Reuse Old Laptop Webcam

I had an old, not working laptop, and I wanted to reuse as much parts as possible. So I came to the idea to try to use the webcam.

This instructable is only possible with a webcam connected via a usb connection. The laptop I had was an Acer Aspire 7520G with an Acer Crystal Eye webcam.

NOTE: I do not take responsibility for anything you do / happens to you or your hardware!

Step 1: Get the Webcam

Open the laptop screen like here:

https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Convert-a-Laptop-LCD-into-an-External-Monit/step3/Removing-the-Frame/ (step 1-5).

!!! Watch out for hidden screws !!!

After that, unscrew the webcam. The wires of the webcam probably join the LVDS cable from the LCD. You have to take them apart.

Step 2: Identify the Wires

Identify the wires. With my webcam, it was:

• +5v: black
• Data+: red
• Data-: brown
• Ground: Unshielded (metal color)

Your laptop probably has different wire colors. You can google your webcams serial number, or that of the motherboard of your laptop.

I connected the webcam to a portable phone charger first to see if anything exploded/fried :), and wanted to check with a voltmeter wich cable was D+ and D-, but there was no signal coming from the webcam, so i guessed the red wire was D+, and so brown D- (red and brown wire were twisted). I do not guarantee it is the same with your webcam, and take no responsibility for anything you do / happens to you or your hardware!

It is also possible that your webcam is not connected via a usb connection. If so, you can't use your webcam for this instructable.

I get many comments of people asking how they should connect their webcam. I don't know how either

Step 3: Connect Your Webcam

Get a USB A cable (Like in the image) and cut it in the right length. Remove the plastic isolation, the unshielded wires, and the aluminium wrapper at the end you just cut. Remove a small piece of the red, black, green and white isolation, so you have bare wire. Connect the right wires from the usb cable with the webcam cables. In my case it was:

• Red - black
• Green - red
• White - brown
• Black - unshielded wire
• (USB) - (Webcam)

!!! DON'T let the different wires touch each other !!!

Step 4: Test Your Webcam

Connect the usb cable to your pc/laptop, and test if it is working ;)

-- PS: sorry for my english, I'm dutch.

Comments

[JavierB6]

I work for cn0314-0v03 USB webcam, add 2 resistors to the 5+ cable as you indicated the image

[SixtyNine]

does it help to reduce the heat from the camera?

[JezerB]

thank you its working ! did u already got wiring for mic?... thanks

[skowerr]

why do you need these 2 diodes? to reduce the voltage to 3,3v?

[VladimirC11]

Thanks man! I have the same webcam

[Funktioniert]

Diode not resistor ;)

[dasari.giridhar]

i have a lenovo z50 laptop cam with 8 wires
BLACK
RED
BROWN
ORANGE
GREEN
BLUE
LIGHT GREEN AND WHITE TWISTED
CAN YOU GUIDE ME with the coonections to the usb .

[SixtyNine]

The Green and white is for the data + and data - and then locate the power + - the other 2 is for the mic

[Sukh SinghO]

Can someone help me figure out the wiring. This was salvaged from a Dell Vostro 2520

[atomicthomas]

This is a video that will help with wiring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouxmNqxO4A&list=PLmDX2AAnDeOaO7oo5RQgxr3zAIx9lKBId

[CRImier]

Hi! Check out my guidelines here: https://hackaday.io/project/110436/log/164045 Take a multimeter, find the GND wire per the guidelines, make sure other wires aren't GND, then connect all the non-twisted wires to 3.3V, then it should work.

[ssbotrodriglez]

Can I get it work with a rasperry pi to be a digital camera? or to make it work on android?

[atomicthomas]

This will plug in to the usb slot on a raspberry and work.

[Werner Truter Aka Frosty]

Hello and thank you for the information... Unfortunately i received my webcam without the cable that connects to the webcam itself... Is there any way i can get around this?

[atomicthomas]

This is a video that will help with wiring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouxmNqxO4A&list=PLmDX2AAnDeOaO7oo5RQgxr3zAIx9lKBId

[キリガヤカ]

on the webcam connector my to black go to a single unshield one to so on the usb what should i do ?

[atomicthomas]

This is a video that will help with wiring:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouxmNqxO4A&list=PLmDX2AAnDeOaO7oo5RQgxr3zAIx9lKBId

[bimasyahputra393]

i think you can't use a 3.3v webcam with this instruction

[goprelo]

What is the name of the connector? I would like to buy it somewhere but I am not sure about the keyword to search for.
After some research I have found connectors called JST. I suspect this one is a JST 0.8mm pitch, 5 pin. Am I right or is it something else?
Knowing the optimal size (thickness) of the wires would also help.

[dlr441]

Does anyone know where I can buy 5 or 6 laptop cams with cables? I would prefer to have them all the same, but will take whatever I can find. Cannot find any that are affordable on ebay. they are wanting 7 to 14 dollars plus exhoritant shipping. Thanks.