Solar powered Ipod Charger

This is what happens when I get left alone for too long....

I started thinking, "Wouldn't it be nice to have some music whilst we are out and about.." Now the Ipod Nano I have is only good for about 5hrs, which won't be much use over a few days paddling. So I started researching and came up with the below diagram.

I managed to get a few garden lamps and set about taking them apart...

Straight away though it was obvious that they would not kick out enough power. The Ipod needs a steady 5v to charge and one of these pannels was only kicking out about 1.5v

I needed a re think. I ended up biting the bullet and ordering a decent 13cm x 13cm 6v 250mah and whilst waiting for it to arrive built the Minty boost kit that had already arrived.

The solar pannel came a few days later and I have tested it, in shade and a dim overcast day, it easily kickis out 6v so will be perfect. I am just waiting for a couple of JST connectors to arrive and the whole thing will be ready to build in as the canoe comes togeather.

Have had a re think and also bought a small amplifier (18w) which should be plenty and have now re done the diagram as follows..

Also found a some tactile transducers, which might work great hidden inside the bulk head and mean less hole cutting....we shall see!