drag2share: Hack an Ikea Solar Lamp to Charge an iPad [Weekend Project]

Source: http://lifehacker.com/5856674/hack-an-ikea-solar-lamp-to-charge-an-ipad

In the past we've covered how to turn the inexpensive Ikea Sunnan solar lamp into a solar display case and today we have a hack from electronics manufacturer Voltaic Systems to turn the same lamp into a solar charging station for an iPad or other power-hungry phone or tablet.

This hack is actually three mini-hacks rolled into one—Voltaic shows how to replace the low-capacity rechargeable batteries in the lamp's battery pack with larger batteries, mod the lamp to accept additional external solar panels, and adding a modified Minty Boost charging circuit to allow devices to pull up to 1 Amp of electricity.

When these three mini-hacks are combined you will have upgraded a novelty lamp into a robust charging station that can charge smart phones and tablets much more quickly than the tiny solar panel included on the lamp. This project will require around $50 and is accessible for beginner electronics hobbyists who know how to solder.

Mod the IKEA Sunnan to Charge an iPad 2 | Voltaic Systems

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