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Answer by sp33dstix
Well it is possible and I am sure people have done it before. Only problem that I can see with this is to prevent power surges to your ipod. Also if you do construct one of these make sure to MATCH UP THE VOLTAGES~
If you do not there is a potential(no pun intended) to do some huge damage to your ipod.
Try to look up some circuits used for solar panels to prevent these surges.

Here is someone who has done it before:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Solar-iPod-Charger.htm

It is a really easy circuit that uses a 6 volt solar panel and a voltage regulator to get it down to 5 volts.
Google:
“diy ipod solar charger”
for more info.

Also to improve on your design, I would KEEP the original ipod cable AS IS and use a femal usb port in the circuit. That way you can use this solar charger for any usb device.

http://www.electronics123.net/amazon/pictures/cc088b.jpg

Why waste a perfectly good over priced IPOD cable?

Take Care !

Answer by Brad W
yes, i have used a colapsable solar panel to charge my cell phone and it comes with a usb adapter so im sure you could charge an Ipod with it.

Answer by snoop scotty
I use it all the time works great.

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Answer by Paul in San Diego
Solar panels generate a small DC voltage, not AC. So, you would not need a transformer. But, you would need to wire the cells in series to generate a high enough voltage to recharge the iPod battery (the amount depends on the voltage the iPod uses versus how much each cell puts out). You might even be able to find a pre-constructed multiple-cell solar panel that puts out the correct voltage (12 volts?).

As a rudimentary battery charger for an iPod, this should work. I have seen solar powered battery chargers for cell phones for sale on the internet. The only thing I would be concerned about is regulating the charge current.

Typically, the lithium ion batteries in an iPod would need to have the charge current varied (lower as it reaches full charge) to properly charge the battery without damaging it or reducing its charge capacity. Maybe this circuit it built into an iPod already (which is why you can just charge them off your USB bus or automobile lighter outlet).

Answer by Yash
I found one very good site for science projects and ideas…it helped me a lot..i am very much impressed from their material..and also had some words with their owners.
You should also try this…

http://www.doitscience.com

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Answer by Wordward Nerdlinger
As long as it has the proper voltage and sufficient current.

Current is current – no matter the source.

When you shop, check the specs (in comparison to the battery specs) and ask the sales engineers about your intended use.

Answer by Ivy Vine
Definitely! This is being done all the time, for instance, automatic radio equipment in remote locations, such as mountain tops.

You need a solar panel which produces enough current to keep the battery charged even if you have a couple of cloudy days. You will also want a charge controller to prevent overcharging the battery. These devices monitor the charge on the battery, and disconnect the battery from the solar panel to prevent damage to the battery.

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Answer by jayocular
or another idea, use the wheels turning as generators

Answer by Tom A
You are describing a perpetual motion machine.

Answer by thor
They can as long as you do not anticipate to make the power while the car is moving. Windmills are around 30% efficient. If they were 100% efficient they would not use any more energy than they make. As it is, they use three times as much energy as they could make. Not really a great idea.

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Answer by roderick_young
12v will not charge a 19v laptop at all.

Also, the solar panel’s power output is likely to be low if it’s a cheap panel, and even less if it’s small. A panel that can keep up with a laptop would be on the order of 2 feet by 3 feet.

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Answer by rockblaster13
Here you go

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Answer by Gerry
here i hope this site help you..and also they have mini course on how to build your own wind turbine..

go green!!

http://www.windpowercost.org/

Answer by sparky_dy
If you use open-vented lead-acid batteries and an alternator/rectifier as opposed to a DC generator with commutator, you do not need a charge controller except in the most extreme cases. Any surplus electricity that cannot be stored in the battery simply goes into splitting the electrolyte into hydrogen and oxygen. Just be sure to keep the cells topped up with demineralised water, and disconnect the battery if you smell sulphur (this will only ever happen in cases of severe overcharging).

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Answer by JOHNNIE B
Normal power is measured in kilo watts per hour. It sounds like 10 watts would be very small to do anything.

Answer by Annon
Watts is a measure of energy per second. IE joules per second. 10 watts = 10 joules/second

Car battery capacities will be measured in mAH (milli-Amp hours)
capacities vary greatly even though they will still take a fair while to get charged by such a little power charger.

Answer by jleblanc42
It will put out 10 watts in full sunlight at noon, less at other times of the day. That means 0.83 amps, so just divide the battery capacity (in amp-hours) by 0.8 and you will get an approximate charging time under full sun.

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Answer by pish_01
A battery charger… ya hook the battery charger up to the solar panel. then hook up the charger, and you should be good to go… just make sure the battery charger can work on 10 watts.

Answer by steak5959
Is funny that you want to charge a large Automobile lead-acid battery with a charger that only enuff for a Calculator…

Answer by s l
you can charge a battery with that solar panel if you have a means of connecting it to the battery. many people who have boats or campers which have automobile batteries in them use the pannels to keep the battery charged. you should have something on there to prevent an over charge thats it.

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Answer by sparkchaser
A typical lead-acid battery can safely be “trickle charged” at C/100 rate, where C is the capacity (if you are speaking automobile battery, that is about 50Amp-hours typical). C/100 for a 50Ah battery is 500mA, so 350mA will not injured it. The trickle-charge just overcomes losses due to battery self-discharge, which is fairly high in lead acid batteries. Your current is also limited by the internal impedance of the solar cell and diode.

On a small, 7Ah, 12V battery then, yes, you do run the risk of overcharging if you leave your solar panel connected because you will be charging at about C/20.

Answer by guru
the normal charging rate for batteries is C/10, C/100 is used for keeping the battery fully topped off
you need a controller if the battery is small
small meaning less than about 100 times the charger’s capacity
so for 350 mA a battery of more than 35 AH would not “absolutely” need a controller

however it is always superior to have one!

Guru

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