Introduction: Making a Bluetooth Adapter
In this instructable, I will be showing you how to turn an Air Pod into a Bluetooth adapter. (A device that will turn any non-Bluetooth speaker into a Bluetooth speaker.)
Tools you will need are:
Cheap ($20) Air Pods -- Click Here
Wire Strippers / Cutter
Scissors
Electrical Tape
Wire Connectors -- Click Here
Soldering Gun / Material
*Optional* Glue Gun / Glue Gun Material
Step 1: Start
Get a Cheap ($20) Pair of Fake Air Pods.
I used these ones from Wal-Mart
I already started tinkering with the left Air Pod. That's why there's only one in the picture.
Step 2: Disassemble the Air Pods (a)
This step is as easy as it sounds, you just have to be careful not to pull off the battery.
I used an Exacto knife to start shaving down the plastic stem casing on the Air Pod.
The goal is to remove the motherboard and wiring from the inside of the Air Pod case.
Step 3: Disassemble the Air Pods (b)
This is the same step as "Disassemble the Air Pods (a)." This is what the Air Pod looks like without the case.
The white square is the battery and the silver disk is the speaker.
Step 4: Disassemble the Air Pods (c)
This is very similar to the last few steps except that you need to remove the speaker.
When you do that, make sure to be careful not to pull off any wires, just the actual speaker. If you do pull off any wires you would need to solder them back on.
Step 5: Making the Speaker Adapter (a)
Step 6: Making the Speaker Adapter (b)
You need to pull the connectors apart. For this step (and the next few steps) you will only need the female part of the connector.
Step 7: Making the Speaker Adapter (c)
You will need to strip the ends of the wires of the female connector.
I used wire strippers.
Step 8: Making the Speaker Adapter (d)
You need to solder the female connector to the charger wires of the Motherboard.
*It doesn't matter which speaker wire goes to which connector wire.*
Step 9: Making the Speaker Connector (finishing)
This is what soldered connector and Motherboard looks like.
Once you have gotten to this step, your Blue Tooth adapter is basically done.
Now all you have to do is make a way for the Blue Tooth Adapter to charge.
Step 10: Making an Easy Charger (1a)
Take the empty Air Pod case and break off the top cover.
Step 11: Making an Easy Charger (1b)
Next, you need to pop the plastic insert out of the Air Pod case.
I used a knife to pry the insert out.
Step 12: Making an Easy Charger (1c)
This is what the plastic insert looks like.
Step 13: Making an Easy Charger (1d)
Next, you need to cut off the main plastic part of the battery.
I used a serrated knife.
Step 14: Making an Easy Charger (1e)
This is what the battery looks like after you've cut off the main plastic piece.
Step 15: Making an Easy Charger (1f)
Next, you need to pull off the plastic covering off one pair of metal prongs.
I used a soldering gun to melt the base of the plastic cap so it came off easily.
Step 16: Making an Easy Charger (2a)
For this part of the project, you will need an alligator clip.
Step 17: Making an Easy Charger (2b)
Next, you will need to cut and strip the wires using wire cutters and wire strippers.
During this project, I used two different alligator clips... That's why they're two different colors. If you use both ends of the same alligator clip it would work the exact same.
Step 18: Making an Easy Charger (2c)
Next, you will need another female end of the connectors.
You will also need to strip the wire ends as well.
Step 19: Making an Easy Charger (2d)
Next, you will need to solder the stripped alligator clip ends on to the stripped wire ends of the female connector.
Step 20: Making an Easy Charger (1-2 Finishing)
Take the battery from "Making an Easy Charger (1f)" and take the alligator clips from "Making an Easy Charger (2d)"
Once you have both parts, you will need to clip the alligator clips to the tips of the metal prongs on the battery.
Step 21: Making an Easy Charger (1-2 Finishing)
Once you are done finished, to make it look nicer and to protect the wires, I would wrap it in tape.
I wrapped the Easy Charger using electrical tape.
*Make sure when you're wrapping the battery in tape not to block the port at the bottom in which the battery charges.
Step 22: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (a)
In this step (and the next few steps) you will be working with the part from "Making the Speaker Connector (finishing)"
Step 23: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (b)
First, you need to pull off the charger (circled in picture above).
Be careful not to damage the Air Pod.
Step 24: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (c)
You will need two stripped wires for this step.
I got these wires from an old house phone.
I used wire cutters and strippers for this step.
Step 25: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (d)
For this step, you will need to solder the wires onto the Air Pod.
Step 26: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (e)
Next, you will need the male end of one of the connectors.
I recommend cutting the plastic clip off to make it easier to remove.
You will also need to strip the wire ends.
Step 27: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (f)
For this step, you will need to solder the male connector ends onto the wire ends from the Air Pod.
*It doesn't matter which way the wires go.
Step 28: Making an Easy Charger: Attaching Air Pod to Charger (finishing)
This is what the finished Air Pod looks like.
To protect the wires I recommend wrapping it in electrical tape. If you do this remember to cut a small hole so you can turn on the Air Pod.
*Optional* For even more protection, you can cover the entire thing in Hot Glue.
(Make sure to leave a little whole for the on the side with the on/off switch no matter what you decide to wrap it in)
Step 29: Finishing
CONGRATS!!!! (I don't know how to spell Congrajulashuns)
You have finished making the Bluetooth Adapter.
If you would like to learn how to make a speaker that accommodates the connector that this Adapter uses, -- Click Here.
If you would like to learn how to make a 3.5mm Headphone-Jack adapter, -- Click Here
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please don't hesitate to ask!!
Step 30: Tutorial
In this Video I will show you how to use the Bluetooth Adapter using its features found here
3.5mm Headphone-Jack adapter, -- Click Here
a speaker that accommodates the connector that this Adapter uses, -- Click Here.