DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE SOLAR MOBILE CHARGER.
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Date
2026-06-06
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Busitema University
Abstract
The increasing dependence on mobile phones for communication, education, and business has created a growing demand for reliable charging solutions, especially in areas with limited or unreliable electricity supply. This study focused on the design and development of a simple and cost-effective battery-less solar mobile charger powered by solar energy. The system was developed using a 7 V solar panel, an LM7805 voltage regulator, capacitors, resistors, a diode, and a USB charging interface to provide a regulated output suitable for mobile phone charging. The performance of the system was evaluated under varying sunlight conditions by measuring the input voltage, output voltage, and output current at different times of the day. The results showed that the charger performance depended strongly on solar radiation intensity, with output voltage and current increasing toward midday. The maximum output voltage and current obtained were 4.89 V and 117.7 mA, respectively, recorded at 2:00 PM. Although the system successfully converted solar energy into electrical energy, the output current was lower than the charging requirements of most modern smartphones, resulting in slow charging. Nevertheless, the study demonstrated the potential of solar energy as a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of power for low-power electronic devices in off-grid areas. The study recommends the use of larger solar panels, improved voltage regulation methods, and energy storage systems to enhance charging efficiency and system reliability.