OTS LiPo battery, charger, buck/boost converter, reed switch, and magnetic pogo connect.
Battery is wrapped in silicone tape to allow minor expansion, reed switch is plastic so curing resin wouldn't damage a glass case. Got pretty much the thinnest battery I could source OTS, a real production run could easily order a thinner cell if desired. Magnetic pogo pins are pretty standard 2.54mm pitch.
Charges from solar only. Turns on (EN pin on boost converter) when reed switch is triggered by the ereader, so idle current draw should be almost nothing.
Magnets are whatever I had on hand, placed as best I could without killing my battery or trigging the reed switch.
Ultimately could easily be a real product if someone had the desire and money. Obviously not planning to read in the sun, the idea is you put it out to charge then slap it on to top up the reader.
Next time I'd like to 3D print (or better yet, CNC mill) a protective bumper that doubles as a mold, so everything can get laid out, adhered down, then pour directly into the casing. Definitely want a better way to position the pogo connector beforehand - took a lot of sanding to get the back flat enough to seat, very marginal tolerances.
Output to the reader? It's quick, same as the stock USB cable - it's pretty low amperage. Solar? Idk, still charging it for the first time 😅 given the reader lasts at least a week (weeks?) on a charge, it can be slow and not matter.
Yeah, I was curious how fast it charged via solar as that small of a panel I imagine doesn't produce much charge. But yeah, e-readers especially that one doesn't eat too much up.
5 Comments
WFloyd@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 13d
OTS LiPo battery, charger, buck/boost converter, reed switch, and magnetic pogo connect.
Battery is wrapped in silicone tape to allow minor expansion, reed switch is plastic so curing resin wouldn't damage a glass case. Got pretty much the thinnest battery I could source OTS, a real production run could easily order a thinner cell if desired. Magnetic pogo pins are pretty standard 2.54mm pitch.
Charges from solar only. Turns on (EN pin on boost converter) when reed switch is triggered by the ereader, so idle current draw should be almost nothing.
Magnets are whatever I had on hand, placed as best I could without killing my battery or trigging the reed switch.
Ultimately could easily be a real product if someone had the desire and money. Obviously not planning to read in the sun, the idea is you put it out to charge then slap it on to top up the reader.
Next time I'd like to 3D print (or better yet, CNC mill) a protective bumper that doubles as a mold, so everything can get laid out, adhered down, then pour directly into the casing. Definitely want a better way to position the pogo connector beforehand - took a lot of sanding to get the back flat enough to seat, very marginal tolerances.
jacksilver@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
How fast does it charge?
WFloyd@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 13d
Output to the reader? It's quick, same as the stock USB cable - it's pretty low amperage. Solar? Idk, still charging it for the first time 😅 given the reader lasts at least a week (weeks?) on a charge, it can be slow and not matter.
jacksilver@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
Yeah, I was curious how fast it charged via solar as that small of a panel I imagine doesn't produce much charge. But yeah, e-readers especially that one doesn't eat too much up.
frankenswine@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 13d
holy shitsnacks
this is awesome!