$5 Pocket Solar Battery for QRP Radio Transceiver
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$5 Pocket Solar Battery for QRP Radio Transceiver
![IMG_6480.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3S/N9L8/IC5C5X5D/F3SN9L8IC5C5X5D.jpg&filename=IMG_6480.JPG)
It seems too good to be true but you can put a pocket solar powered battery on your QRP radio for $5.
You'll need a soldering iron and a few odd's and ends.
Get the Goods
- First, head over to ebay and pick up a Solio Mono-A for $3 free shipping.
- And get a 4-pole audio jack for $1.00.
- You will also need a 47k ohm resistor. 1/4 watts should be fine.
- A foot or so of 4 conductor wire is needed.
Fire Up the Iron!
![plug.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FP8/TFXY/IC6HTOGS/FP8TFXYIC6HTOGS.png&filename=plug.png)
![IMG_6482.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGO/YRZT/IC5C5X5F/FGOYRZTIC5C5X5F.jpg&filename=IMG_6482.JPG)
- Solder one conductor of the wire to the connections for the 4 pole jack.
- Make a note of which wire goes to the tip and each sleeve.
- The tip is the positive voltage.
- There are three rings. The center ring is the ground.
- The other two rings are for the resistor. Solder the 47k resistor to the wire going to these outer rings.
Power
![IMG_6483.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHH/P758/IC5C5X5J/FHHP758IC5C5X5J.jpg&filename=IMG_6483.JPG)
- You can plug the jack into the solar battery now.
- Push the button on the solar battery and wait a few seconds
- The light should start flashing red.
- You should now have 10 volts on the power wires.
CQ CQ..
![QRP Radio with $5 solar powered battery!](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKA/93U8/IC5C610A/FKA93U8IC5C610A.jpg&filename=QRP Radio with $5 solar powered battery!)
All that is left is to power up and CQ!