A week long project to promote maker culture for independent needs.

 

Chakra (center of energy : hindi) is an outdoor/ camping solution to charging devices/ phone and power banks without direct electricity.

Its turbine uses wind/ hydroelectric/ mechanical energy to give voltage output of 5v for stable charging.

 

It can be constructed using daily use objects and electrical components available from any electronics store. This project is in spirit of jugaad and maker culture. Form Inspiration for Chakra comes from the wind turbines on domes of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, India.

 

Wind turbines at NID

Components

cut sections of polypropylene plastic file and crease as shown.glue them together in circular orientation on both ends to form turbine body as shown below.

use pencil and zipties with pvc pipe to make slidable mechanism for turbine. Apply glue between zipties+pencil and pvc pipe. Fix other end of pencil at center of base of turbine

Attach a disc and pvc pipe for turbine attachment.

Solder all connections as shown and add 2 gears for quicker torque.

use with wind/hydro turbine or handcrank handles as required.