Hacking SX PRO Battery replacement?

[Wiiunator]

This capacitor thing is a stupid solution really. Don’t know how many boots it can do before recharging but it defeats the idea of the dongle if you have to constantly recharge it. What if it runs out of juice when you are out and about.? It isn’t any better than using android device to send payload.
Non rechargeable battery would probably cost less and last for years.

I think it is actually a pretty good idea. In audio electronic at least, caps are used everywhere.. and you recap a recording console every 10 years or so. One major + is since your not shipping with batteries you don't have custom issues and it is good to go out of the box

 

[tech3475]

This capacitor thing is a stupid solution really. Don’t know how many boots it can do before recharging but it defeats the idea of the dongle if you have to constantly recharge it. What if it runs out of juice when you are out and about.? It isn’t any better than using android device to send payload.
Non rechargeable battery would probably cost less and last for years.

The reason they gave was because of transport issues using batteries:

• Q: Yikes, those are two huge caps in render picture? Is that going to taser my Switch, damage my system, or zap me!
  A: Super Cap’s actually (super-capacitor), 0.35F 2.7V, given the transport issues with Lithium based batteries SuperCap’s are fast becoming the go to temporary power source.
  No zapping ( very low voltage ) and we limit the charge current to ~400mA peak for either USB port.

• Q: Huh, two caps, how do they get 'charged'? Do I have now and then plug my dongle into micro-USB cable to charge it, what happens when it runs out of power? -- Why not battery instead? -- Does it instead drain my Switch battery, what happens if I leave it plugged in.
  A: The SuperCap’s are charged from either usb port ( USB-C or Micro USB ). The caps offer approximately 1 week standby time with enough energy left for one boot, or at least 5 successive boots without the opportunity to auto-charge. Charge to 80% is achieved (automatically) within 1-2 seconds of entry into the Nintendo start menu. We are working reducing that considerably … (see above for why not battery). Because we are powered by s-cap’s we have a very power conscious design.
  Leaving the dongle in the console for more than a minute is pointless but will do no harm in any way to the dongle and drain very little battery ( currently we draw ~25mA but will work on reducing that considerably after ~1-2 minutes charge mode).

https://gbatemp.net/threads/sx-pro-...-line-more-of-your-questions-answered.506124/

 

[comput3rus3r]

Do you honestly think they hand soldered thousands of these? I guess some people just have to talk shit all the time.

 

[BvanBart]

First of all... these won't break anytime soon.
And if I check the pictures they are easily replaceable.
But then again,... you won't have to.

 

[Wiiunator]

Do you honestly think they hand soldered thousands of these? I guess some people just have to talk shit all the time.

well I've seen plenty of boards with machine soldering before and they don't look like that. If it is machine soldering, then the "machine" is not tuned very well

 

[Squirelly]

This capacitor thing is a stupid solution really. Don’t know how many boots it can do before recharging but it defeats the idea of the dongle if you have to constantly recharge it. What if it runs out of juice when you are out and about.? It isn’t any better than using android device to send payload.
Non rechargeable battery would probably cost less and last for years.

According to TX if you leave the dongle plugged in, for as long as the Switch takes to boot, it will be fully charged again, so no problems when out and about as far as I can see.

 

[linuxares]

This capacitor thing is a stupid solution really. Don’t know how many boots it can do before recharging but it defeats the idea of the dongle if you have to constantly recharge it. What if it runs out of juice when you are out and about.? It isn’t any better than using android device to send payload.
Non rechargeable battery would probably cost less and last for years.

Capacitors charge stupid quick. So you should be fine.

 

[3DSDSXL]

Abit like a old camera flash within 10 seconds or so.

 

[frankGT]

Thanks for the tear down pics!! Was looking forward to these...

 

[WigWrm]

I know this is an old post... but I recently ran into issues with my SX pro. It took multiple attempts to send the TX payload and the thing eventually stopped charging altogether.

I opened up the case and saw a solder bridge between the +/- pads for one of the super caps. I removed the bridge but the short didn't go away. So I took the cap off and found that it was internally shorted.

Looking for a replacement the nearest thing I could find was p/n HP-2R7-J354UYLL made by a company called Kamcap. It has body dimensions of 5x12mm and is a 2.7V 0.35F supercap with 2mm lead spacing. You can't buy these things locally, and I didn't want to wait a month for a shipment from China.

So I did some digging and found this as a replacement p/n 304DCN2R7SCBB. It is a 2.7V 0.3F supercap made by Illinois Capacitors. Its body dimensions are 4x11mm and the lead spacing is 1.5mm. These are readily available on digikey and mouser.

I ordered them from mouser and replaced both caps on the SX pro. The thing is working flawlessly now! It sends the TX payload on the first try. Attached is a picture of the new caps installed on the SX pro pcb. Hope this is helpful to anyone who is looking to do repair work.

​

 

[mickthestud]

How do you open the sxpro it appears glued

 

[WigWrm]

I took a prying tool to the seam of the shell and carefully went around the edges. The shell stayed held together at one or two spots (broken plastic). But it wasn't enough damage that I couldn't reuse it.

The better alternative would be to use an x-acto blade. Just take your time and it will go well!

 

[ghjfdtg]

Your soldering job looks better than the original lmao Even the competing dongles from china are better made.