Solar Powered Kindle - Part 5: Troubleshooting and some success

[Fearlessthinker]

Do you know the milliamps using a normal Kindle USB charger? Does it matter if the Kindle is on or off while you are charging with solar? Perhaps "off" will have an impact on the self discharge issue.

[mjlorton]

@Fearlessthinker Yup, it uses about 450-500 mA....so I was happy to see it will still charge at 200-260 mA. The Kindle will always auto power off so that's the mode (i.e. switched off) I charge it in. I need to use a transistor of sorts to only allow the charging to start once there is enough voltage and current coming from the PV. As I sit here now in the morning (low light) the charge light goes on and off which is what drains the battery....a fun challenge!!