How to Hack a Hand Cranked Flashlight for Emergency Power

You may have a dead cell phone or other small electronic device that requires recharging via a wall outlet, but don't have an adapter. Learn how to hack a hand crank flashlight to generate power to recharge your cell phone or portable music device.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hand cranked flashlight
• Device
• Device adapter
• Wire cutters
• Soldering equipment

1. Understand how a hand cranked flashlight works. These flashlights don't require batteries, which makes them a good source or emergency light. You only have to turn the handle to generate the electricity needed to light the lights.

2. Take apart your hand cranked flashlight carefully. Look for the button cells and small generator inside.

3. Get a car adapter for the device you will need to charge. Cut off the end of the cord that you would normally put into the outlet in a vehicle.

4. Check the polarity so that you will know where the wires from the adapter will go. Solder the wires from the adapter to the contacts of the button cells.

5. Cut a space at the end of the flashlight that the cord can fit through and put the case back together. Crank the flashlight for a few minutes and then plug the adapter into your device and check to see if it is charging.

Tips & Warnings

• Hack the flashlight before you will actually need an emergency source of power for your device and then keep it with you.
• Practice with an old device and adaptor that you don't need anymore so you can be sure you are doing it correctly.
• Don't solder wires if you don't know how and understand the necessary precautions.

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