Power Thru Battery Ribbon Connector

[palmer]

The last month of quarantining and my natural instinct to tinker has caused me to pull-out some of my old electronics and re-visit them. In my pile of devices was my cube i7 stylus that I shelved due to a broken power/barrel connector that prevented me from powering and charging the device. Before I shelved it last October, I had tried two different wall chargers. The only way I could get the tablet to charge was if I inserted the barrel end of the charger in the jack and bent it toward the top of the tablet. But even then, the red charging light would go out after a few minutes and I’d have to adjust the barrel end of the charger and bend it to the top of the tablet to start charging again.

I had read on these forums that some had success charging their cube i7 stylus with a USB-C PD charger thru the USB micro B port on the tablet. I tried this method using my Google Pixel Slate USB-C PD (3.0, 45W) charger however this didn’t work for me.

I took the back case off the cube i7 and noticed that the battery is connected to the mainboard via a ribbon cable. Has anyone attempted to re-wire the battery ribbon connector to adapt to the wall charger? The cube would then be powered thru the battery adapter on the mainboard 100% of the time. And yes, it wouldn’t be a portable tablet anymore, but I could mount it to the back of a monitor and have a DIY all-in-one PC.  I’m probably oversimplifying this but thought I would pose the question before I give up on the tablet completely.

[Rich Hall]

Send pics to [email protected] I have a better idea

[Jorge]

Hi, finally, what was your solution? Thanks

[typO969]

I am in the same predicament as the OP.

My options are: to find a way to power the tablet as the OP suggested, dismantle the tablet and turn it into a secondary touch display, or try to replace a faulty charge port with basic level soldering skills and no fine micro equipment.

[cherrywills]

It sounds like you’ve been quite resourceful during your quarantine! It’s great that you’re revisiting your old electronics and trying to troubleshoot the Cube i7 stylus. The charging issues you’ve described with the barrel connector sound frustrating, especially having to manipulate it just to get it to charge.

Using a USB-C PD charger is a smart approach, and it’s unfortunate that it didn’t work for your tablet. Your idea about re-wiring the battery ribbon connector to adapt it to a wall charger is interesting, and while it could potentially solve the power issue, it does come with risks, such as damaging the tablet or voiding any warranty.

If you’re considering that route, make sure to do thorough research and maybe look for guidance from others who have attempted similar modifications. Community forums can be a treasure trove of information and support. It might also be worth exploring other options, like looking for a replacement barrel connector or finding a specialized repair service, before committing to a DIY project. Good luck, and I hope you find a solution that brings your Cube i7 back to life! Net Worth

[Author]

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