Charge Axim X50v From ANY USB Charger + Sync Problems

Recently I had a few problems with my Dell Axim X50v PDA. This PDA charges through USB, but requires a 2.0 port. This was never a problem before, that is until my computer went out and I got a new one.

For some reason the new computer would not connect to the PDA, not connecting means no charging. Yes the charging light does come on, but no charge to the battery at all.

I needed the PDA the next morning and was willing to try just about anything to get it working.

I looked up the pin outs for the connector online and noticed that the 5V+ line from the USB cable went to a couple Data ports and to the charging circuit. Since i ha 2 USB cable I decided to mod one to see if it would work. All I wanted was to charge the battery.

The end result allowed me to connect to my new computer, charge for ANY USB wall or car charger. Even homemade ones that are just a 5 volt power supply. This will also help your battery to last longer.(more charges) Because it slow charges the battery instead of fast charging.

This will work with the Del Axim X50 X50v X51 X51v models only. This is not for any other models.
With a 2200Mah extended run time battery in my X50v it takes about 6 hours to charge compared to 2 hours before this mod.

Step 1: Parts

What you need for this is
USB Cable, not a cradle
small philips screw driver
Sharp Knife

Step 2: Open the Connector Up

We will only be messing with the RED wire, no other wires will be disturbed at all.

Remove the two screws, use the tip of your knife to open the two clips holding it together.

Now you will see one of two things. Hopefully you will see a small circuit board, if not it will be just wires.

Both of mine where circuit boards.

If you have wires only, go to step 6

Step 3: Cut the Traces

Now you want to disconnect both of the Data connections from the 5V+ line.

Step 4: Put It Back Together

Once you have the two traces cut/disconnected put the connector back together.

Once you get it back together, you MUST make sure the release clips still work properly. I stress this because I once ordered a aftermarket cable for a Zune and ruined the connector on the zune because the cable would not release.

Step 5: Try It Out

Plug it into your Axim and charger/computer.

Charger- Once you plug it in the PDA will turn on, turn it off and the orange charging light will turn on, Now comes the test.
Try to turn it back on. If it turn on, your mod worked, turn it back off and let it charge, check the battery level after about 30 minutes to see if it is charging.

Computer- Once you plug it in, Active sync should pop up and ask you to set up a partnership. This means that the mod worked.

Step 6: Wire Connector Only

If your connector has wires only, you will have to cut and solder a couple wires.

There will be 3 red wires on different pins, the two on the outer sides of the connector need to be cut, the one that is closest to the middle is the only one we want to be hooked up of the red wires.

Comments

[ColtonA1]

Mine doesn't have circuit bored or three red wires please help

[bbear4]

Thanks! I am going to give it a shot. I spent $40 on a used but seemingly good condition x50v. I then had to buy a new battery because the one it came with was swollen. I also had to buy a charger/data cable because the one it came with was not the right kind.

When the new battery and cable came, I plugged them in and I got no where. I'm going to open up my charger cable and see if I can do what you have done here. It has wifi so I assume I can modify my cable and if I loose data function, I can still add files with the wireless. At this point, I'm just hoping I'm not $50+ dollars in to a damaged PDA. Damn ebay sellers saying it worked last time they tried but no returns and it's untested. I'm starting to think untested just means 'I couldn't get it to work but don't want to admit that!'

Does anyone know if the battery cover has to be on an x50v for it to charge? I misplaced my battery cover and I keep a cluttered work area.

[scob89]

For the x50v and all Axim X50 models, the battery cover has to be on for the PDA to turn on and for it to charge, There is a little button you can press with a pen that make the PDA think it has the battery cover. You can try pressing the and while holding it, see if the PDA turns on. The battery that you bought will have a charge in it 99% of the time, so it should turn on while holding the little button down.

[thelastonekills]

hi, i was at a pc swap meet not that long ago and was a table of old pda,
they where $10 or so so i got one, its a dell axim x51v, surprisingly it wont turn on, i have a kinda charged battery for it and nothing else, any hints? or do u need a cable to turn it on or some thing?
also are they any good?

[scob89]

The x51v still sells for around $100 on ebay, if they where selling them for $10, I bet they knew it was toast. But if you have only the PDA and battery, you have to charge the battery before it will work, to do that you need a USB or wall charger for it. The cables are really cheap on Amazon so it might be worth it to try getting a cable.

[thelastonekills]

wow this is a surprize, i got it working. thks 4 the instructable it really helped, i suddenly get the charging problem

[vomov]

 I've found that my cable only has the wires, but it has two red wires on the most left top and bottom row of pins, and three black wires roughly left of the middle. One on the top row, directly left of the middle, one directly 'below and one pin to the left', and one two pins left to that one. I am assuming this is not standard.
So, I've got a total of five cables, of which none are green or white, and no idea of how to make this into a slow-working charging cable...

[ctny]

Can you explain why the trick works? And by cutting the cable, what functionality is lost?

[scob89]

this truck works because some of the USB ports on computers, such as most of the front ones and some of the back ones are not True USB 2.0 By removing those to red wires, you are disabling the Axim do pull more that 250mA of current from the USB port. This enables it to charge off of a USB 1.1port and you should be able to sync on a 1.1 port tho I have not tried it, It will still sync on any 2.0 port I have ever come across in the year that I used it.

[efrenlugo]

wow! it works... I had my AXIM in the trash because was not charging from USB.

[jamfire]

I followed the directions exactly and this killed my cable. Went from turning the charge light on, but no charging unless pda had more battery power anyway, to not doing anything.

[scob89]

How long do you leave it plugged in to charge? This is a slow charger, not a quick charger, in other words you have to leave it plugged in overnight.