to 2 AA Sanyo Eneloop batteries internally, which then discharge at 5V to the USB port. -- This means you can decouple sun collection from device charging, store up whatever sunlight happens to be available at the time, and use it later when you need it.


I also just noticed that there's a new model out w/ 6 folding panels instead of 4, and takes 2-4 AA batteries instead of just 2. Looks like roughly double the double charging capacity for about the same weight as the old model. I think I'm going to get one :) :

http://www.amazon.com/AA-Battery-Sol...ef=pd_sim_sg_5

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Never mind -- the 4 battery model does not have USB out.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I have a Solio "flower" charger and I'm happy with it. Charges other things and looks funky.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Could you elaborate on this? How many hours of sun takes to keep the n900 going? Do you need some adapter? Thanks

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I have this:
http://www.solio.com/charger/solio-charger-classic.html

I believe I had to order the mini nokia plug due to it's newness at the time (also bought the Gameboy adapter).

The solio has a battery. You run off the battery. However; so long as there is direct sunlight you can essentially run off the sun (even with a low battery in the solio) so even if the battery is low the solio is useful.

time to charge is always dependent upon sunlight. I can get 3/4 charge in a few hours in the summer (particularly around the summer solstice).

I have a 1800 mAH battery in my 800 so it can suck down most of the battery (if not all) when I charge from the battery but I'm not in the habit of running my battery down. Since the 900 has a smaller cap. battery you'll have power to spare if the Solio has to fully charge the battery.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Nothing to see with solar, but i found something interesting.

http://www.yogenstore.com/

Someone tryed it already ?

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

i just ordered a juice bar solar and usb charger from thinkgeek.com, the use is not only for n900 but for all devices that uses miniusb, microusb, 3.5 headphone jack, even iphone usb for charging.

you can either charge the device wired or from a power source, of solar.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I've been doing some experimenting.
Most of the "dumb" charges work with N900, after some modifications, namely soldering D- and D+ pins together inside the charger.

For example, I have got both these working with N900 and with standard USBA-microUSB cable:

1)

Dynamo Hand-Crank USB Cell Phone Emergency Charger

Opening needs just unscrewing two screws, very easy.
See pics before the fix:
http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/De...hreadid.436269
And after soldering the USB D+ and D- together -fix:
http://www.dealextreme.com/customerp...66f285c9ca.jpg
and 2)

Solar Powered 2600mAh Rechargeable Battery Pack with Cellphone Adapters

The text in the box where the solar charger comes in.
http://www1.dealextreme.com/producti...ku_30047_9.jpg

Opening this demands unscrewing two screws and then _carefully_ detaching the solar panel, which is glued with two side soft but pretty stiff stickers. See pics:
NOTE! The battery inside is really just 2400 mAh, not 2600 mAh.
http://www.dealextreme.com/customerp...e122e9a7e1.jpg
http://www.dealextreme.com/customerp...7aaf0d080b.jpg (D- and D+ pins soldered together)

3)
With both, after the DIY fix, I've just used this normal rectactable USB-data cable:
Retractable USB to Micro 5P Data/Charging Cable (60CM-Length)

Very handy, all of them. The USB cable can be used both as a data cable and charging cable both with PC and with these fixed emergency chargers.

4)
Also, I got this Ultra-Mini USB Power Adapter/Charger - EU Plug (110~240V AC) working with the same trick, soldering D- and D+ USB pins together inside the device.
http://www.dealextreme.com/customerp...a3cfcf2ebc.jpg
However, I do not recommend at all to try this one. After opening the charger I got scared how simple design it was and is suppose to be connected to ~230V. However, it did work after the fix again just with that normal USB-cable. To open this, just the end plate has to be taken out carefully with a screwdriver and then with pliers carefully pulling the circuit board out of the case.

All of those, after the fix, I have first tested with digital multi meter and with an old Nokia 6220 phone, then with Nokia CA-146C adapter with N900, and only after those straight with the USBA-microUSB cable.

You can brick (as bricking, make a brick out of something, see "alchemy") your devices by doing something wrong!

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

you give me what i need yo! im gonna get this stuff!

very useful not only on my n900

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Just ordered the dynamo hand crank. Thanks for the tip.
[QUOTE=zimon;591395]For example, I have got both these working with N900 and with standard USBA-microUSB cable:
Dynamo Hand-Crank USB Cell Phone Emergency Charger
(Opening needs just unscrewing two screws, very easy.)
]

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I was just browsing around and these two look pretty good on paper. Sort of like a USB battery pack plus a solar panel:

http://www.amazon.com/Amzer-PowerBAR...136334&sr=8-23

http://www.amazon.com/Wagan-EL2558-S...136334&sr=8-21

I just can't find any significant number of reviews for them.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Read also this, and don't get your expectations too high. The solar panel is not so big, so it takes long time in the sun to charge.
http://www1.dealextreme.com/producti...ku_30047_9.jpg

But I am happy with it now when I got it working also without any special cable. (D+ D- soldering fix)

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

See the pics here:
http://www.dealextreme.com/forums/De...hreadid.436269
On the second image, the D- and the D+ datapins which need to be soldered together are there on the dark green background. So they are the two middle pins in the USB connector.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

i was caught up by the 2400mah capacity, i can fully charge an n900, and still have a 1000mah capacity left for my motorola phone, sweet.

solar power is brilliant but not mainly after that feature.

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I added photos of insides of those DIY-fixable chargers to the text:
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p...5&postcount=10

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Well, there is losses.
I haven't yet tried so much, as just yesterday I got those devices "fixed", but I was able to charge N900 only to half way with the fully charged solar battery device. It may be, that even 2400 mAh is a wrong value, although that was found inside. (see the pics I added there).

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

I think Amazon shops at dealextreme :D
http://www1.dealextreme.com/producti...13_2_small.jpg

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

nice find!

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Hey all, does anyone know of a more efficient way to drop 12 volts down to 5? at the moment i'm using an LM7805 with two solar cells, but i'm thinking this is wasting quite alot of energy.. any ideas anybody?

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

bump............?

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

http://www.dimensionengineering.com/DE-SW050.htm
check this switching regulator

This one's output voltage can be adjusted.
http://www.dimensionengineering.com/DE-SWADJ.htm

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Hello,

I just bought this 2) charger expecting it to work 'out of the box', till I tried it...

Seems like the images with the 'trick' have been removed from the server, can you please post them again somewhere (or send them to me)?

Thank you very much

Re: N900 Solar charger
 

Suggest this one: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=263602_263622
It's a little expensive, but really good.