Samsung Galaxy S3 Touchstone Wireless Charging Mod

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

Galaxy S3 Touchstone Mod

For those who want to skip to the pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lik3ztc8vjgg3ue/AkFssnnX-H

I wanted to share my recent success with implementing wireless charging on my GS3. My mod is similar to android94301's post over on XDA. There are also many other GS3 touchstone mods, but mine might be the closest thing to stock functionality without buying the touchstone enabled back on eBay. This method is definitely more difficult than some of the others, but in my opinion it is well worth the extra work. As always, I make no guarantee that this modification will work for you or that it is entirely safe. If you decide to do this yourself, be careful and be smart as I am not responsible for wrecked devices.

Some of the key differences in my mod vs. the others I have seen:

• Uses copper foil instead of copper tape.
• No wires required.
• Absolutely no soldering required.
• All modifications are done on battery cover.
• Zero connection problems.
• Works with or without case.*
• Does not impede NFC functionality.
• All modifications, except those done to the case are completely reversible.

*Only tested with Cimo Flexible TPU Case.


When I first started researching the wireless charging capabilities of the S3, I had initially planned to purchase the QI wireless receiver and one of the plethora of off brand QI charging mats. Unsatisfied with paying $40-$50 dollars to enable a "convenience feature" that many complained would only charge after a careful alignment of the device, I continued my research and found out the touchstone coil included in the old Palm Pre and Palm Pixi would be a perfect substitute and a much more affordable alternative.

I purchased the following items on Amazon:

Cimo Gloss Back TPU Case - $8.93
Amazon.com: Cimo Gloss Back Flexible TPU Cover Case for Samsung Galaxy S3 S3 (AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, International) - White (Revision 2): Cell Phones & Accessories

Touchstone Charging Dock - $9.99
Amazon.com: Touchstone Charging Dock for Palm Pixi & Pre: Everything Else

Palm Pixi Touchstone Battery Door - $5.00
Amazon.com: Palm Pixi / Pixi Plus Touchstone Battery Door - Black: Cell Phones & Accessories

Palm USB Wall Adapter - $4.82
Amazon.com: Palm Pre Original Smart Phone AC USB Wall Adapter + Original Palm PRE Charging USB 2.0 Data Cable: Cell Phones & Accessories

1/4" x 1/32" Neodymium Magnets - $4.48 (eBay)
1/4" x 1/32" Neodymium magnets | eBay

The prices above are representative of what the items cost at the time of writing. You will also need a small amount of copper foil, something to cut the foil, electrical tape and a flexible adhesive for attaching the magnets to the case (I used hot glue.) If enough people are interested in using my method, but cannot find copper foil for cheap, I may set it up so I can send the necessary amount of foil for a small price. Also, if anyone would like a step by step guide, I can write one up, but I just want to make sure people are interested in it first. For those familiar with touchstone mods my method should be pretty self evident. The pictures can be found at the following dropbox link because the attachment upload said my files were "too big" for some reason.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lik3ztc8vjgg3ue/AkFssnnX-H

The phone seems to charge just as fast wirelessly as it did with micro USB, but the convenience of being able to charge it without plugging it in leads me to charge it much more frequently and as a result the battery stays topped off. I will also be doing a car touchstone mod that is only possible because of the increased hold granted by the neodymium magnets, but an important fact to note is that the magnets WILL most likely affect the internal compass of the device. If you have any questions feel free to ask them, and if you want a step by step guide just vote in the poll or make a post saying so. Good luck to any of you modders that plan to use the touchstone, it is a great charger and I absolutely love it. Thanks for reading, and I hope you have enjoyed my mod.

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

Reserved

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

Guess the GS3 touchstone is old news now lol

 

[trucky]

Not so much that it's old news for me. I've wanted to do this or something similar for some time now. Your cost estimates listed are over $33, maybe plus shipping, plus copper foil... The ready made backs and kits aren't much more than that online. Does the addition of the magnets you used make for a solid attachment to the Touchstone base? I couldn't really tell from the pics but did you dremel just partially through the back to make the magnets more flush mount? I like the concept but lack the right tools to do exactly what you did.

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

It is not technically necessary to use all the parts that I listed, that was simply to show exactly what I did as I think it is the best way to do it. It could be done with only the charging dock and battery door but it basically will not hold on to the charger without some kind of support. The reason I used the case is that most touchstone mods I have seen either will not work with a case, or they won't make a strong attachment to the dock (And I refuse to not have my galaxy in a case.) In total, you really only have to spend $15ish to get wireless charging working and you may be able to find it for cheaper. In addition to the dock and palm pixi back, you would need electrical tape and the copper foil and I can send the foil to people interested for a couple bucks. As far as the magnets, it holds on great to the charger and helps to quickly guide the phone to the correct position. Also, that is exactly what I did to make the magnets flush. I took a dremel and a small die grinder bit to carefully remove the TPU material until the magnets were level with the rest of the case. Then took a standard polishing wheel and removed all the rough edges. Had I thought about my method though, and if I were to do it again I would probably paint the bottom side of the magnets to match the case so it would be less noticeable but honestly it looks kinda cool and makes people ask what its for.

 

[sure why not]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.

RCT,
How many magnets did you buy?
I see 80 for $9.99 free shipping.

Just got my Pixi kit today and am waiting on the spare back to do the mod.

I'm using the Samsung slim bumper case and hope to fit all of my mod into the battery door.
I'll set it low so as not to interfere with NFC and probably just bore through the back and set the magnets flush with the outside of the battery door in epoxy.
They should hold right through the case I assume.

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

I think I bought 10 magnets. Those magnets will hold it very firm so you don't have to worry about that. Don't put the coil too low on the phone though, or the bottom of the phone will hit the desk before it reaches the charger. If you haven't done it already, I can assure you that your gonna love the wireless charging.

 

[sure why not]

I would think the opposite would be true???
(if the coil is too high the phone will hit the table before the coil is lined up)

Still waiting on my spare battery door....
The retrofitted ones are only $29.95 on Ebay, but I like to tinker.

I ordered 100 of the 1/16" thick N42 magnets for $7.48 with free shipping from Amazon.
Applied Magnets ? 100 Rare Earth Neodymium Magnets 1/4" X 1/16" Discs - Amazon.com
If I decide to put another Touchstone in my truck I may add some magnets to the base so the phone is SURE to stay in place.

I am looking forward to saving the wear & tear on my USB socket.

 

[trucky]

Any progress on the mobile mount?

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

Any progress on the mobile mount?

Thanks for asking, I had completely forgotten to update about that. It is not yet finished, though it is fully functional. All I have left to do is get some filler to smooth everything out, and then paint it. I'll eventually make a fresh thread about just the phone mount but I'll put some pictures up here in the meantime.

If the following images do not work, you can see them by visiting the following dropbox link.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1fw974iltm4u7wx/8JzAmBvS6H

 

[Roll_Cam_Tide]

You are correct, I was thinking about it last night when I put mine on the charger and I realized what I had said lol. It can't hurt to have plenty of magnets. On my car touchstone I didn't need extra on the base, but it could differ for you.

 

[sure why not]

You are correct, I was thinking about it last night when I put mine on the charger and I realized what I had said lol. It can't hurt to have plenty of magnets. On my car touchstone I didn't need extra on the base, but it could differ for you.

Actually I figured out today that I don't need any.
I'm coming from the "Walled Garden".... and have taken my iPhone Otterbox Defender belt clip and screwed it to my dash.
With a little work from a Dremel it fits my S3 great and I intend to program a NFC tag to turn off Wifi, turn on Bluetooth, Nav and Driving mode.
I think I can just use a hole saw to set my second Touchstone into it from the back.

I love epoxy!