Replacing the USB port on my Nokia N900

Here is a step by step illustration of how I replaced the crap (and broken) USB micro-A port on my n900 with a nice sturdy case-mounted (not PCB mounted) mini-B connector, on flying leads (so as to avoid the problem of motion cracking the solder joints, which caused the original failure.)

Enjoy!

First I soldered some wires onto a USB mini-B connector which I salvaged from a scrap device, and had cut the extra metalwork off. The wires were later superglued to the top of the socket and bent 90 degrees.

Enlarging the hole… I also trimmed off the plastic lug visible just left of the port.

Using bluetack to prevent the araldite getting where I didnt want it - and carefully gluing in the socket.

I removed the plastic support from behind the memory card / LED PCB. that was nerve-wracking. the ribbon cable is actually bonded into the centre layers of the PCB so damaging it would have resulted in a dead phone.

Aralditing in the connector to the outside of the casing. I used a scrap USB plug to prevent araldite penetrating the socket. I also araldited over the back of the socket to insulate the solder joints.

I cut the majority of the plastic bracket away to make space for the wiring inside the case. There is *phenomenally* little space in there.

Closeup of the wires soldered to the main PCB.

A thin coat of araldite used to insulate the joins, as they are in physical contact with the back of the new socket.

Routing the wires neatly. In retrospect, I didn't need to remove so much of the bracket. Nevermind…

Main PCB back in place, showing the final routing.

Not a clear shot, but you can just see that I had to enlarge the hole visible in the bottom centre of the main PCB so that the screen support would fit through it. This is because the PCB sits ever so slightly proud due to there not being quite enough space in the case, and the socket having moved slightly during gluing. All four screws are fitted back in later, though, and the slider lines up perfectly.

Nearly finished. Not shown yet (because I havent done it yet) is that I plan to fill the area around the socket with black-dyed araldite, which I will then sand into a pleasing profile, to hide the fact that the socket sits proud of the casing.

The phone works perfectly, and charges happily via its new port. Which is nice, because EVERYONE has a mini-B lead around, but micro-A chargers (that work) are a touch harder to come by… :)