DIY - Car Charger

spyking · 19th March 2011, 13:06

Hello!

I know you can easily get these at any signal for 150-200Rs, But was leaving early the next morning on a long trip so used stuff I had lying around to knock this together!

Stuff used
-L7805cv Voltage regulator
-0.1uF Cap
-10uF Cap
-Female USB socket
-Charge wire cut from an old Nokia Charger
-Cig lighter male plug
-Strip of Aluminum channel as a heat-sink

The circuit is simple enough as attaching the caps across the input and the output for basic filtering.

From the output 5v, wired it in parallel, one to the charger lead, and other wired to the usb female socket. So can't use both at the same time :(

Stuck the pcb to the plug and insulated all the soldering using hot glue!

Total cost? - about 15Rs for the electronics plus about an hours time, mostly searching for the parts in the parts bin!

Overall was a fun little project after a long time!

@Chaand · 19th March 2011, 13:52

Fantastic! Can you share the ckt diagram for this?

Also, any pics while using this ?

dhanushs · 19th March 2011, 15:40

Nice effort mate!.

Well, I'm a bit ignorant about how these electronics works, but local car chargers are known to eat battery life. I have lost two batteries (buldged) due to these aftermarket car chargers. Where as my n97, which I haven't touched with a car charger is going fine after 1.5 yrs.

Is this in any way same?.

lucifer1881 · 19th March 2011, 15:49

I bought my car charger from Nokia Priority Store for about 220. Cheaper ones are available but I did not go that route. Still going strong after nearly two years. Use it to charge my E71, which is almost 2.5 years old now.

spyking · 23rd March 2011, 15:22

@@Chaand: The Ckt dia? I shall try and get one of the net, meanwhile, just add the caps parallel to the input and output, where when you hold the 7805 towards you, the first pin is input, second is ground and third is the output. I shall take some pics soon, want to clean up the board and make it more compact when I get some time.

@Dhanushs: I haven't used this long enough to know if the battery performance dips, but the charging rate is much much slower than the wall charger that came with the phone, I shall measure the current and see how much it is sometime. Lower charge rates are generally better for the battery.

19th March 2011, 13:06	#1
spyking BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 95 Thanked: 5 Times	DIY - Car Charger Hello! I know you can easily get these at any signal for 150-200Rs, But was leaving early the next morning on a long trip so used stuff I had lying around to knock this together! Stuff used -L7805cv Voltage regulator -0.1uF Cap -10uF Cap -Female USB socket -Charge wire cut from an old Nokia Charger -Cig lighter male plug -Strip of Aluminum channel as a heat-sink The circuit is simple enough as attaching the caps across the input and the output for basic filtering. From the output 5v, wired it in parallel, one to the charger lead, and other wired to the usb female socket. So can't use both at the same time :( Stuck the pcb to the plug and insulated all the soldering using hot glue! Total cost? - about 15Rs for the electronics plus about an hours time, mostly searching for the parts in the parts bin! Overall was a fun little project after a long time!
	(3) Thanks

19th March 2011, 13:52	#2
@Chaand BHPian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Mumbai Posts: 314 Thanked: 512 Times	Re: DIY - Car Charger Fantastic! Can you share the ckt diagram for this? Also, any pics while using this ?
	() Thanks

19th March 2011, 15:40	#3
dhanushs Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,437 Thanked: 11,488 Times	Re: DIY - Car Charger Nice effort mate!. Well, I'm a bit ignorant about how these electronics works, but local car chargers are known to eat battery life. I have lost two batteries (buldged) due to these aftermarket car chargers. Where as my n97, which I haven't touched with a car charger is going fine after 1.5 yrs. Is this in any way same?.
	() Thanks

19th March 2011, 15:49	#4
lucifer1881 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 368 Thanked: 2,034 Times	Re: DIY - Car Charger I bought my car charger from Nokia Priority Store for about 220. Cheaper ones are available but I did not go that route. Still going strong after nearly two years. Use it to charge my E71, which is almost 2.5 years old now.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2011, 15:22	#5
spyking BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 95 Thanked: 5 Times	Re: DIY - Car Charger @@Chaand: The Ckt dia? I shall try and get one of the net, meanwhile, just add the caps parallel to the input and output, where when you hold the 7805 towards you, the first pin is input, second is ground and third is the output. I shall take some pics soon, want to clean up the board and make it more compact when I get some time. @Dhanushs: I haven't used this long enough to know if the battery performance dips, but the charging rate is much much slower than the wall charger that came with the phone, I shall measure the current and see how much it is sometime. Lower charge rates are generally better for the battery.
	() Thanks