Develop Bugs

[MOD] A couple DIY pogo docks - desk and car

I took a lot of inspiration for these projects from some of the stuff I saw posted around here. Like many others, I got tired of the lack of accessories available for the GN and built a few of my own. I was also too impatient to order and wait for the pogo pins that I should have been using for this project, so I used guitar string instead. :silly: Oh well....
The Wooden Desk Dock
This one was fun and It didn't take too long to build. Thanks to chopper the dog for his info in this thread which I used as I was building this. To put this together I used:
a couple pieces of scrap wood for the body,
a paint stirrer cut to size for the platform,
some 46 gauge guitar string for the contacts,
solder,
electrical tape,
a strip of 1/8 inch foam (on the left side. hard to see in the pic) to seat the phone snugly,
a few felt pads for feet,
and, an NFC tag to trigger landscape mode for the phone and it has been working nice.
Ideally, I need to get this thing sanded down a little more, get the tag hidden a little better, and maybe stain or paint it.
The Modified Verizon Car Dock
I'm pretty happy with the way this one turned out, but I'm not finished yet. For this one I used:
an old Verizon car charger,
some 46 gauge guitar string for the contacts,
solder,
electrical tape,
two 1/4 inch pieces of spray tube from a can of WD-40 (I used these as guides for the guitar string to slide through),
some CA glue to hold the tube guides in place (We'll see long this lasts...)
a small bolt, nut, and teflon washer,
a short piece of black wire (I used this to secure the power cord to the dock. It was the smallest, nicest looking way of doing it short of using a twist tie, blegh.)
an NFC tag to trigger landscape mode for the phone,
and a Razer sticker to hide my mistake of shaving too much of the back of that Samsung plate away too fast and melting the front (dammit!)
As you can see, up close it's not the prettiest looking job, but with the phone snapped in it looks just fine. I was a huge pain getting those contacts just right, but eventually using those tubes made it much easier. I carved out a section of the soft rubber inside, because it left a mess when I initially drilled through it. It made it really hard to line the contacts up.
I'm going to work on this one a little more today. I want to add a connector to make it possible to break the cord away from the dock and possibly make another cord with a USB connection on the end.
Adding the Connector to the Modified Verizon Car Dock
This was easier than I expected. I started searching around for supplies and found a couple of old cordless handset bases with just what I wanted, some kind of 90 degree connector. I pulled the receptacle from the board inside the base. Since we had multiple bases, I was able to grab two nearly identical plugs.
Then I removed the fixed car charger from my dock and found a suitable place for the receptacle. I soldered the wires in place and fixed the receptacle in place with a zip tie.
I think the zip tie was the best way to go. It's a little tight under the samsung cover.
I used the plugs and spliced them onto to the verizon car charger and a regular usb cable. For anyone who's interested, the wires inside the verizon charger are red (5v) and green (ground).
After a little testing, I decided the receptacle needed another zip tie and a round of CA glue to hold it in place. Here's the finished product. I'm very happy with how it turned out.
I also have another problem I need to work out. I use my 12v socket in the car for my bluetooth receiver. I need to figure out a way to power both in a small compact way. I've seen those 12v socket splitters and I will not put something like that in my car. What do you guys think about trying to fit both of these into one package?
I had a lot of fun working on these over the couple days. Let me know what you guys think

Well done, I like the look of the chunky wood dock. Although like you said sanding it down would make it look better.

Thanks jonny. I'm thinking a dark stain on it would look nice. I want to replace the platform with something a little more durable as well.

Yea I dont blame you. It doesnt quite fit with the look of the rest of it. Perhaps if you have any more of the wood you used you can use that and just cut a really thin piece to use as the platform.

Dock insertion

Hello.
I recently bought a Xoom HD Speaker Dock, and it's pretty cool.
However, I can't consistently dock the tablet. It takes a bit of work to get the USB and HDMI plugs into their sockets.
The Standard Dock only has USB, so getting this into socket should be easier.
So, my questions:
1) How do you find the coupling when you insert into your dock?
2) My dock audio settings are greyed out when tablet is inserted. What does this do?
Thread is more discussion than question.

Nice i´ll buy one

Hello, When docking your Xoom in to the HD speaker dock make sure to align the dot on the bottom of the Xoom with the dot on the dock. Wwhen this is done it slips straight in.

Its not really smooth on the speaker dock, because there's two plugs to orient.

love my speaker dock

I have the same problem with mine. Not really a problem but more of a procedure..
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium HD app

I have to pick the dock up and hold it sideways in order to line up the connections. (it works for me )

I have both docks: speaker dock and charging dock. Generally when I want to dock my Xoom on either of them, I first align the dot / charging light on the Xoom with the dot on the dock. Then holding both sides of the Xoom near the base, I gently wiggle it from side to side until it "slips" onto the connectors.
This may also seems silly to suggest, but I will do it anyways just in case: make sure you are using the proper attachment plate if your Xoom is "naked" or has a TPU case on it. I've found that using the wrong plate will negatively affect how the tablet connects to the dock. When the correct plate is on the dock, just put the back of the Xoom right up against it, and just slide the Xoom down onto the connectors with the wiggle motion.
With a little practice it should become quite easy. I'm able to put my Xoom on my speaker dock in the dark!

Thanks for replies.
Yeah, I wiggle mine too.

With the otterbox case it just slides in easily
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

DIY Wireless Car Charging Cradle?

Guys,
Has anyone here cracked open a Qi wireless charger and modded it into their existing car cradle?
I got one for that purpose and it's a little too big (a little bigger than my Nexus 5), so I cracked it open. Now I'm looking for ideas on what I can use to encase it.
These things have a ton of wasted space inside, so I know I can make it smaller somehow. Please chime in with any ideas you might have. Thanks!

killabee44 said:
Guys,
Has anyone here cracked open a Qi wireless charger and modded it into their existing car cradle?
I got one for that purpose and it's a little too big (a little bigger than my Nexus 5), so I cracked it open. Now I'm looking for ideas on what I can use to encase it.
These things have a ton of wasted space inside, so I know I can make it smaller somehow. Please chime in with any ideas you might have. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What brand is that? Might end up buying one and modding one for myself as well.
Also what are the exact dimensions? it looks to be about 5''1/2 X 3''

automaddux said:
What brand is that? Might end up buying one and modding one for myself as well.
Also what are the exact dimensions? it looks to be about 5''1/2 X 3''
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The dimensions of the whole thing inside the black case are: 5 3/4 X 3 1/4 inches.
The board is 1 1/2 (plus 1/4 for the usb port) X 2 1/2 inches. The round part is 2 1/4 X 2 1/4 inches.
Together they are about 3 3/4 (again, plus 1/4 inch for the usb port) X2 1/2 inches. This is if the board and the round part are laying inline.
We need to consider that the round part can be folded around the other side of the board. Then the dimensions are even smaller than what you would get if you purchased one of the round "puck" ones. Folded, the dimensions are now: 2 1/4 X 2 1/2 inches.
I purchased mine on Ebay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Color-Qi-...l_Phone_PDA_Chargers&var=&hash=item2c76d04857
It cost about $17.00 shipped from New Jersey.

Subscribing to this hoping for some interesting ideas from all the modders on this site. Would love to see a way to hook it up with a magnet in a puck shape that I could just sit it the car, place it on the charger with enough of an angle that I can see it while driving, and go.
This is how I had my old wireless charger for the Palm pre. Was nice because it was just strong enough to hold the phone at about a 45 degree angle (upside down) making it very easy to see. That is the thing I miss the most about the pre.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

have you in your car those "typical american" cup holder between the front seats, nearby the gear shaft?
why don't try to remove and put the charger there?
I have enough space in my 2007 BMW 3 series just there, that's a cool idea
using fiberglass or some other filling materials to smooth the charger plate in the empty space

That would be a good idea but it makes it tougher to see when using GPS. I would have to look down away from the road as opposed to being on my dash with a quicker glance.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

I was thinking of trying this same thing. I have this cheap mount from Walmart which I'm going to attempt to modify. I also have an extra one lying around in case I mess it up. I was looking at the charger in this thread, it looks like the board may be a bit smaller.
My plan is to just kind of dremel/drill/sand out a hole in the plastic of the mount, pop the charging coil in, and then cover it back up somehow. I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Ok, so I uncoiled the wires a little bit and folded the coil over the circuit board. you can see how small it makes the whole thing. This may be the way to go for me. That would make it smaller than my phone so it can fit under it in the car mount.
Im considering magnets, but if I make it this small there will be no room for them. Plus because it will be inside the car mount, I don't think Ill need them. We'll see..

Here is my 'beta' version I did the other afternoon since I happened to have the parts just laying around...
Using this charger (pretty sure same as OP) with the iOttie XL and these magnets.
Going to make an improved version that is more compact now that I know what I'm dealing with. Will definitely document the build of Ver. 1.0.
Changing up the charger and magnets, but keeping the iOttie XL. Using PlastiDip and Sugru for final appearance.

You guys stole my idea! lol. I posted a thread similar to this about a week ago. Didn't get very far though haha.
found a few items on ebay similar to this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Qi-5V-Wirel...S_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&hash=item1e8334dd2b
I wonder if you were to solder off the qi coil and resolder one of these instead, if it would work? Reason being, because they are so slim, and I assume at 1mm thick, and being able to place in a phone cover with no noticeable difference, if it would help make it even thinner? im thinking at 1mm, perhaps it would be flexible as well?,

unvaluablespace said:
You guys stole my idea! lol. I posted a thread similar to this about a week ago. Didn't get very far though haha.
found a few items on ebay similar to this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Qi-5V-Wirel...S_Cell_Phone_PDA_Chargers&hash=item1e8334dd2b
I wonder if you were to solder off the qi coil and resolder one of these instead, if it would work? Reason being, because they are so slim, and I assume at 1mm thick, and being able to place in a phone cover with no noticeable difference, if it would help make it even thinner? im thinking at 1mm, perhaps it would be flexible as well?,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't think it will work.
transmitter coils are thicker., receiver coils are thinner.

Buy the official nexus charger if you can. The magnets hold the phone in place just fine, been using it the past few days. The ideal solution in my opinion.

Rijal said:
Buy the official nexus charger if you can. The magnets hold the phone in place just fine, been using it the past few days. The ideal solution in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So to clarify, you are using the official Nexus charger as a car dock, and the magnets are strong enough for the phone not to fall off? Are you using a case?

Subscribed.
I have ordered an iBOLT xProDock (BB Z10) from Amazon.ca for 19.95, and a QI puck from ebay.
Not sure if there's enough space inside the xProDock body to accomodate the coil - we'll see.
amazon.ca/IBOLT-xProDock-Holder-Mount-Blackberry/dp/B00BPAHNQI

I might actually take the whole charging coil out of the case, but will need something to encase it with. Maybe some shrink tubing type of stuff, etc. Not sure what.
That way I can cut the case down to less than half and keep the circuit board in it. Then have the coil hanging out of the case but covered in something. Any ideas as to what I can use?

killabee44 said:
I might actually take the whole charging coil out of the case, but will need something to encase it with. Maybe some shrink tubing type of stuff, etc. Not sure what.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking of using a black plastic divider like you get with some binders, two pieces cut to size of coil/circuit board and using electrical tape to seal the two together.
I'll have to wait for my cheap qi puck to arrive as I've only got the N4 Orb/Dock at the moment
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=...DwQAj0XncsrGrM9KG2jk_JUg&ust=1385526322704466

Why not just use this mount below ? Looks more professional. Its a Nokia Qi charging car mount
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

If you buy an official Nexus wireless charger ( https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_wireless_charger&hl=en ), just figure out how to mount that in your car. That's what I'm going to do in my Jeep. The magnets in the charger are plenty strong enough to hold the phone over bumps.
Edit: You could probably just cut the ball in half at the end of a suction cup mount (the pivot point for where the suction cup arm connects to the phone cradle) and gorilla glue the charger to the now flat half ball.
In my Jeep I'm going for a more permanent solution of gluing the charger to a phone cradle mount/bracket that bolts into the jeep. It's too easy to reach into my Jeep and grab a windshield mount.

Rijal said:
Buy the official nexus charger if you can. The magnets hold the phone in place just fine, been using it the past few days. The ideal solution in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
brkshr said:
If you buy an official Nexus wireless charger ( https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_wireless_charger&hl=en ), just figure out how to mount that in your car. That's what I'm going to do in my Jeep. The magnets in the charger are plenty strong enough to hold the phone over bumps.
Edit: You could probably just cut the ball in half at the end of a suction cup mount (the pivot point for where the suction cup arm connects to the phone cradle) and gorilla glue the charger to the now flat half ball.
In my Jeep I'm going for a more permanent solution of gluing the charger to a phone cradle mount/bracket that bolts into the jeep. It's too easy to reach into my Jeep and grab a windshield mount.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus charger magnets will hold the phone when going over bumps?? How about with a case on the phone?

rubik said:
Why not just use this mount below ? Looks more professional. Its a Nokia Qi charging car mount
View attachment 2416224
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sure does, but it costs almost $100.

3D Printed a sync/charging cradle. Check it out.

I finally have access to a 3D printer where I work and was asked to throw test uses out for it and try to pull it to it's limits. We typically use it to print out models of the 3D art our designers make. It's awesome for that.
I used it to print this dock that someone designed and posted over at thingiverse. I think it came out great in black ABS plastic. Haven't slotted a USB cable in to it yet but will when I get home (no cables that fit it here in the office. It has a hole and slot to route the cable out the back. It holds the phone in portrait mode. I use the Ringke Slim case (which I don't recomend since it scratches the phone but hell, i already own it) and it seems to sit nicely in the dock. :good:
Gallery of cradle from various angles: http://imgur.com/a/3XaMq
What do you think. How would you change it?

Nice! I would add short side walls to keep the phone from falling over and out of the dock and would make a second one wider with a lower back for landscape mode. I would also think about building in a space for a QI charger coil and board inside the back plate to have it double as a wireless charger.

Improvements?
Perhaps have the back hollow and wide enough to slip the 'official' Wireless charging pad in, and also ones like the pURL=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nokia-DT-900-Wireless-Charging-Plate/dp/B009WKGNB4]DT-900[/URL], and between the charger and phone be slim enough to actually charge the phone (most have a 5mm range)

Could you make me one? Only thing i would suggest is added small walls to the sides so it doesn't slide right off. Maybe make a variant with a space for a wireless charging puck?

Once the charger is in place it won't slide side to side.
That being said, i can find a charger that fits. The creator used one made by Nokia... Seems it would be more helpful to the community if he used a cheaper, easily attainable Monoprice or Amazon Basics cable.

http://www.amazon.com/LG-Electronics-WCP-300-Wireless-Charging/dp/B00C6VP03I
This should fit

I would lose the flat bottom allowing it to sit on irregular surfaces and also saving more materials. Looks great already though.

[MOD] Turn Google's crappy Wireless Charging Orb into a clean magnetic car charger

Hey everyone,
This is my first modification guide thingy so I hope it is ok and useful to some of you. I purchased an N5 off of Swappa recently that came with the N4 Wireless Charging Orb and the newer glass-topped N5 wireless charger. I assume the original owner was sick of how the orb performed (Google failed with the design of it) and bought the other charger. I was about to throw it away but started doing some research. Some other people have modified the orb, but the results are extremely ugly. I'll show you what I've done and how I'm incorporating this into my 1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport. I want the result to look like it was factory installed and without any external suction cup wireless charger with ugly ass arms that clamp around the phone. I want it to be completely invisible until I plop my phone on it.
After I took everything apart I was going to try and reuse the casing somehow, so that's why this image is covered with a different covering than the Nexus imprinted rubber on the top. I decided against reusing the casing because it looked ugly and I found a better way.
Step 1 - Remove the Nexus rubber to expose the screws
Peel back the Nexus rubber covering to reveal the screws. I ended up ripping the rubber so be careful if you plan to reuse it. Honestly, you probably won't be able to get it to sit right even if you do plan to reuse it. The screws will be at 12, 3, 6, and 9 oclock.
Step 2 - Remove the screws to take off the top and and get access to the PCB/Wireless Charging Coil
Some people say you can just unscrew the screws, but mine were glued in with locktite or something. I had to drill them out. I used an 1/8" bit. Be careful not to hit the board. I hit the board a little bit ( since you can't really see it with the top on still) but everything seems to work. From there just take off the top and remove the board. You'll have to remove the 2 other screws holding the L shaped metal thing to completely remove the unit.
Step 3 - Buy Neodymium magnets and add them to the coil
I purchased these magnets (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ANVAHI/). They were $7.79 for 100. Since this is going in a vehicle and there's going to be bumpiness, I ended up using 44 magnets around the outside of the coil (stacked 2 high, all the way around). They hold on to each other and the coil magnetically, but I'll probably throw some double sided sticky tape around the edges to make sure they don't go anywhere.
Step 4 - Find the area in your vehicle where you're going to mount it and make a vinyl template
In my Cherokee, there's an ashtray which I never use (I don't smoke). Some people take out the ashtray and put a switch panel there for external lighting and what not. I thought, that's the perfect spot for a wireless charger. I grabbed some green car vinyl my friend had laying around, and cut it to match the ash tray. In the image above I layed it over the top, but I will be removing the ash tray completely so it sits flush. I plastidipped the vinyl black to match the interior of my truck (as close as possible) and to add a little more grip.
Step 5 - Mount and wire the wireless charger/vinyl covering
This will be done this coming Tuesday, but the image above is a test. It charges perfectly and is a very strong hold. I do not see this going anywhere when I'm driving. I'll reply to this thread with pictures of the final product next week.

Nicely done! Love the added magnets
Not sure I'd destroy my $50 charger to do this...but now I'm thinking of picking one of those cheap $15 Qi China chargers to disect

sean222 said:
Nicely done! Love the added magnets
Not sure I'd destroy my $50 charger to do this...but now I'm thinking of picking one of those cheap $15 Qi China chargers to disect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have the Nexus orb? And yours actually works? My phone would slide right off of that thing and I'd wake up with a dead phone. You really wouldn't damage the thing if you were careful. You might be able to unscrew the screws without using a drill.

Poi25 said:
You have the Nexus orb? And yours actually works? My phone would slide right off of that thing and I'd wake up with a dead phone. You really wouldn't damage the thing if you were careful. You might be able to unscrew the screws without using a drill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine works great because I don't use a case, so the back of the rubbery orb sticks nicely to the back of my rubbery Nexus 5! with my old nexus 4, it didn't stick naked, but did stick after I put a wet application protector. I can imagine most cases not sticking and it sliding off though

Here's my final setup and finished product! Head to 3:00 mark for the wireless charger.

geat! probably i`ll do the same on my car

charly_mad said:
geat! probably i`ll do the same on my car
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The wireless charger works great, such a strong hold and completely invisible.