[ohiomoto]

I've never use with a case with any of my phones, but I briefly tested a Fascinate with a silicone case and it charged. My HP Touchpad charges just fine with it's case on, but that's a different charger. I'll dig up the Fascinate and play with it a little more to see if it charges reliably.

If you are going to use a case, then I would say this would be a desktop only mod unless you get creative with the magnets.

[CBMC]

I've never use with a case with any of my phones, but I briefly tested a Fascinate with a silicone case and it charged. My HP Touchpad charges just fine with it's case on, but that's a different charger. I'll dig up the Fascinate and play with it a little more to see if it charges reliably.

If you are going to use a case, then I would say this would be a desktop only mod unless you get creative with the magnets.

With the dizotronic case my phone will not charge at times. I have to fiddle with it. But since I am going to use this in my car, I will be taking my case off. There is no way it will work as a car mount with a case and the magnets inside the case. You could mount the magnets on the outside of the case. The alignment of the coil might be a little off, which might be why it doesn't charge with the case on.

On a side note, does it take about 12 seconds for the touchstone to start charging once you put the phone on it.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[ohiomoto]

Not 12 seconds, maybe 2-4 seconds. Maybe you have a weak contact somewhere?

[kms108]

I intend to do this mod as well, but with a different approach, instead of using the 3 pogo pins, i intend to use the USB instead, on the net it has surfaced that this mod has been done with the galaxy s i9000, i intend to do it the same way, i have already purchased the parts to do the mod on, and remove the original from the phone and keep as spare.



I have indicated with a white dot , this is where one of the fly wire will connect to the coil, and the other will be a copper tape from the sim card holder to the other connector of the coil, the information is identical to the mod of the i9000, the photo is a spare part that i got from china for a few $, so if i mess it up, it doesn't cost much and i can always get some more.

Just deciding whether to start the mod or not with regarding the warranty, and whether the guitar pick will scratch the side of the phone whiles removing the frame.

one more thing, is the palm pre coil the better option rather than the pixi.

the video shows it in more detail.

[ohiomoto]

I've done the High WAF MOD on a few phones now and it is referenced in the OP. Just be very careful. The pins on the USB port are very delicate. I fried one on a Fascinate trying to undo the mod.

I'm curious why you would go through the trouble to do it this way when the pogo pins are so easily accessed and the risks are much lower. Are there advantages to using the USB port?

Also, would you provide your source for parts? This would be useful to have and I'll add it to the OP. Thanks.

[kms108]

If i use the USB, it does not affect any part of the phone, the phone can be used the same as the mod was never done.

the parts only cost me about USD 3, there is not a online order, got it direct from shenzhen china, other parts are also available., I go to china 2-3 time every month.
trying to get the touchstone now, just considering the pre or pixi, which one would you recommend, I need the thinnest and smallest one.

[ScooberJake]

one more thing, is the palm pre coil the better option rather than the pixi.

The coil is the same for both, but the PCB that goes between the coil and the contacts is significantly smaller on the Pre. Definitely go with the Pre.

[kms108]

thanks for your help.

[ohiomoto]

If i use the USB, it does not affect any part of the phone, the phone can be used the same as the mod was never done.

I understand that, but so does this MOD. I'm confused. Plus, you can undo this MOD "same as the mod was never done" with far less effort without the risk of ruining the USB pinout.

I'm a big fan of the High WAF MOD, but I can't see doing it on this phone when the pins are much easier to get to and much safer to use even if you are soldering to them. The end result is the same with both MODs, but this one is safer and easier to do because the Galaxy Nexus has the pins.

[freeskier44]

Maybe it will give him AC charging? Instead of USB

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[ohiomoto]

I don't think so. I'll have to take a look at my Fascinate when I get home, but I think it charges at the USB rate too.

[CBMC]

Not 12 seconds, maybe 2-4 seconds. Maybe you have a weak contact somewhere?

All the contacts seem good (I soldered the tape to the pins and to the touchstone internal pad). Seems to be putting 5.5 to the pins immediately. Just taking about 12 seconds to indicate that it is charging. Anyone else seeing a delay of 12 seconds from the time you put the touchstone on till the time the phone indicates charging?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[ohiomoto]

I just checked, mine actually takes around 10 seconds to show that it's charging.

I also checked the Fascinate and it charges at USB like I thought.

[Step666]

Ok, just trying to get all the pieces together for this...

Touchstone dock, check.
Touchstone internals (specifically from the Pre not the Pixi), check.
Copper tape - would do?
Rare earth magnets - are a wee bit bigger at 8mmx1mm than the 1/4"x1/32" you used but they should be ok, right?

edit: knew I'd forget about something... the guitar picks.
I've never played guitar so I don't have any kicking round, when looking into them it seems there are various different thicknesses, any particular one I should go for? Would thinnest be best to avoid damaging the handset or would that just make them liable to snap?


Also, trying to keep it all as low-profile as I can in the battery cover, would superglue be ok for holding stuff in place?
It should be fine for the magnets at least, what about the coils?


Thanks.

[kms108]

I just checked, mine actually takes around 10 seconds to show that it's charging.

I also checked the Fascinate and it charges at USB like I thought.

i'm still thinking if it's your method or mine, since i do have the spart part, also when you say about the status as USB charging, do you plug direct to PC or a wall charger.

with wall charger it shouldn't say usb charging.

[kms108]

Ok, just trying to get all the pieces together for this...

Touchstone dock, check.
Touchstone internals (specifically from the Pre not the Pixi), check.
Copper tape - would do?
Rare earth magnets - are a wee bit bigger at 8mmx1mm than the 1/4"x1/32" you used but they should be ok, right?

edit: knew I'd forget about something... the guitar picks.
I've never played guitar so I don't have any kicking round, when looking into them it seems there are various different thicknesses, any particular one I should go for? Would thinnest be best to avoid damaging the handset or would that just make them liable to snap?


Also, trying to keep it all as low-profile as I can in the battery cover, would superglue be ok for holding stuff in place?
It should be fine for the magnets at least, what about the coils?


Thanks.

I think anything that is thin and stong to replace the guitar pick, I think a credit card may work or those phone opening tools.

[ohiomoto]

i'm still thinking if it's your method or mine, since i do have the spart part, also when you say about the status as USB charging, do you plug direct to PC or a wall charger.

with wall charger it shouldn't say usb charging.

The USB port on a PC won't power the Touchstone. You must use a power block that charges at at least 1A to power the Touchstone. When the phone is on the Touchstone using a wall charger, it will show that it's charging USB, same as if it's plugged into a PC. This is controlled by the phone and none of the current MODs will get AC charging from a Touchstone.

[kms108]

thanks for letting me know.

[ohiomoto]

No problem. Also I should say that as far as I know, none of the MODs will get AC charging.

[ScooberJake]

I suspect the charging rate is largely dependent on the strength of the electromagnetic field supplied by the Touchstone. If it isn't strong enough to provide ~1A of current through the coil, then no amount of phone mods will change that and you will never register AC charging, even through the USB port. That seems to match with Ohiomoto's experience with the Fascinate.

The other thing regarding the guitar picks that I didn't understand from the OP is that you need to work one pick all the way around the phone first. There appears to be a bit of a bond that must be broken. Once that is done you can wedge multiple picks between the two pieces (as shown in the linked picture) to get the two pieces apart. A very thin guitar pick works well for breaking that bond as it will slide around the corners easily.

[Step666]

I think anything that is thin and stong to replace the guitar pick, I think a credit card may work or those phone opening tools.

Looking at the phone and at a dead credit card I have to hand, I think I'm going to get myself one of those iPhone toolkits that has the little plastic pry tools.
They come to a sharp/thin edge, so I think they'll be better for opening it up.

I used one a few years for opening up an mp3 player, the plastic on them is soft, so less risk of scratching the Nexus as well.
Unfortunately, the flip-side of soft plastic is it was blunted after one use.



I'd still like to hear feedback on the tape and the magnets from someone who's a bit more au fait with all this...

Copper tape - would do?
Rare earth magnets - are a wee bit bigger at 8mmx1mm than the 1/4"x1/32" you used but they should be ok, right?

I suspect the charging rate is largely dependent on the strength of the electromagnetic field supplied by the Touchstone. If it isn't strong enough to provide ~1A of current through the coil, then no amount of phone mods will change that and you will never register AC charging, even through the USB port. That seems to match with Ohiomoto's experience with the Fascinate.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it pretty similar to the likes of a transformer? A magnetic field transferring current from one coil of wire to another?
If so, then doesn't the number of coils will have an effect on the output?

If I'm correct, the kit could be designed to only provide a USB level of power.

[ohiomoto]

Ok, just trying to get all the pieces together for this...

Touchstone dock, check.
Touchstone internals (specifically from the Pre not the Pixi), check.
Copper tape - would do?
Rare earth magnets - are a wee bit bigger at 8mmx1mm than the 1/4"x1/32" you used but they should be ok, right?

edit: knew I'd forget about something... the guitar picks.
I've never played guitar so I don't have any kicking round, when looking into them it seems there are various different thicknesses, any particular one I should go for? Would thinnest be best to avoid damaging the handset or would that just make them liable to snap?


Also, trying to keep it all as low-profile as I can in the battery cover, would superglue be ok for holding stuff in place?
It should be fine for the magnets at least, what about the coils?


Thanks.

The tape looks fine and I think the magnets should fit. You could use epoxy for the magnets, but make sure you have them where you want them. The tape is nice because you can make adjustments and once everything is put together it holds fine. It was good enough for Palm. The magnets and PCB are the thickest items you'll be installing. The thickness of the tape isn't an issue.

I just went to my local music store and grabbed a bunch of picks. I used ones that were on the thicker side and they worked fine. You could get an assortment if you wanted to try thinner ones. I don't think it matters much.

[ScooberJake]

Looking at the phone and at a dead credit card I have to hand, I think I'm going to get myself one of those iPhone toolkits that has the little plastic pry tools.
They come to a sharp/thin edge, so I think they'll be better for opening it up.

I used one a few years for opening up an mp3 player, the plastic on them is soft, so less risk of scratching the Nexus as well.
Unfortunately, the flip-side of soft plastic is it was blunted after one use.

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it pretty similar to the likes of a transformer? A magnetic field transferring current from one coil of wire to another?
If so, then doesn't the number of coils will have an effect on the output?

If I'm correct, the kit could be designed to only provide a USB level of power.

I have read multiple accounts that the iPhone tool works but guitar picks are easier.

I believe you are correct about the USB power. It is probably dependent on the Touchstone hardware, not on the input point on the GNex.

[Step666]

Well, the toolkit I paid a whopping 99p for comes with a couple of picks as well as a couple of the tools with the thinner edges.
So hopefully that should be fine.

I shall order the tape and the magnets now.

Last thing left to sort out is the extended battery and cover...

[kichard]

...do you think this would work without the final solder..?