Adjustable Solar Charger Prototype Design
Budget: $50 – $150 USD
I need a full end-to-end design for a portable charger that can power smartphones, laptops, and tablets while letting the user pick the exact volts, amps, or watts on the fly. The unit must hit up to 20 V—whether that requires a buck-boost stage or a straight 20 V rail is up to you—but it also has to step down cleanly for lower-power devices.
Power sources
• Primary: an internal rechargeable pack that the user tops up from the wall.
• Secondary: an integrated solar panel big enough to keep the pack alive in daylight; sensible MPPT or equivalent tracking is essential so the panel actually does useful work.
Outputs
The enclosure needs 4 clearly labeled ports: USB Type-C, Micro USB, Usb, and wireless charging. USB Type-C must negotiate higher voltages for laptops; the others can stay at 5 V yet still benefit from the adjustable current feature.
User interface
A simple knob, slider, or small OLED with buttons is fine so long as the user can see and set volts, amps, or watts directly. Built-in protection for over-current, over-temp, and reverse polarity is expected.
Deliverables
1. Schematic and PCB layout (Altium, KiCad, or equivalent).
2. Component BOM with ordering links.
3. Firmware/source for any microcontroller or USB-PD controller used.
4. Mechanical files for the enclosure that accommodates the solar panel and ports.
5. Test report confirming the unit holds 20 V under load and that solar charging reaches advertised performance.
I’m happy to iterate quickly if you flag component lead times or supply-chain issues early. Show me a few portfolio examples of power-electronics work and we can get started right away.
Power sources
• Primary: an internal rechargeable pack that the user tops up from the wall.
• Secondary: an integrated solar panel big enough to keep the pack alive in daylight; sensible MPPT or equivalent tracking is essential so the panel actually does useful work.
Outputs
The enclosure needs 4 clearly labeled ports: USB Type-C, Micro USB, Usb, and wireless charging. USB Type-C must negotiate higher voltages for laptops; the others can stay at 5 V yet still benefit from the adjustable current feature.
User interface
A simple knob, slider, or small OLED with buttons is fine so long as the user can see and set volts, amps, or watts directly. Built-in protection for over-current, over-temp, and reverse polarity is expected.
Deliverables
1. Schematic and PCB layout (Altium, KiCad, or equivalent).
2. Component BOM with ordering links.
3. Firmware/source for any microcontroller or USB-PD controller used.
4. Mechanical files for the enclosure that accommodates the solar panel and ports.
5. Test report confirming the unit holds 20 V under load and that solar charging reaches advertised performance.
I’m happy to iterate quickly if you flag component lead times or supply-chain issues early. Show me a few portfolio examples of power-electronics work and we can get started right away.