My USB rechargeable NicoStick

[Dave Rickey]

I woould also like to make a 5v rechargeable but that would reuire balancing the batteries. Once I perfect the single battery I will start researching that.

What you need is a boost regulator (finding one in the right amperage and input voltage will be fun, trust me). You trade a higher current drain from the battery for a higher and regulated output voltage. Don't use this without some kind of cell protection, as Bad Things will happen. But it will let you get 5V off a single cell, which will let you use one big cell rather than two small ones (more energy density) or a cell-phone flat-pack (more flexibility in form factor in general).

Been playing around with some ideas using a gumstick battery, that being as close as flatpacks come to a standard size that's useful for our purposes (roughly the same as an old-style 5-piece pack of Wrigley's, hence the name).

--Dave

 

[tornicgr]

What you need is a boost regulator (finding one in the right amperage and input voltage will be fun, trust me). You trade a higher current drain from the battery for a higher and regulated output voltage. Don't use this without some kind of cell protection, as Bad Things will happen. But it will let you get 5V off a single cell, which will let you use one big cell rather than two small ones (more energy density) or a cell-phone flat-pack (more flexibility in form factor in general).

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/modders-forum/34050-do-yourself-mirage-e-cig-battery-mod.html


Been there, done that... Trust me works great! See video on last post

And instead of using an "on board" USB charger, I use external one with normal common jack.

Thanos

 

[hittman]

Sorry if I am not understanding how this was done but I would like to add the usb charger to my nicostick. I was wondering if someone could give a link to buy the charger board and the ic used. A little brief instructional would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[cybervex]

The MAX1811 charger chip is what you want. You can get a free sample from Maxim-ic.com or purchase at newark.com for $5. You will also need a couple capacitors. As far as the board goes, I make my own. It was very hard fit everything and time consuming using breakout boards from sparkfun.

Using breakout boards

My own custom PCB

 

[hittman]

Thanks Cybervex. It sounds a little confusing to me. Once you get some more, would you consider selling one or two of your custom pcb's?

 

[cybervex]

. A little brief instructional would be much appreciated. Thanks guys!

My process is anything but brief.


WOOHOO this was my 100th post Yeah me!

 

[hittman]

I did not mean that your effort was brief. I meant that with a little help that I could probably figure it out. I have seen several of your mods and can tell that a lot of time and effort go into making this one and some of the others. I really like your work on these and just thought it would be great if I could add a usb charger to the nicostick that I use every day. I am not an electronics expert but have some knowledge and still need a little help.

 

[cybervex]

Are you going to try retro fitting a already made Nicostick. If so, how many milimeters do you have between the switch and the end where the wires used to exit the box.

I dont mind helping with the info

 

[hittman]

The one I have only has 10mm between the switch and the end and there is about 25mm between the switch and the battery connector. I could start over and build a new on if that would better.