USB Mod for Dummies

[deewal]

I know this is asking a lot but do you think that one of you Guys who have made Usb mods put together a USB Modding for Dummies ?
Just a step by step walkthrough with enough simple info and diagrams so at least us people who want to but can't 'cause they don't know what to wire to where can try for themselves ?
As i said i know it's asking a lot of someones time and knowledge but it would be a great help to a lot of us.
Bastage has made a video which is good but there is no verbal audio on it (but some really nice guitar) but unless you know what he's doing you can't understand it. (Well i can't anyway)
Thank you very much
I will now hide somewhere

[Rorschach]

I'd second that request!

The last time I used a soldering iron without instructions, I melted my Xbox.

[dablackanarch]

I can't help with instructions on how to solder. You really should pick up a guide on basic electronics and simply practice. I purchased a 30w solder gun and accessories for 8 bucks at Radio Shack.

In the meanwhile, here's a diagram of a prototype E-cig that I'm working on. It'll allow for you to use either portable battery power or USB for when you're stationary. I'm using a high-capacity 3.7v Li-Ion battery for plenty of vaping action. Here's the diagram:



As you can see, I'm using a DPDT switch to switch between the two power sources. Other than that, no resistors or voltage regulators. I'm currently powering an e-cig (DSE901b atomizer) directly from the USB power bus on the lappy. After you connect the battery and your USB cable to the DPDT slider switch, simply run some 22 gauge wire from the slider to a SPST 'normally open' pushbutton switch and from there to the atomizer. I'm building this one for a penstyle atomizer but the concept is the same for the 901b.

[Bastage]

I tried to make the diagram easy to understand. If you have any specific questions about this diagram just let me know. I've also got one that includes the battery setup for an all in one (no cable needed) but I'm not finished with it yet.

[just4747]

Bastage, could you do that diagram again but with notations on what's going on and what to do in it? (for soldering and circuitry noobs!) Hehe thanks.

[Grumpysanta]

Bastage did explain a long time ago that he gutted everything from the housing. That allowed him to run a wire through the centre connection and solder the wire to the centre connector. Once you realize that, the diagram is as simple as you could get and is accurate.

[Liberate_Yourself]

I'll work on a diagram as well, but for now I guess I'll explain it through text.. This is for a 901:

You are going to need the following:

1 - Dead battery (or live if you are that anxious hahaha)
1 - switch (I de-soldered the open/close button off of a broken cdrom drive)
1 - Soldering iron
1 - Tube or reel of solder
1 - pair of scissors
1 - wire stripper (or something to cut and strip wires, I have used wire cutters and scissors to do it as well)
1 - pair of needle nose pliers
1 - roll of electrical tape
1 - 4-6" of heat shrink tubing (optional)



Ok, so.. The brass fitting at the end of the battery is actually 2 pieces. The inner piece is what supplies the power, and the outer supplies the ground. They are separated by a gasket. What you need to do, is hollow out the bettery and then somehow press the brass fitting out of the other end. I just put a screwdriver inside the battery, held the shell, and hit it against the ground a couple times. It popped right out.

Once the brass fitting is free from the shell, take a good look at it. You will notice that there is a place on the outer rim that there are 2 indentations in the brass. Tehre may even be part of a wire already soldered there. This is where you will be soldering your ground wire. Remember not to use too much solder, and to keep it all on the inside. If it spills over, you won't be able to get it back into your battery shell.

For the positive lead, you should see some solder on the inner fitting right next to the hole. Solder your positive wire, keeping sure to keep a good distance from the outer ring, as not to touch the positive to the ground.

Now, get your USB cable, and strip off about a 4" section. Keep the outer tubing as you will be needing it later. Cut off the green and white wires, as you will not be needing them. Now trim the black and red wires down to about 1.5-2" and strip the ends. Get your switch, and solder the red wire from the usb onto one of the 2 prongs.

Now here is what I did to somewhat keep things as safe as possible. I took the wire tubing, and slid it over the positive wire that I soldered to the brass fitting, as snug against the fitting as possible.. Then I taped the ground wire to the tube with electrical tape, to hold everything in place. I did that to make sure that they were as separate as possible.

Now slide the wires through your battery shell, and press the fitting back into it. The wires should be stripped, and sticking out about 1.5-2" Now you just solder the positive lead to the other prong on your switch, and solder the 2 ground leads together. Electrical tape or heat-shrink your exposed connections, and find somewhere suitable to mount your switch. I mounted mine on the usb cable itself. that way, I would get my heat shrink around the tube. If you are going to mount your switch on the battery itself, make sure to put some electrical tape on it first, to avoid touching your positive leads to the casing.

Voila! You should be done! Test it out, carefully, and it should be a fully-functional USB power source! Congrats!

[Bastage]

Well done. By the way, I'm working on a new idea. There's nothing wrong with this USB method though, and will probably still use it when I'm on the computer. Stay tuned hehe

[Liberate_Yourself]

Originally Posted by Bastage

Well done. By the way, I'm working on a new idea. There's nothing wrong with this USB method though, and will probably still use it when I'm on the computer. Stay tuned hehe

You seem to always be working on a new idea! hahaha..

That is awesome. Can you give any hints? I have come up with a couple new ideas myself.. Perhaps we can share info and come up with a super device...

[Bastage]

haha! I think you're right. The first (direct) USB idea has been the best so far. The second one with the mini connector was great initially, but the connector itself couldn't hold up to constant movement from picking up, using, and setting the ecig down so it wasn't reliable. I'm still waiting on a part before I can make the new one, if it turns out as well as I think it will I'll definitely post up drawings and a video of it in action so people can build their own.