A crash course in changing the world.
OK, decided not to do the obvious small portable solar panel route. (Ooops!, see final note)
Instead thought I should do something I would get some benefit from, say riding my exercise bike.
So here's the solution, buy a bicycle generator that mounts to the frame
Here is what looks like a good one, Royce Union 6V ($10)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKSDTU/ref=asc_df_B000KKSDTU1077252?sm...
Alternatively, go with a portable solar panel array to charge the battery (a lazy man's option - hey, I should be getting some exercise so should stick with the exercise bike generator.)
Use it to charge a 6V rechargeable battery for example
the AmHntr 6V Rechargable Battery ($13)
http://www.amazon.com/AmHntr-6V-Rechargable-Battery-EA/dp/B0000BXJ4M
add a charger that prevents overcharging ($11) by Moultrie MFH-BC6
http://www.amazon.com/Moultrie-Volt-Battery-Charger-Md/dp/B000PWB2Z...
Now, it gets a little uncertain, my Blackberry has a mini USB port so I could wire up a USB cable to the battery minding the polarities and the fact that you need to jumper a resistor to one of the data lines to make the Blackberry accept a charge and add a little voltage regulator to keep the voltage between 4.75 and 5.25 V according to the second of the two links below.
How to modify the mini USB for charging a Blackberry with a PC loaded with drivers or one of the RIM chargers
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=153048
And a way to create a 4.75 to 5.25V regulated output from a car charger adapter. Have to find a 6 V one here for my 6V setup. Most car chargers are 12V
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-Your-Own-USB-Car-Charge...
Now for the soldering gun and finding an alternative to regulate the battery voltage to that 4.75 to 5.25 V output like the three pin regulator with the few R's and C's it probably calls for
http://www.amazon.com/7805-5V-Voltage-Regulator-TO-220/dp/B0002ZPXJ...
Why the battery? Not sure that the generator will output 500 mA. Some 6V bike generators seem to be rated at 200mA so need the battery to make sure there is enough juice to charge the Blackberry. Seems it may like 500 mA. How long will I have to ride? Hmmm. Bit of a puzzle. It takes the Blackberry a few hours to charge I think but if that is at 500 mA and I am only getting 200 mA out of the bike generator, I will be riding 2.5 times as long as it takes to charge the Blackberry to keep the battery from running down. I don't have that much time.
Maybe the solar panel is the way to go . . .
xx
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