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A long, long time ago. In a galaxy far, far away. I set about trying to move all my stuff to USB power so that I could, one day, charge everything on the go using a charger with a USB socket. This may also be of interest to you if you’re looking to move your house over rechargeable.

Phase 1: Let’s USB!

The first stage of this project, getting all my gadgets charging from the USB hub on my desk, was possibly the hardest part. While it was easy to find USB charging cables which would charge my Nokia 6630, my Ipod Classic OR my DS Lite, and sometimes two, finding one what would charge all three proved to be impossible.

In the end I got three separate chargers which all used the same interchangeable connector.

I cleaned and decorated, using CD label stickers, a used pipe tobacco tin to keep it all in. I also lined the tin with bubble-wrap to keep rattling down. Foam might also work.

On a side note: Some Nokia phones won’t charge with the 500mA x 5V provided by USB and need a dongle with an up-volter.

Phase 2: Portable Powerhouse!

While there are already portable power solutions like the Freeloader and Powermonkey products, you don’t get a whole lot for what you pay.

My biggest problem was that, with a single, non-removable battery, you could forget to charge the item itself for quite some time and be caught short when it mattered. Something that used AAs, of which I have an abundance, would mean I could always keep some extra charge in my bag (It also means I could carry extra when I needed.).

I was browsing around Maplin when I came across an obscure little product, the Camelion Solar AA Charger which is basically, a solar panel, a place for 4 AA (Or 2 AAA) batteries and a USB port. So you charge the batteries by solar, USB or external charger and then charge your gadgets from there. It also has a rudimentary battery tester, to let you keep an eye on how much charge you have left.

Side note: Solar or USB charging 4 AA batteries is going to take a long time. Best to charge them using an external charger and then use the USB and solar to replace what power you use.

Phase 3: The Greatest Charger!

Today, the fourth AA battery charger I own came (I also have two Camera battery chargers.); An Energizer Quattro, who’s four channels meant that I could finally charge batteries in odd number (Or any mix I felt like.) without risking leakage.

Background: Most battery chargers charge AAs two to a channel. This means you have to have pairs of the same brand and type of battery which have both been used up to roughly the same amount. This leaves you with a lot of mis-matched batteries when gadgets need an odd number.

The Quattro only costs about £12 on Ebay and comes with an odd addition: A set of 4 x 2450mAh AA batteries, which are close to twice the standard capacity of Energizer’s usual rechargeable AAs, giving the Camelion Solar Charger a battery of almost 10,000mAh (10Ah.). They are slightly longer than standard AAs, a bit fatter and noticeably heavier; really stretching the AA standard.

Conclusion.

I am now all set!

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