Courtesy of my local 'everything for a pound shop', Poundland, but I'm sure the hack can be had elsewhere.
They have some some nice looking "Battery Backup Packs" ( ">iPD2" ); about the size of a box of Swan Vesta matches ( pager sized ), 4 x AAA, on-off switch, a small power socket ( which a provided USB socket or other cable plugs into ), slide-off cover for the batteries and a top section which holds the PCB for switch and socket. It's got a pre-moulded pocket/belt clip on its rear.
Converting to 2 or 3 x AAA is easy, as is cutting down the switch PCB. Insert a panel mount 3.5mm jack in the hole where the power socket went ( or fly a cable out of it ), add a dead-bug wired PICAXE with the download circuit ( in the space at the top, or where the removed battery were ), and you've got an instant 'go anywhere PICAXE demo platform'.
Ideal for software testing with results back via SERTXD, and adding LED's etc shouldn't be much harder - all praise the inventor of hot glue !
Might even make for a nice personal temperature data-logger.
Find an emergency charger which has a USB socket, and you should be able to convert that to run straight from a PC's USB cable, no batteries required - you'll still need a serial download cable unless you fit a USB-to-serial inside.
With the model I got, with the power socket removed that can be added to any PICAXE board and the USB plug-in used to deliver power from USB.
And finally ... The end result looks a lot better than an Altoids tin
They have some some nice looking "Battery Backup Packs" ( ">iPD2" ); about the size of a box of Swan Vesta matches ( pager sized ), 4 x AAA, on-off switch, a small power socket ( which a provided USB socket or other cable plugs into ), slide-off cover for the batteries and a top section which holds the PCB for switch and socket. It's got a pre-moulded pocket/belt clip on its rear.
Converting to 2 or 3 x AAA is easy, as is cutting down the switch PCB. Insert a panel mount 3.5mm jack in the hole where the power socket went ( or fly a cable out of it ), add a dead-bug wired PICAXE with the download circuit ( in the space at the top, or where the removed battery were ), and you've got an instant 'go anywhere PICAXE demo platform'.
Ideal for software testing with results back via SERTXD, and adding LED's etc shouldn't be much harder - all praise the inventor of hot glue !
Might even make for a nice personal temperature data-logger.
Find an emergency charger which has a USB socket, and you should be able to convert that to run straight from a PC's USB cable, no batteries required - you'll still need a serial download cable unless you fit a USB-to-serial inside.
With the model I got, with the power socket removed that can be added to any PICAXE board and the USB plug-in used to deliver power from USB.
And finally ... The end result looks a lot better than an Altoids tin