Introduction: Converting My Mp3 Player to Direct Usb Port and Replacable Battery
on this instructable i will show you on how i convert my i-pod shuffle to be having a direct usb port (using the mp3 player to the computer without using a adaptor) and to replace the built in battery by a mobile phone battery and the mobile phone battery can be detachable(if the battery got low power and the user still want to use the mp3 player to listen to music, the battery can be replaced by a full charged battery).
Step 1: Components That You Need...
these are the components that i made for the mp3 conversion
all of these are improvised by me
usb adapter (mp3 to USB) - i made it from junk mp3 to usb adapter
battery holder - i improvised the battery holder for the batteries, i designed the holder for the battery to be detachable. this is made from junk pcb and plastic that are glued to form this, i painted it silver on the top thats why it looked like this.
usb cap - i also improvised a usb cap for the usb plug so it can be covered. this is also from junk plastic . the steps on making this was on my other instructable.
the other materials that you need are junk plastics, straps and lock for the battery holder cover, and glues, etc...
Step 2: Puting the Parts Together...
my mp3 player should look like this,
i removed the built in battery and replaced it with the battery holder by soldering it,
Step 3: Making the Case and Painting the Whole Player
after puting the parts together it need some casings and covers, plus a switch and a led indicator for the mp3 player(because the case will cover the indicator light of the player and the switch also).
so i made a case from junk plastics
also i made a cover for the battery holder
and made a usb cap from junk plastics also
and after forming and painting it, it looked like this
now the project is finished!!!!!
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13 Comments
13 years ago on Introduction
No offense to however it may function, but.... you murdered it o.o ay least it looks that way. lol
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
It's almost the size of my mobile phone now!
so much for the "nano" part. er.. doesn't the nano have VIDEO?
Ok, so it's a broken i-pod nano, turned into a high powered i-pod shuffle?
Good source for mobile phone battery holders.... the busted mobile phones they came out of! Most of them will even net you a free battery cover?
Since the Ipod already runs a li-ion battery, is the phone battery able to charge over usb? (just looked... if your're testing, make sure that it connects to a high-power USB port. it'll 'connect and mount' but not charge on a low-powered port) With the ipod already busted open(for screen and battery removal) consider doing away with the "adapter" bit entirely, and wire the male usb plug directly to the nano circuit? Could shave a good half inch off your design that way(or at least, whatever the length of the mini-female usb connector is).
Your design is a good prototype though, don't get me wrong.
And from a broken, short-to-no-battery-life device, to what it is now, is noing short of amazing :-)
Keep on hacking!
And remember the modders motto.
"If you can't open it, you don't own it."
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
usb ports are 5v, what is the voltage of the low powered port?
based on my research about li-ion batteries, they will be fully charged when it reached 4.2 v,(for standard mobile phone batteries , the 3.7 type)
you must first know the voltage of the charger that you will use,
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Th low powered ports are still 5 volt, but only 100mA.
the "high power" usb ports are 500mA @5 volt
and of course, wall charger usb adapters can often exceed 1A.
Cellphone batteries are at full voltage, at 4.2, yes. But not "full" right at that voltage.
After hitting 4.2 volt, you're about half way charged. capacity continues to increase, under the constant voltage/ constant current charging profile.
The advantage of wiring into the ipod circuit is... it already has Li-ion charge circuitry. The only difference, really, is it will take longer to recharge, due to the higher capacity. The built-in circuitry should still charge the batter no problem.
Well, to be more specifc, I believe it's Lithium-polymer batteries fo both, bt since the charge circuitry is the same...
Hope you enjoy your long,long LONG battery life i-pod shuffle for a good long time.
With the cell battery, and having a charged replacement battery... I expect you should get close to 60 hours of continuous play? Would make for a great Christmas back-ground music device. Load it with your favorite songs, hit shuffle, plug into the stereo, and change the battery in a day or two :-)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
that was also my aim on doing this, to make the playtime of the ipod longer,
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Do you charge the battery while it's in the unit? If so you need to be careful - you need an inline balancing chip for Lithium Ion/Polymer batteries - they switch from full charge to trickle charge when the battery is fully charged, otherwise the battery can overheat and catch fire.
I would maybe amend the text of the instructible, because it came up in a search for "ipod shuffle", and it's not a real shuffle. Also, tiny point, but your adapter goes from USB A male to mini USB male - those are what the standard ports are called. "Mp3 port" is a bit confusing.
Otherwise, great mod. :) A perfect example of function over form - yes the original player may have been small, but you've got better features from modding it. Well done! :)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
well on my prototype, i dont recommend to charge the battery when inside the unit. i was using a mobile phone battery charger for my batteries so while i am using the mp3 at home i was charging the used battery at the same time without destroying my prototype...
thanks for the comment by the way, i hope no one will steal my idea!!!!
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
its an ipod shuffle, sorry,
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
i made the mobile phone battery holder, i havent got a picture of it when i was making it because i forgot to do that,
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
for you it doesnt matter on how it may function,
for me, what i want is when the batteries are dead and i still want to play music i can replace the battery with my extra battery that is fully charged, and also because i want it to be a direct usb type because i dont want to connect and disconnect a adapter if i am plugging it in a pc, so thats what came up to my mind,
13 years ago on Introduction
Just checking, but this isn't an actual Apple Ipod is it? Or are we missing steps for how you swapped out the usual Ipod connector for a more typical Mini USB Series A or B plug? Or is it just a knockoff one, I've seen those in the mall and they do use a Mini USB by default. (Though I wish Apple had stuck with a more typical plug too)
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
its a fake ipod shuffle, i forgot to take a picture when i was making the small adapter for the usb thats why its not included here,
13 years ago on Introduction
That looks like it'd get you stopped at Airport Security.