Thesis Abstract

Abstract
The construction of a solar phone battery charger involves combining solar energy technology with portable electronic device charging capabilities. This project aims to design and build a portable charger that can harness solar energy to charge mobile phone batteries. The charger will consist of photovoltaic solar panels, a charge controller, a battery storage system, and output ports compatible with various phone models. The design process includes selecting appropriate solar panels with the necessary voltage and current ratings to efficiently convert sunlight into electrical energy. A charge controller will regulate the flow of energy from the solar panels to the battery, ensuring safe and efficient charging. The battery storage system will store the harvested solar energy for later use when charging mobile devices, providing a reliable power source even in low light conditions. The construction of the solar phone battery charger involves integrating these components into a compact and durable housing that is easy to transport and use outdoors. The output ports will be designed to accommodate different phone charging cables, making the charger compatible with a wide range of mobile devices. The charger will also include LED indicators to display the charging status and battery level, providing users with real-time information on the charging process. The performance of the solar phone battery charger will be tested under various lighting conditions to evaluate its efficiency and charging speed. The project will also assess the charger's durability and reliability in outdoor environments to ensure its suitability for off-grid use. User feedback will be collected to identify areas for improvement and optimization in future iterations of the design. Overall, the construction of a solar phone battery charger offers a sustainable and eco-friendly solution for charging mobile devices on the go. By harnessing solar energy, this project aims to reduce reliance on traditional grid electricity and provide a renewable power source for electronic devices. The successful implementation of this project could have significant implications for off-grid communities, outdoor enthusiasts, and environmentally conscious individuals looking to stay connected without relying on non-renewable energy sources.

Thesis Overview

Nigeria as the largest country in Africa with a population of about 148 million is facing the challenge of erratic power supply. This is because not less than 60% of the population has limited or no access to affordable electricity, hence there is need to stem the energy crisis in the nation. Due to the increasing population of Nigeria, there has been a corresponding increase in power demand without a reliable supply to meet such. The short fall in the supply of electricity in this country especially in the rural settlement where there are inadequate or no grid systems necessitates the need to explore renewable source of energy. Studies has ascertained that stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) system configuration offer an economical substitute to the costly grid extensions in rural areas in the world. Small scale affordable production of solar energy can be used in the charging of phones as well as lighting in the rural areas.

 

Solar power as a renewable energy source, is gaining wide spread acceptance due to the availability of technical know-how and solar resources.     Like all other renewable energy sources, it evidently has numerous benefits over non‐renewable energy sources, such as coal, oil and nuclear energy etc. as an environmental friendly option of power generation it is non‐polluting, reliable and can produce energy anywhere that there is sunlight. Another major advantage is that solar resources are not going to run out anytime soon. When compare with other sources of res, it has some technical and environmental advantages. Solar power is generated using solar panels, which do not require any major mechanical parts, such as wind turbines. These mechanical parts can break down and cause maintenance issues and can also be quite noisy. Both of these issues are virtually non‐existent with solar panels. Also, the solar cells, that connects together to make up the solar panel; can last up to several decades without replacement. However, there is a shortcoming to solar energy production – energy can only be produce when the sunlight is available. To overcome this, usually solar panels are coupled with back up rechargeable batteries, which can store excess power generated during the period of availability and utilize this in providing energy to systems when there is no sunlight. In this way solar power can be used in residential areas especially for charging of phones and provision of light during the night.

In these systems there is need for voltage regulation of the supply voltage form the solar panel as well as a charging circuit for the rechargeable battery. This   is because the solar panel usually produces an output direct current (dc) voltage which is usually more than that needed to charge the phone as well as charge the rechargeable battery. Therefore there is need for voltage regulation.

For the purpose of this project, the load (phone) to be connected only requires dc input, so dc‐ac conversion is not needed. Instead, dc‐dc conversion would be used to provide the correct power to the system from the power generated by the solar panel.