Dreamgear PS2 Keyboard retracable cord How-to
Use these and any other instructions at your own risk. If you fry your computer or anything else, it your problem not mine!Until i get my center console squared away and finish up my
motorized keyboard, I wanted some input solution to start playing with the carpc.
I came across the Dreamgear Minikey keyboard for the PS2 on
MP3Car.com. Basically a tiny usb keyboard.
Not too bad, but it would be nice if it were wireless. I start thinking about this and decide it's too much effort. Retractable? That seems like the way to go.
So I look around at the various USB retractable extension cables. They all seem the same, so I head to the RadioShack down the street and pick one up.
 | The USB extension cable Only 2.5ft, but long enough for my needs. I would have prefered one with the retracting mechanism on one side (so I could hide it under the dash), no such luck. Couldn't find anything like that. So I'll have to live (for now) with the mechanism outside of the dash. |
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 | Step 1: Opening the keyboard There are 4 screws on the back that you'll need to remove to open the case. |
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 | Step 2: Peeking inside Opening up the unit, you'll see the cable comes in and attaches to four solder points. A wire-tie is used for a strain relief. Snip it off. |
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 | Step 3: Figuring out the keyboard wiring There are four solder points we need to concern ourselves with.
GND
DW
DG
VCC
Using a multimeter, I figured out which lead went to what contact on the other end of the cable as noted in the picture. |
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 | Step 4: Figuring out the extension cable wiring. Next you need to snip off the extension end of the wiring and figure out what wire goes to what contact. On mine, it went
Orange, Green, White (inside), White (outside).
Use a multimeter to double check! |
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 | Step 5: Soldering the extension cable to the keyboard Unsolder the old USB wire off the keyboard and remove it. Then thread your extension cable into the hole. You want to remove about 1/4" or more from the wire housing and about 1/8" from each wire.
The wires are quite thin. A steady hand helps. Unfortunately, I don't have one. Make sure you don't make any unintentional shorts between the solder points. The thin usb wires are stranded and can easy fray touching the adjacent contact if your not careful. |
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 | Step 6: Cover it up To support the wires a bit and make sure I didn't get any shorts from one of the thin wires breaking, I coated the area in liquid electrical tape and let it dry. |
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 | Step 7: Add a strain relief You want to use a wire tie to provide some strain relief. Those thin USB wires aren't going to take much at all before they pull off.
I just used a little wire-tie, giving myself enough room so I could close it up.
Just put the keyboard back together and screw in the 4 screws and you should be done.
One other point to note, the way those extension cables work, now that one side is shorter, one side will have a little slack. You can fix this easy enough. Extend the cable all the way, gently pull the shorter side through the retractable assembly until they are equal lengths. |
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