tech.nocr.at » volta

Boost USB Port Voltage

Frank — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 00:49:16 +0000

Most larger gadgets that recharge via USB require at least 10 watts of power like Apple’s iPad. The iXP1-500 dongle claims it will allow devices to recharge from underpowered USB ports.

I’m not quite sure how they accomplish this for $5, but I assume it must have some sort of capacitor inside that stores juice from these underpowered ports and then sends it down the USB port.

XMultiple Technologies (the makers of the iXP1-500) say that its “100% guaranteed to work”. Hocus pocus or simple electronics? I’m not sure, but if anyone out there gets one be sure to let us know.

Boost USB Port Voltage originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2010/08/20. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

Replace Batteries With USB Power

Frank — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:32:24 +0000

If you can avoid using disposable batteries then you should. Landfills are full of them and we are doing nothing more than killing our environment by using them. I know that rechargeable batteries are better, but there is always the hassle of having to recharge them and then you eventually have to toss them out as well.

When Apple recently released their desktop trackpad I was surprised to see that it was using batteries as opposed to USB power. Apparently others thought the same thing and did something about it.

Markbog over at the MacRumors.com forums did just that. He crafted together a battery size dowel and stripped down a USB cable to make it all happen.

I’m assuming the trackpad must have a voltage regulator or voltage step up since 2 AA batteries only give off 3V and the USB power spec if 5V. Either way, it seems to be working just fine for him.

Replace Batteries With USB Power originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2010/08/20. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

Batteries For The Web 2.0 Generation

Frank — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:59:22 +0000

Seriously, why has no other company come up with the idea of creating sexy looking batteries? We have gradients on every web 2.0 website out there, why not some colour on our batteries too?

Well first off, most devices that use batteries keep them hidden so nobody will ever see the flashy looking skin to your powercell and secondly, does it really matter? DC power is DC power. It’s doesn’t matter if it comes from a black and copper Duracell or a Volta.

[Link to Volta Battery Packaging]

Batteries For The Web 2.0 Generation originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2009/11/03. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

Crush Your Cans With Electricity

Frank — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:39:28 +0000

Why would you crush your empty pop or beer cans with your foot or even your head when you could lug out a device that’s 30x the size of the can and probably use more electricity than the actual cost of the can? Because you can, that’s why.

By using a high voltage source and some large capacitors you can build your very own electromagnetic can crushing machine. Just remember that this is extremely dangerous. You are talking about an insane amount of electricity that’s flowing here and it will definitely kill you if something goes wrong. If you choose to not heed our warning and want more info on the project then you can visit Bob Davis’s blog, the creator of the device.

Crush Your Cans With Electricity originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2009/10/29. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

DIY: Add USB Ports To Your Alarm Clock

Frank — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:20:34 +0000

Every night I fall asleep listening to my iPod, and every morning I wake up with it dead as a door nail. This cleaver hack actually came to me via my wife. She said “You put USB ports in everything else, why not the alarm clock”. So I did. As you can see from an old episode of The Lab With Leo some time ago I demonstrated exactly how you go about adding some powered USB ports to your alarm clock to keep everything from your cell phone to iPod fully charged.

Here’s what your gonna need.

Alarm Clock with an internal power supply of 9–12V DC
PCB Mounted USB Port
+5V Fixed Voltage Regulator (7805)
Multimeter

First thing you want to do is open up your alarm clock and make sure that the internal power supply is giving out 9–12V DC using your multimeter.

Once we have satisfied those requirements, your going to want to find a suitable location to house the usb port, something that will not interfere with the internal componets of the alarm clock once you put it back together

With the USB port mounted you are going to want to wire the USB port and the 7805 as per the instructions that come with the voltage regulator. Make sure to leave enough slack with regards to wiring if you ever need to open the alarm clock back up again.

Voila, power to your usb device via your alarm clock.

DIY: Add USB Ports To Your Alarm Clock originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2008/09/08. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

© tech.nocr.at 2008 | Permalink | 2 Comments | Read more in Hacking And Security | Explore more in: 7805, ac, alarm, alarm clock, arm, cat, cell phone, clock, dead, diy, door, ds, ea, fix, hack, hacking, house, id, ipod, ir, iso, lab with leo, lock, make, open, os, pc, pcb, pen, phone, power, ring, tag, time, tor, ui, usb, volta, wire | Add to del.icio.us | Stumble it | Reddit

How To: Make A Water Gun Alarm Clock

Frank — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:20:07 +0000

Having trouble waking up in the morning? If you are anything like me then anything short of an earthquake just doesn’t cut it. I know that shooting yourself with a water gun to wake you up might not be the smartest of ideas, but then again you could always keep some soap near the bed and shower at the same time.

To build your very own Water Gun Alarm Clock you will need the following …

battery operated alarm clock
motorized water gun
some 16 gauge wire
wire strippers
voltage relay switch
breadboard circuit
soldering gun

You could really clean this design up if you have some soldering skills by soldering the wires right to the relay switch, but you have to have some nimble hands to make sure you don’t short anything out.

How To: Make A Water Gun Alarm Clock originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2008/08/31. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

© tech.nocr.at 2008 | Permalink | 2 Comments | Read more in Hacking And Security | Explore more in: ac, alarm, alarm clock, arm, avi, battery, circuit, clock, design, ds, ea, follow, gun, hack, hacking, id, ir, irc, lock, make, motorized, rc, ring, rip, switch, tag, time, tor, ui, volta, water, water gun, wire | Add to del.icio.us | Stumble it | Reddit

DIY: USB Switched Power Strip

Frank — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:26:23 +0000

Instructable user toymotorhead cobbled together this USB controller power strip to ensure that his devices turned off automatically when he shut down his computer as well as turn them on once he turned his computer on. All-in-all he spent about $30 on the contraption.

The unit consists of a solid state relay, some fuses, and some transient voltage surge suppressing diodes. The unit is also isolated from the motherboard to protect his computer from any unwanted nasty power spikes. The unit current just switches the power supply off and by by measuring the current of the usb connection and doesn’t use any fancy software to control the unit.

It’s a fairly easy project to build, but remember, your working with some high voltage here so make sure to take all precautions necessary so you don’t fry yourself.

[Link to building a USB switched power strip]

DIY: USB Switched Power Strip originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 2008/08/18. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.

Cell Phone Stun Gun

Frank — Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000

Remember the Small Fry 1,000,000 Volt Mini Stun Gun we reported on a few weeks ago? Well, this one is just that one step better.

This cell phone in disguise is a high voltage stun gun delivering up to 900,000 volts of electricity to all the bad guys around (and yourself if you so choose). Only two buttons actually work on this unit, the LIGHT button activates a built in 12 LED flash light and the STUN button does just that. Remember, don’t get them confused.

Cell Phone Stun Gun originally appeared on tech.nocr.at on 1999/11/29. Reproduction of content not allowed without consent.