Electronic Building Blocks

By Julian
Edgar

Quick and easy Great results on

Construction a low budget

USB Boost Charger

Large complex projects are fun, but they take time and can
be expensive. Sometimes you just want a quick result at low
cost. Thats where this series of Electronic Building Blocks
fits in. We use cheap as chips components bought online to
get you where you want to be... FAST! These projects range
from around 15 to under a fiver... bargains!

Charge a USB device from lower voltages

Heres a cheap module that will provide a charging source
for any USB-charged device a phone, tablet, even a re-
chargeable torch. The beauty of this device is that it is a
boost converter, so it can do this charging while using an
input voltage well below 5V.

Tiny but mighty

A tiny 33 18 13mm, the module is claimed to work at
input voltages from 0.9 to 6V and output up to one amp. In
real-world use on typical USB-charged devices, we found
that indeed an output current of up to 1A was available.
However, the unit showed good voltage regulation only with Fig.2. A normal USB cable plugs into the on-board socket, while
power and ground feeds need to be soldered to pads located at the
input voltages from 1.5 to 5.5V.
other end of the board.

Control and efficiency

The module features a pot that allows you to adjust
the output voltage to precisely 5V, with an adjustable
output range of 3.3 to 9V.
Conversion efficiency is claimed to be 94 per cent and
while we did not directly measure this, in operation
the module stayed quite cool.

Use with flat batteries

Fig.1. This tiny module is able to charge your phone or other USB-
charged device while being powered from voltages well below the 5V
USB nominal output.
So what use is this device? Well, the major use is as an
emergency charger for a phone. Place the module in a
small box along with a dual AA cell holder, add a switch
and you have an emergency supply that can be used to
charge a phone, using only readily-available AA cells.
Another use is if you get sick of throwing away bat-
teries that, while down a bit in voltage, are not fully
discharged. This can be the case if you use devices that
freeze if the voltage drops too far so you end up with
a bunch of cells still showing 1.3 or 1.4V. What a waste
to throw them away!
Place two cells in series and this module will charge
a USB device even when the series cells voltage is
down to just 2V!
 Fig.3. Heres the charging module in action. Being powered
by two near-flat D cells (series voltage of the pair is just 2.2V,
as shown on the multimeter), the module is charging an iPad
Air at 120mA and 5.0V. The tiny module is nearly lost from
sight in this pic its at the middle, bottom of the photo.

However, theres a qualification that needs to be

made. Batteries in most modern USB-charged de-
vices have a lot of capacity. Charging via a couple
of AA cells (or even two D cells!) isnt going to take
your iPad from empty to full the cells dont have
enough stored energy capacity. But as an emergency
charge if youre back-packing or hiking, sure.
While we didnt try it, this may also be a useful
module to use with solar cells developing less
than 5V.

Sourcing
And what will the module cost you? Well under
2, delivered to your letter box!
Not all of them are the same
At the time of writing, it could be found on eBay
Not all of these USB boost converters are the same! This one,
by searching for item No. 141662415264.
also purchased, proved to have poor performance. In real-world
You may also be able to find it by searching under
charging use we were unable to gain a greater output than
USB Solar Boost DC-DC 3V-5V Adjustable Power
240mA and output voltage regulation was poor.
Supply Voltage Converter Module NEW, or vari-
ants of that phrase.

Next month
Heres a project that is not just good fun, but you
end up with a useful torch that will never get flat
batteries and will last a very long time.

Fig.4. A dud be careful what you buy!

Next month Build your own hand-powered LED torch!

5DGLR
The magazine for all vintage
radio enthusiasts.

%\JRQHV
Covers:

Domestic radio and TV
Amateur radio

Military, aeronautical or marine communications
Radar or radio navigation
June/Ju
ly 2014
Issue No.
149

Broadcasting
Radio sytems
ISSN 0956
-974 X

A Very Large
Eddystone Re
ceiver
Subscribe to Radio Bygones
(available by postal subscription):
1 year (4 issues)
UK 18.00; Europe 19.50; Rest of the World 23.00
Kolster-Brande
The Writings
s 840
OR
G3OGR Par Of Francis Geo
rge Rayer,
The Valve Era
t1
: A Whistful Bac
kwards Glance
Download your PDF copies, only 8.00 for one year
www.radiobygo
nes.com
RB Front Cover.ind
d 1

30/04/2014
11:45:13
Tel: 01202 880299 or visit: www.radiobygones.com