Hack a Hand-crank Flashlight

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Power Electricity Free Stilllife Flashlight Light Batteries DIY Science Electronics Hacks Mods Hands Crank
StillLife
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    StillLife
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  • Comments: 6
  • Updated: 22-Mar-08
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  • International International
  • Comments: 15
  • Views: 24,145
  • Added: 24-Feb-08

Here's a hack to turn a cheap hand-crank flashlight into an incredible portable generator with lots of electrical storage. You may never need to worry about running out of batteries again!

  1. Categories: How To, Science & Tech
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Comments on

Hack a Hand-crank Flashlight

15 Comments | Add Comment
  • Voltage

    What about the voltage?

    By mrbister 1208949469 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • terrible!

    Those are lithiums! They will blow up if you don't charge it right!

    By Phazonx 1206237409 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Not that terrible...

      You can't charge them up fast enough with the handcrank to make it dangerous.

      If you were charging them up with a generic battery charger (or anything that plugs into the wall), I would get out the fire extinguisher and wait... :)

      By StillLife 1206249914 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Good.

    Very creative. It is like the movie Mc Guver from Australia.

    By simonwong82381 1203862318 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Cool Idea

    Thats an awesome idea, but using laptop batteries is a little over kill. It takes almost an hour to charge a laptop battery at about an amp or so.

    If you hand crank it at 250 ma MAX, it could take you hours to charge it... You could probably get away with using some old AA NICD or NIMH batteries. This will make it smaller and lighter.

    5/5 for a good idea, check out some of my vids.

    By computerwiz_222 1203859987 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Overkill on batteries was the point :)

      Thanks for the comments (and the rating!)
      I used lithium ion because they are easy to find (and relatively cheap or free for most people)...other types of batteries are definitely an option.

      Agreed that it could take a while to fully charge up the batteries...but I'd be happy enough to use this sucker if I was lost in the woods and needed to give my dead cell phone a charge (or my iPod so I could at least enjoy some music while I'm lost :) )

      By StillLife 1203877064 Reply Spam [+2] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • lol

      good point... I have at least 10 old laptop batteries in my garage lol

      By computerwiz_222 1203879580 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • messed up

    I mean Hand-crank damn I can't spell today

    By timothy32141 1203910777 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • wondering

    I want to know where you can get a hand cranket flashlight at?

    By timothy32141 1203910635 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • You can get them at a number of stores

      You can get them from places like Walmart in the camping goods section or even Home Depot or Radio Shack.
      I bought mine at a local surplus store that sells all sorts of stuff (only paid $4 for it :) )

      By StillLife 1203916672 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • Creative

    Very nice for camping trips, Mind posting the name of what you used for the adapter kit??

    By Limikin 1203906449 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Was a no-name disposable charger kit...

      One of those disposable charger kits that comes with half a dozen connectors. Got it from a local surplus supply store for $5.
      For some examples, you can check out the clearance section at Grace Electronics (UK store...just type that into Google)...wouldn't buy them from there but it should give you an idea of the kind of adaptors you can get.

      By StillLife 1203917126 Reply Spam [+1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Thanky

      Thanks mate, tons of help... Drop by and picker me up one.

      By Limikin 1203939664 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
    • Dollar Stores

      Many dollar stores sell this kit, at least in my area. You get an automotive socket with wire and then you buy the appropriate end for your device. I have never bought one but due to the fact that they are from the dollar store, I would never trust one lol

      By computerwiz_222 1204146290 Reply Spam Moderate Up Moderate Down
  • cool

    awesome duuuuuuuuude. btw mcguyver's from america aint it?

    By superant10002 1204410675 Reply Spam [-1] Moderate Up Moderate Down
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