So I have been wanting to make one of these for a while. When I am doing anything outdoorsy I often run out of juice on my Samsung Galaxy S4 and definitely on my iPhone 5. I came up with a number of ideas to generate the power but the truth is the sun is rarely absent here in Sunny Florida and its all I need to charge my phone. Watch the video below to see just how easy it is to build a solar powered usb charger.

Materials Needed:

• Mini Solar Panel (you can get this online or at radio shack
• 2AA Battery Pack and connector
• USB Module (you can get this on amazon or a number of places online)
• Extra wire
• Altoids tin
• Metal Snips
• Wire cutter
• Soldering Iron and solder
• Glue gun and glue

Steps to Complete

1. Cut hole in one side of altoids tin to accomodate usb module output
2. Cut hole in other side to accomodate wire passthrough
3. Glue solar panel to the back of the tin
4. Connect positive (usually red) wires from batter connector and solar panel
5. Connect negative(usually black) wires from batter connector and solar panel
6. Solder positive wires to positive block on usb module
7. Solder negative wires to negative block on usb module
8. Glue usb module inside altoids tin
9. Place battery in tin
10. Close tin
11. Connect phone to see it charge

Note: some usb modules have a switch - make sure its on in order to work

Note: some usb modules don't work well with iphone so read reviews on the one you buy

Note: make and use at your own risk - since youre working with homemade electronics i would be careful before plugging in a $600 phone