Hardware Making a terrible 3ds charger out of a mini sub cord

[SimplyFedorable]

Hey, it’s simplyfedorable coming back after like 3 years. I lost my 3ds charger about 4 months ago, and recently have been wanting to play Tetris. After a quick google search I found that a mini usb cable is kinda the same size as a 3ds charger, but saw that you had to really force it in to fit. Since I have no desire to harm my 3ds, I put this little fact in the back of my head. A couple days ago I was look through the dump in my town and found a box of metal files, and realized that I could file down the mini usb cable for charging purposes. It took about 10 minutes, and the results are pretty good

here is the finished cable with the file I used

It fits in to my 3ds surprisingly well. There is a little resistance, but it helps keeping the cable in. It doesn’t feel like I’m breaking anything. It’s been plugged in my 3ds for about 20 minutes and nothing bad has happened yet, so it should be fine until I get a new cable.

 

[slimbizzy]

lol this scares me.

 

[TheCasualties]

I'm honestly impressed, if it really does work. I used to confuse my 3ds charger and the Dualshock 3 usb (mini usb?) cables. They are nearly the same size and feel almost the same when in a dark room.

So it's actually charging your 3ds?

Also, great score finding those files at a dump! I have a collection of files similar to the one in your picture. They are great for all sorts of uses. I made one of them into a pretty decent knife, attached into a wood handle.

 

[SimplyFedorable]

lol this scares me.

It feels somewhat safe. I saw threads about literally shoving the full mini usb cord into the port, which would break the plastic around the charging port through raw determination to charge your 3ds. That scares me lol

 

[slimbizzy]

It feels somewhat safe. I saw threads about literally shoving the full mini usb cord into the port, which would require breaking the plastic around the charging port. That scares me lol

yeah, that is pretty sketchy in my eyes. i don't see why it wouldn't work though.

in fact, the resemblance between the DSi and 3DS chargers to microusb is uncanny... especially, if the usb is able to charge your 3ds. that means the leads on the plug are in the same spots... maybe nintendo actually used micro usb before? but realized they could make more money making their OWN version of the plug? making it bigger wouldn't work, but making it smaller would... hmmm

 

[Hayato213]

You are better off buying a 3DS charger, the pin on it doesn't match what the 3DS use, you can damage the port, making your situation worse.

 

[SimplyFedorable]

I'm honestly impressed, if it really does work. I used to confuse my 3ds charger and the Dualshock 3 usb (mini usb?) cables. They are nearly the same size and feel almost the same when in a dark room.

So it's actually charging your 3ds?

Also, great score finding those files at a dump! I have a collection of files similar to the one in your picture. They are great for all sorts of uses. I made one of them into a pretty decent knife, attached into a wood handle.

it charges the same speed as my old charger, but my old charger was a third party usb 3ds charger. It didn’t cause any concerning heat or smell after a few hours of charging. The 3ds charging pins do slightly touch the data pins of the mini usb cord, but I assume this doesn’t cause any issues if the usb cord is only plugged into a standard 5v phone charger.

also I found a whole set and a really study tool too with this file. It was a really amazing find. The dump in my town is amazing, I’ve found a really nice barely used road bike and $1000+ in music equipment. I check it out every other week

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

yeah, that is pretty sketchy in my eyes. i don't see why it wouldn't work though.

in fact, the resemblance between the DSi and 3DS chargers to microusb is uncanny... especially, if the usb is able to charge your 3ds. that means the leads on the plug are in the same spots... maybe nintendo actually used micro usb before? but realized they could make more money making their OWN version of the plug? making it bigger wouldn't work, but making it smaller would... hmmm

They aren’t exactly the same. Mini usb is slightly shorter then the 3ds charger, but the extra width helps keep it in. Also yeah, they probably made their own chargers so people could pay a premium for Nintendo chargers

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

You are better off buying a 3DS charger, the pin on it doesn't match what the 3DS use, you can damage the port, making your situation worse.

Yeah, this is my lazy bum solution until I get a real charger. The pin out is pretty similar, and the only potentially problematic pins are data pins that shouldn’t have anything going through them if plugged into a wall wart

 

[Hayato213]

it charges the same speed as my old charger, but my old charger was a third party usb 3ds charger. It didn’t cause any concerning heat or smell after a few hours of charging. The 3ds charging pins do slightly touch the data pins of the mini usb cord, but I assume this doesn’t cause any issues if the usb cord is only plugged into a standard 5v phone charger.

also I found a whole set and a really study tool too with this file. It was a really amazing find. The dump in my town is amazing, I’ve found a really nice barely used road bike and $1000+ in music equipment. I check it out every other week

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


They aren’t exactly the same. Mini usb is slightly shorter then the 3ds charger, but the extra width helps keep it in. Also yeah, they probably made their own chargers so people could pay a premium for Nintendo chargers

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------


Yeah, this is my lazy bum solution until I get a real charger. The pin out is pretty similar, and the only potentially problematic pins are data pins that shouldn’t have anything going through them if plugged into a wall wart

It is not like it is expensive, you can get one under $10, the charger has specific output voltage/amperes, what you are doing is like a suicide move for the 3DS.

 

[SimplyFedorable]

It is not like it is expensive, you can get one under $10, the charger has specific output voltage/amperes, what you are doing is like a suicide move for the 3DS.

I used a usb 3ds charger for years with no issues, there’s really not that much difference between this cable and a real 3ds charger. Unless power is running through the data - pin for some reason, there should be no issues. The only other pin that is making contact with a charging port pin is the id pin (which does nothing here)

also geez I wrote way too long of a response to this lol. I did title this thread “a terrible cable” and I posted this because I found it kinda funny, but I guess I was nostalgic of the pointless arguments I got into on gbatemp when I 14. But god damn it I have pride in my handiwork and I will stand by it

 

[Hayato213]

I used a usb 3ds charger for years with no issues, there’s really not that much difference between this cable and a real 3ds charger. Unless power is running through the data - pin for some reason, there should be no issues. The only other pin that is making contact with a charging port pin is the id pin (which does nothing here)

also geez I wrote way too long of a response to this lol. I did title this thread “a terrible cable” and I posted this because I found it kinda funny, but I guess I was nostalgic of the pointless arguments I got into on gbatemp when I 14. But god damn it I have pride in my handiwork and I will stand by it

It is alright I don't really care too much, just giving my two cents of opinion, anyway best of luck not frying the unit.

 

[SimplyFedorable]

It is alright I don't really care too much, just giving my two cents of opinion, anyway best of luck not frying the unit.

Cool have a nice day

 

[TurdPooCharger]

I'm gonna have to agree with @Hayato213 that modifying a Mini USB-(A or B) male adapter into shape that fits the 3DS charger port is a bad idea.

The first issue is that shaving away metal with a filler and lightly hammering the wall profile can leave the plug surface rough. That in turn can wear or scratch the inner surface of the charger port if using this adapter on a permanent basis. I supposed you could light grit wet sand the texture smooth, but that brings us to...

The next problem is ensuring the work piece is clean of any metal debris by using canned air, toothpick, toothbrush, isopropyl rubbing alcohol, and/or hair dryer for quick drying. In the off chance you get a tiny metal speck embedded inside the male adapter's (+) and (-) pins, that can hardbrick or kill your 3DS system.

The last flaw is that Mini USB design sits the pins a fraction lower than what the DS has them placed. If this rigged adapter was used on a prolonged basis, the tight fitment pressing the male adapter's pins against the charger port's inner counterpart pins could likewise bend that port's center rail downward. That can result in a looser fit between the charger port and official Nintendo plug design.

***

generic (o/n)(2/3)DS(i)(XL/LL)(lite/phat) USB charger cable: US $2.50 + free shipping

• [eBay] USB Charger Power Cable Cord Plug for Nintendo 3DS / DSi / DSi LL / XL

This cable should work with those generic USB wall cube power adapters you can get at Walmart, Target, gas stations, or dollar stores. Make sure the plug's voltage & current output is DC 4.8–5.2 V and 0.8–1.2 A. Try to avoid smart phone chargers with fast charge and USB-C. These tend to have output current that exceeds the safe limits of the DS family of handhelds. Pushing something like 1.5–2.0 A on a continual basis will quickly burn out the EM10 power supply filter.

***

generic (o/n)(2/3)DS(i)(XL/LL)(lite/phat) AC charger adapter: US $6 total

• [eBay] New AC Home Wall Charger for Nintendo 3DS, DSi, 2DS, 3DS XL or DSi XL Systems

***

If you're dead broke, have no means of acquiring a proper AC charger, and your 3DS model has side contacts for dock charging,

• Possible to solder a USB power to a broken charge port? [post #7]

Edit - Had to fix the link for the above thread.

 

[CallmeBerto]

Idk man, for 10 bucks you can save yourself from breaking a 200+ device.