Portable WInd Powered USB Charger

thingiverse

I've been eager to embark on a project like this for some time now, and I finally started experimenting with it, but then work got in the way and I put it on hold. Then I saw Makerbot's Catch The Wind challenge and decided it was time to get back to work and actually make something of it. This device is designed to be a wind-powered USB charger that harnesses the power of the wind and converts it into electricity using a small motor. For those who are unfamiliar, motors and generators are essentially the same devices - when you put electricity into a motor, it spins the shaft, but if you spin the shaft yourself, it puts out electricity. This design uses the power of the wind to spin the shaft of a motor, which then runs electricity through a USB port on the side of the box. This device was designed to fit two other specific components that I've included links for in the instructions, although I may modify them as I continue experimenting with new parts. I've also got a portable battery charger that I leave next to my AC, and it charges perfectly fine. I've found through previous experience that Savonius cups tend to work best at smaller sizes like this since they require less wind to start spinning and will only spin in one direction. As for things I still need to do, I'm working on a lid right now, which should be finished soon. In the future, I plan to add fits for more types of motors, different boxes that can be attached to bikes or cars, and possibly a gear system since the output is a bit lower than I'd like. I've also ordered a voltage regulator, which I hope will allow me to easily regulate the output from there. I'm planning on making separate versions powered by hand cranks and solar panels, but those will be different projects altogether. The solar-powered version should be an easy change, while the hand-cranked one will require some modifications first. I'm open to suggestions, especially when it comes to the electronics - I've got a few parts on order that I want to experiment with too.