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How to Charge a Cell Phone from a 1.5V Battery

Last Updated on May 17, 2019 by Swagatam 17 Comments

In this post I have explained a very simple charging a cell phone from a 1.5v battery utilizing merely a 1.5V as the input source. The source can be any 1.5V cell rated at minimum 1000 mAH.

Table of Contents
  • Circuit Operation

Circuit Operation

The circuit description is provided below, let's try to understand the working principle of the proposed cell phone charger circuit using a 1.5V source.

The circuit of a phone charger bears a simple design, with two surface-mount transistors, an inductor, diode, resistor and LED.

However, it should be noted that, one transistor acts as a controller while the other as FET. As the controller gets power from the output (5v) of the circuit, and detecting no-load; the same shuts down.

Moreover it requires very less current. Connecting the 1v5 battery, the controller initiates using less than 1v5 because of the Schottkey diode, charging the 1uF capacitor with the use of FET and flyback effect of the inductor; thus producing high voltage.

With the voltage of output set to 5v, the controller goes in ‘Off’ state, and the only load managed by the 1uF is the controller. As the voltage falls across the capacitor, the controller turns on in bursts, thereby charging the 1uF to 5v.

The method of charging a cell phone from a 1.5v battery is very cheap and can be made at as low as $3, and it also comes with 4 adapter leads.

Submitted By: Dhrubajyoti Biswas

Circuit Diagram

warning message: electricity is dangerous, proceed with caution
charge cell phone with 1.5V battery

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About Swagatam

I am an electronics engineer with over 15 years of hands-on experience. I am passionate about inventing, designing electronic circuits and PCBs, and helping hobbyists bring their projects to life. That is why I founded homemade-circuits.com, a website where I share innovative circuit ideas and tutorials. Have a circuit related question? Leave a comment.... I guarantee a reply!

Previous Post: « 2 Best Current Limiter Circuits Explained
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Unknown says

    October 18, 2016 at 6:35 pm

    HI Can you show bulding this Circuit step by step and with the Pic of the components

    Reply
  2. Sherwin Baptista says

    July 3, 2015 at 7:36 am

    Dear,
    I prepared this circuit after understanding its concept and it worked well, but with some modifications done;
    1. i used 3v as input supply. i also added a 330u 25v cap at input rail.
    2. i made the circuit keeping the 1uf cap temporarily disconnected, i got a no-load voltage of 19v(18.93 on dmm)
    3. i used 2 2n7000 fets parallel in circuit.
    4. i used toroidal inductor with 10t of normal solid wire.
    5. i removed led and resistor, connected to o/p rail.
    6. i used a 10u35v cap at o/p in place of 1u.
    7. i added a zener and resistor network to give 5v.
    now i got 5.13 volts.
    8. finally, i added a 10u35v tantalum and the whole circuit is now complete.
    Thanks, sir for this basic circuit design,
    Your circuits are really helpful.
    Now i can call it my own power bank circuit.

    Regards

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      July 3, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      Dear Sherwin, that's very impressive, thanks for updating the info….and if it's possible you can send the pics of your circuit for publishing, ….only if it's extremely convenient

      Reply
  3. Sherwin Baptista says

    June 20, 2015 at 4:51 pm

    Dear,
    1. Using a duracell, what could be the efficiency of the circuit?
    2. Could i use a toroidal core for the inductor since i have them on hand? Is the inductance value crucial here?
    3. What changes should i make if i use 3v as input supply?
    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      June 21, 2015 at 6:29 am

      Dear, the above circuit has not been tested by me, so I can't suggest much about it… I would rather recommend you to try the following circuit instead:

      https://www.homemade-circuits.com/2012/10/1-watt-led-driver-using-joule-thief.html

      Reply
  4. Sherwin Baptista says

    January 30, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Hello dear,
    what type of diode is ss14?
    plese help.

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      February 1, 2015 at 3:48 am

      hello Sherwin, it's a fast recovery, zero drop type of diode

      Reply
  5. won's work says

    August 14, 2013 at 5:04 am

    Hi Dear swagatham,
    can I use BAT54 Schottkey diode or any other in place of SS14?

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 15, 2013 at 4:13 am

      Dear Won,

      Actually I have not tested this circuit so not very sure, you can try the part and check how it functions

      Reply
    • won's work says

      August 16, 2013 at 10:55 am

      OK Dear I'll,thank you very much! I really like your works and your kindness to give an answer for everyone's question!
      Good job…!

      Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 16, 2013 at 3:56 pm

      The pleasures's all mine:)

      Reply
  6. Unknown says

    August 3, 2013 at 12:03 pm

    BBV93 BF245A equivalent

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      August 4, 2013 at 5:48 am

      both are n-channel fets, so might work as a replacement

      Reply
  7. Aditya Soni says

    July 25, 2013 at 2:53 am

    Dear
    Can you give some more detail about inductor for correct purchase?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Swagatam says

      July 25, 2013 at 1:25 pm

      It has to be hand made, it might not be available in the market.

      Reply
  8. Swagatam says

    July 14, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    both are n-channel fets, so it might work

    Reply
  9. Unknown says

    July 14, 2013 at 10:41 am

    BBV93 BF245A equivalent

    Reply

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