So I went through a few cheap USB passthroughs. After the 3rd, I decided to fix it.
I found that the loose connection was not inside the "battery/switch" of the device, but it's the method they use to crimp the USB connection right at the LED (where the USB cord disappears). They crimp it too tight and break the thin wire.
So, if you have the "loose connection" issue, here is probably the fix as it was on mine.
- pry off the little white cap (LED part), be careful just use pliers or whatever.
- pull out the wires just a bit, your not really going to pull something out, just the wire slack.
- trim away this white cap, cut it with side cutters.. trim.. etc. be careful.
- you will notice the hard crimp wire wrapped around the USB cable. This is the issue. It's too tight and broke the internal wire.
- remove it.. it's kinda hard, I used side cutters to cut away at it.
- You may not see the broken internal wire from outside the USB cable shielding, but it's either going to be the black or red. Do one at a time. you have a 50/50 chance on which one. Mine was the red wire. I cut a chunk of red wire out, in that area, stripped some bare wire, twisted together and tested. moved it around a lot too make sure that was it. then soldered.
Not caring about looks, I just taped it all back up.
As a side note, I did assume the loose connection was inside. So I shot a ton of hotglue inside the "battery/switch" area so nothing could move again. That wasn't the issue.. but at least nothing will move in there.
all is good.. they just crimp too hard at that spot on these $15 ones, and the USB cable is too thin and cheap to take it.
