Inexpensive Solar Panel to Charge Your Smartphone

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Update: We're starting to build a prototype for this product. Stay tuned for more updates.

I've devised a stationary system for using a solar pannel to charge a smartphone that replaces the use of a wall outlet and doesn't cost the consumer an arm and a leg.

A very small solar panel (4.8 volts, 100mA), hung on a window, could load a rechargeable battery over 6-8 hours with enough capacity that, when full, can fully charge a mobile device.

Assumptions:
Smartphones are generally charged at night, trickle charge takes between 6-8 hours.

Here's how it works:
The solar panel is suction cupped to the window which receives maximum sun exposer. The panel is tethered to a desktop component which consists of a rechargeable battery, LED capacity indicators and a female USB port. The desktop component is intended to sit on the nightstand where the smartphone is usually charged and is designed aesthetically so. The battery in the desktop component is charged by the solar panel during the day and stores the load for later use. The power cable for the smartphone is a connected to the desktop component and the smartphone. At night, when the smartphone is connected, the stored energy would be transfered to the battery of the smartphone. This alleviates the use of a wall outlet almost all together.

The desktop component will have to have an auxiliary cable that will always connect to a wall outlet as a backup. This secondary system assists in the event of a poor solar charge due to sunlight obstruction (weather or otherwise) so the smartphone will still be charged. The battery from the desktop component with always be depleted first then a low powered trickle from the wall outlet will provide the addition sustaining charge.

Justification:
It would take a 9 watt solar pannel to high-power charge an iPhone or similar device. This is costly to the consumer and is not required because time period in which these devices are usually charged is during the night. This means using a much smaller panel to trickle charge a rechargeable battery over a longer period of time is much more efficient both cost and energy consumption. At the moment, all solar systems are set up in this traditional way which is reflected in the cost therefor are not practical to the consumer. Using this solar trickle charging method will allow for a huge competitive egde in the market.

Notes:
This system could also be retrofitted to work in a car.
The desktop component could also be designed to be hidden.

Recycle Cans Win a Vacation

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Here's a great idea. A travel company that works strictly off of recycled cans. Set up vacations that are set at a certain 'can' prices. Potential customers/clients pay solely through recycled cans.

Say a vacation costs $1000/person, and cans are bringing in 5 cents a piece, 20,000 cans covers your cost. Charge a 25,000 can donation and turn a profit. This is basically a fundraiser for the average Joe.

Can an average Joe go to IUP and collect 25,000 cans for a vacation? If he/she has enough motivation, he/she sure as hell can (might just take a home coming weekend +). What about collecting cans for the next 4 years, for a weekend getaway? No problem!

Do nothing. Collect cans. Pay in vacations. Earn lots.

cellPIG has done it again! Holy pig doo doo he's a wiz.

cellPIG.com OINK! Complements of Mike and Bryan

Armpit Exfoliant for Smelly Pits

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Do you ever have the not-so-fresh feeling even after you get out of the shower? Sometimes even the best soap can't get that odor out! Don't let your stinky armpits keep you from your friends!

Face it, everyone has this problem sometimes! Our armpits are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. The bacteria builds up in the wrinkles in the skin and on the hair follicles. This causes, what I like to call, defriendus stinkus which is a horrible social epidemic. It causes you to be smelly and then your friends don't want to hang out with you anymore. This happened to me recently so instead of washing my pits with bodywash I used exfoliating face wash which seemed to do the trick. The exfoliation and extra care spent on this body part got the bacteria and the smell out and I was able to hang out with my friends once again.

This exfoliating soap for smelly problem areas should be marketed to the consumer. Take a look at the deodorant isle to see all the "clinical strength" and super ulta deodorant and antiperspirants already flooding the market. People are worried about their smelly armpits and they should have another solution to turn to. This product should specifically target the armpit area.

Note: I hope this is developed by a soap company that uses eco-friendly materials as exfoliants. There's some companies out there using plastic bits that get washed down the drain and straight into the ocean.

TWP: Hotel Key Cards

This Week's Problem: "I travel for work, stay in a lot of hotels and always seem to end up with 3,428 hotel key cards at the end of the year. 1. Is there something I can do with these (eco-wise)? 2. Can anyone come up with a better idea for frequent travelers' room keys?"  

Jason C. say, "Eco-wise you should drop them at the front desk, so they can reuse them. However they could be made into guitar picks."


Thanks to Jason for his response to This Week's Problem!

Laser Perforated Reusable Coffee Filter

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The time has come to get out of the dark ages with at-home drip brewing coffee makers. Every week I throw away 7-10 coffee filters which is not an environmentally conscience act therefor I submit to the jury a an answer to this problem:

A reusable, machine washable coffee filter. This laser perforated metal bowl comes in all standard sizes to fit existing appliances. Simply wash out the bowl and reuse. The perforations allow the coffee to leach into the coffee pot while retaining the grounds in the vessel.





Notes: The amount of perforations depends on the amount of coffee and the size of the appliance. This will need some experimenting to get the exact proportions.

Garbage Disposal Replacement

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A eco-chemical food digester in the place of a garbage disposal.