Replace micro-USB with USB-C on bluetooth earphones case

[jancelot]

Hi, would like to buy some cheap bluetooth earphones from Aliexpress, however cheapest ones come with micro-USB. Since I want to have a single charger for all and no adapters, could I open the charging case, and replace the connector?

Something like that:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33011860929.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000339760924.html

[jancelot]

Ok found a video here, pretty sick:

[oPossum]

Eww. Not slick. Relies upon the shield for ground, and will not work with a proper Type C charger.

[coromonadalix]

And usb-c are reversible connectors per design .........

I would not do that kind of hack / mod,  it could toast the supply source  Ie: an charger, an computer   etc ...

[tooki]

Hi, would like to buy some cheap bluetooth earphones from Aliexpress, however cheapest ones come with micro-USB. Since I want to have a single charger for all and no adapters, could I open the charging case, and replace the connector?

Something like that:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33011860929.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000339760924.html

In a nutshell, maybe.

This describes the requirements for USB-C power: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/327946

If (and only if) the device never needs more than 500mA of current at 5V, then you can get away with a relatively simple implementation. Anything more, and you need to get into more complex designs.

[zzattack]

Lovely way to scrape away the silk screen I must say 

[tooki]

Lovely way to scrape away the silk screen I must say 

Indeed. I'll have to remember the drill-bit-at-an-angle method. So much more elegant and precise than the angle grinder I've been using! 

[mikerj]

Assuming the GB in his username refers to location, we have found the Butcher of Britain.

[tooki]

Assuming the GB in his username refers to location, we have found the Butcher of Britain.

It looks like it's a localized (translated) user name: in the embedded video above, it's showing up to me as "Mr.Satech FR", but when I open it in a separate window, "Mr.Satech US". (I didn't realize YouTube had this level of localization, but a quick search led me to a help page on how to do it.)

Looking at his channel, it appears to me he's a Turk living in France, which would explain the glorious grammar: "it is hack?" (Yes, is hack. )

[zzattack]

Lovely way to scrape away the silk screen I must say 

Indeed. I'll have to remember the drill-bit-at-an-angle method. So much more elegant and precise than the angle grinder I've been using! 

Well, it seems to work for the butcher here... Whenever I scrape silk to expose a copper plane, I start out with a hobby knife which already takes some careful handling. But it's fast, much faster than using the correct tool for the job (i.e. fiberglass pen), and the result is never nicely flat. Getting the exposed area tinned is hard because the solder flows very poorly. A few seconds touch up with fiberglass pen results in a much smoother surface and the solder attaches much better.

[mikerj]

For scraping off solder resist I find a curved scalpel blade is hard to beat. 

[sokoloff]

If you are already buying something, why not just buy the thing you want in the first place and avoid all the aggravation?

[wraper]

Ok found a video here, pretty sick:

What is that connector? It's not standard USB-C.

EDIT: Found it. Some China special without any data lines https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32885941456.html

[oPossum]

Type C power/charge only

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/type-c-in-micro-usb-footprint-(female-connectors)/

[aix]

LCSC sells this style of connectors:

https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Others_Korean-Hroparts-Elec-TYPE-C-31-M-17_C283540.html

It only has VBUS, GND and CC1/CC2.

[jancelot]

A new video has come out, replacing USB-A and micro-USB with USB-C. Outstanding.