this post was submitted on 22 Sep 2023
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5
Can I replace the wired USB cable with a USB port in this keyboard? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I have a cheap MechanicalEagle Z-77 keyboard.

I'd like to replace the wired USB A cable with a USB-C port.

when I open it up, I see the cable is attached like this, with wire colors from the top: red white green black black:

When unclipped, I have this, the 5 pins being labeled "S GN D D VD":

I find some tutorials about how to do a similar job with soldering. I don't know how to solder and there is a clip. Can I purchase a USB-C port that will clip into this?

I can't figure out the name of what this component would be called.

I see some mentioning about resistance and capacitors. I don't know about these things. What if anything do I need to find out? I don't know if the info in the soldering tutorials applies the same?

Obviously I am very novice on this topic. If I am missing anything please advise and I will attempt to fill it in.

Here is same device on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Keyboard-Tenkeyless-Professional-Office-Black/dp/B07ZH7569D

Thank you!

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Looks like this might work: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005094002506.html

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you think it matters that the wire colors are in the opposite order?

In either case, thanks this gets me closer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's not in the opposite order, it's just flipped around in the photo lol.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Do you think so? the letters are the right way up on the USB-C end. Here is how my existing cable looks in comparison:

The description lists the letters as VCC, D -, D+, GND, SG.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If the wires are indeed arranged in the wrong order, but would otherwise be work, popping the individual sockets out and rearranging them is actually quite easy. You just need to either pry the little plastic tabs from the the outside or stick a sewing needle inside, and they should slide out fairly easily. If implementing the sewing needle, it often bends the little metal tab out of the way, and you'll want to tweak it back with the needle before reinserting in the right slot.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

OK thanks! It sort of looks like it would be possible but I didn't want to go too aggressively at the existing cable until I have a replacement.

The aliexpress seller linked above repeats "The Line Sequence Needs To Be Changed" several times in the description. Maybe this is what that means?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It's always hard to decipher poor English, but that does seem possible. If you have a multimeter, plugging the socket into a cable would at least allow you to verify the ground and +5v easily. The data etc pins should be doable too, by using a USB A to C cable, and doing a continuity check to the pins inside the USB A side, which would be easy to look up reliably.

As far as swapping the wires around in the plug, that's one of the easiest plugs to do it with. If you do need to, you'll be able to.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Electrons don't care which way the letters are facing

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yep that should work.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

why is it better?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Shipping will be faster, and you'd be supporting people who make open hardware.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

ack shipping is >CA$30. maybe there is a local distributor.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yeah gave up on some stuff because of the shipping price being more than the actual item price.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

So, the issue is you don't want to solder some cables together? Then just buy these Heat Shrink Self-Solder Butt Splice Connectors.