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Add a USB Port to your USB optical Mouse |
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Written by JasonR
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Wednesday, 24 August 2005 |
The main reason for this hack was because I was too lazy to reach all the way over to my
computer
to plug in my USB flash drive. Amazing how laziness spawns some of the best ideas
eh?
Required:
- USB Mouse
- 2 Port USB hub, (NOT EXTERNALLY POWERED)
- Soldering iron
- Some solder
- Wire cutter/Stripper
- Flat head screwdriver (-)
- Philips head screwdriver (+)
- Permanent Markers, a few different colors is helpful
- 1 USB female connector
- 4 Wires, aprox 3 inches long, CAT5 Cable works good
- Razor Knife (Utility Knife)
- Electrical tape
Step 1
Open the 2 Port USB hub, usually these are just glued together and easily popped open with a flat head screwdriver
Step 2
When looking at a FEMALE USB CONNECTOR head on and up right, the pin on the right most side is ground
MARK THE LOCATION OF GROUND ON THE BOARD NOW
TOP
_________
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| ====== | Right
| R W G B |
Bottom
Wires, red white green and black will be soldered in this order later
VERY CAREFULLY Desolder the USB connectors from the board
Be sure to mark what wires went
where as you will need to this when connecting everything
When you're done the board should be small enough to fit inside the mouse case and close
the mouse.
Test this out now and make sure you don't cover the screw hole with the USB
board.
DOES it fit?
Good, on to step 4
If not then on to step 3
Step 3
Trim the USB board if and ONLY IF it did not fit inside the mouse shell.
Trimming the board is dangerous and can result in the board's death.
Be Careful and if you cut any traces use some wire and repair them.
Step 4
Open the mouse case, usually there is a screw holding the top and bottom together along
with some tabs that lock in place.
If you cant find the screw look under stickers or
labels, it is there somewhere.
Step 5
Now that the mouse is open follow the USB cable to where it connects to the main board of
the mouse.
Cut the wire about 4 inches from where it is connected to the board.
Step 6
Cut back the shielding and strip the 4 wires back about 1/8 inch
Do this to both wires
Step 7
solder the wires from the USB cable to the spot on the USB hub where the hub plugged into
the computer.
Hopefully you marked which wires went where like I stated above
Step 8
Solder the wires leading from the mouse board to one of the two empty ports on the USB hub
**************
At this point its a good idea to test the mouse out
Plug it in and it should detect a USB hub then the mouse and everything should work fine
If something doesn’t work check all your connections
**************
Step 9
solder your 4 wires I told you to get in the requirements list to the female USB connector
Make sure you dont create any solder bridges
TOP
_________
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| ====== | Right
| R W G B |
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| | | |
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Step 10
Solder the other ends of the wires to the corresponding locations on the USB hub board
When finished wrap the hub board with electrical tape to insulate it from the mouse board
It should look like this when you're done
Step 11
Using a razor knife VERY CAREFULLY cut a hole in the mouse's shell for the USB port
I am right handed so I put the hole right in the middle of the gap between my thumb and
index finger.
The location should also be chosen based on how it will affect the space
constraints inside the mouse.
Step 12
Hot glue the USB female connector in place on the mouse shell.
I recommend plugging the end of the cord into the connector so help hold it in place.
Step 13
Reassemble the mouse and plug it in
Testing
The hub should detect first, then the mouse
Now plug in your flash drive
If it doesn’t work double check your work
I fried my USB hub the first time I tried this, turns out sensitive electronics don’t like excessive heat from soldering irons : )
Happy Hacking!
Jason
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 August 2005 )
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Computer Components 
