Clix USB charging adapter for Cradle

[clieos]

Ok, this is created using the same method as other charging modification post here in MR, but instead of cutting the cable, this is a external adapter.

Again, Do It at Your Own Risk!!!

The cable come with the cradle has two end, USB-A and Mini USB-B. We all know iriver uses a special 5 pins USB-A cable, so it is perfect because Mini USB-B already has 5 pin. The 4th pin of Mini USB-B is used only for USB-on-the-go, which i personally never see any device using. However, Iriver is using the 4 pin for its blue cable. Yes it is the charging pin.

Somw detail about USB:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus

My goal here is not to cut the cable open but using a adapter between the cradle and the cable to redirect the +5v power (1st pin) to the 4th pin.

First, i ordered some mini USB-B socket (from Farnell.com) and cut open a mini USB-B cable. The reason of cutting the cable is because it is very difficult to find USB plug, so i have to use a spare USB cable to get the plug.


I rewired the socket and plug togather, but instead of pin1 to pin1, now it is pin 1 (socket) to pin4 (plug). The rest is the same. If you doing this you must make sure nothing is short!


I repack everything back and seal them off with glue gun, than cover them with heat shrink.



I test it with a portable USB power pack in on and off mode, well my clix is already fully charged anyway. However it works well.



This picture is taken when i plug it into my PC. Instead of going into 'USB connected', it will just stay as it is. My guess is because there is not power in 1st pin. WMP will not detect clix with the adapter plugin, but clix can still be used and charged at the same time. This adapter does not required the use of the orginal cable, any USB-A to Mini USB-B cable will do.

[traut]

Interesting - but it sounds dangerous to abuse (not by you, but by iriver) this fifth pin that way. How about someone taking the cradle cable, connecting it to some other devices...

[clieos]

In normal USB-A to Mini USB-B cable, the 5th pin is not connected to any thing, The pin is used for USB-on-the-go device (which used mini USB-B socket + plug) so there is minimum chance something will go wrong. If you look at the picture above, you know that the cable use is slightly different on the plug so user wont confuse it.

[traut]

yes, at the moment it's unused for most devices.

But iriver took the chance to use if for something different. What happens, when another company did the same, and you exchange cables?

[clieos]

True, that is always a danger there. That why iriver actually make the cradle socket so tight normal plug cant go in. I have many normal USB-A to Mini USB-B cable, but none fit into it (as it has a certain shape). The only way is to cut off some part of the normal plug to fit in, that is why i use heat shrink instead of refit my plug into a case. Since there is only one extra pin left unused in Mini USB-B (the 4th) and one must place the 5th pin between 1st and 2nd pin in USB-A to make the same as iriver, i guess if any company decide to make a 5 pin USB cable, it will likely to end up the same. It wont be iriver problem anyway as they already make it unique in their way(i means the fitting).

[kazukiclix]

is this only possible when I have the Cradle?

[clieos]

Originally Posted by kazukiclix

is this only possible when I have the Cradle?

Only possible for what?

[kazukiclix]

Originally Posted by clieosandclix

Only possible for what?

i mean, do i need this thing?



because only there is the 5 Pin USB port.
If I have only the clix, i have the 4 Pin USB Bus

[clieos]

You mean do you need the mod adapter or the cradle?
I am guessing the adapter since there is another thread discussing about cradle.

The cradle come with its own USB cable (in picture) with USB-A (4 pin male plug to PC) to mini USB-B (5 pin, this connect to the cradle), and you need to use the cable that come with the cradle cause normal USB-A to mini USB-B cable most likely wont fit in right. If you can find one that does fit, you can use it.

One of the problem of using this cradle is you are unable to charge clix when using it, or when you are connected to a PC (read older thread for clix charging issue). By using this adapter, this problem can be fixed. Now i can charge and use clix at the same time. There is a USB adapter recently released by Iriver that will likely to do just the same (I cant confirm this yet).

So do you need it? I dont know, cause that should be a question for yourself. First of, do you need to cradle? If you do, do you want to charge it when using your clix? If you do, do you want to mod it as i did or just buy the adapter from Iriver and try out your luck? If you decide to mod, than the adapter is a choice. I has been using the adapter for months, as long as you make it the correct way, it should work just fine.

To further clarify: You might have only 4 pin bus, but clix is designed with a 5th pin in mind (i called it the charging pin). Unplug you clix cable from USB port and have a look inside...In normal condition, the charging pin is not utilized (since there is nothing to connect in normal USB bus), however, we discovered trial and error that by bypassing the 5V power from the first pin to it, clix can be charged with any type of USB adapter, instead of relying on a PC.

[Ralph.D]

what do you really connect ?
1 (socket) -> 4 (plug)
2 (socket) -> 2 (plug)
3 (socket) -> 3 (plug)
4 (socket) -> ? (plug)
5 (socket) -> 5 (plug)

Could you please correct this pinout ? Thanks !

[clieos]

Your pinout is the correct one.

[Ralph.D]

???
What do i have to do with Pin4 from socket ? Not connect ? Or to Pin 1(Plug) ?

[clieos]

The simple answer is: No, it is not in use.