Need a truly portable Linux computer? Over on NODE, Chris Robinson shows how build a Linux-powered computer inside a USB charger for ultimate portability.
Once you get this set up, all you need to do is plug it into the wall. You can set it up as a TOR relay, a media server, a personal VPN, or whatever else you want to use a Linux machine for.
The guts are made from an ODROID-W development board, which is compatible with the Raspberry Pi and Raspbian. You’ll also need a USB charger, a Wi-Fi adaptor, a micro SD card, and a few other materials to build everything.
Putting everything together isn’t crazy complicated, but you will need to do some soldering, and since you’ll be working with electrical components it’s important to follow Robinson’s guide closely.
How to Convert a USB Charger Into a Tiny Linux Computer [NODE]
Comments
4 responses to “Convert A USB Charger Into A Linux Computer”
This will void the hell out of your home and contents insurance in the event of a house fire
Should you really be posting this? Sure, it sounds interesting, but you’re encouraging people (no further qualifier included) to make this and then insert it into a live power socket…
http://i.imgur.com/oWrQ9D9.jpg
Flame throwers are also interesting.
I reckon that IF, and I mean IF, some person wants to attempt to replicate the rig, then that person, IF really interested, is highly likely to have 1 the know how to build it and 2 if has the know how, isn’t too worried about plugging some he/she built into the mains. The worst that could happen? You fry you contraption or less importantly you’ll blow a fuse or jump the mains.
I’ve been doing hobby electronics for 30 years and yes I’ve “tasered” myself a couple of times on AC240V and i’m still writing to you now (AC110V is far more dangerous because it needs higher amps, makes you stick instead of jolting you off like at 240V). Safety regarding HV is a must for sure and homes ares in general equipped with the necessary electrical mains circuit cutters just in case & typically burning your home down won’t be caused by a short circuit in the mains anymore, but more of the apparatus inducing a hot spot that burns something flammable in its vicinity (say a hot wire of an high rated appliance on a skinny wire) or catching fire on it’s own (my mum set fire to her kitchen, twice, forgetting to clear out the crumbs from the toaster).
Still the post is about the Tiny Linux, for me it’s pointless and dangerous to incite others to do the same thing. But stick it in some power pack with a battery, making it portable now that’s a way better option in my books.
“(AC110V is far more dangerous because it needs higher amps, makes you stick instead of jolting you off like at 240V)”
Ummmm…. say what now? How, why, what?
And you have LV in your home HV is 1kv and over
Amps are the real killers, not the volts.
Think of electricity like a water hose, Voltage is the pressure of the water in the hose. When you block the hose, water is not coming out, but pressure is still building up. Amps is the amount of water coming through the hose and watts is the total outflow in litres per minute.
In the following you can see that you can have more volts and less amps and still get the same wattage as the vice versa.
5v x 2A = 2v x 5A = 10w
A way of thinking of the lethality of amps is thinking of the concentration of solutions.
If you dilute 2ml of acid in 5ml of water, and 5ml of acid in 2ml of water, which is more lethal? I think you get my point.