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Make a tiny USB plug for your Sansa Clip

By: Andreas Ødegård on November 23, 2009 4:01 PM

clip-plug-main.jpg

The Sansa Clip(+) is an awesome player. Small, cheap, yet very powerful and with very good sound quality. unfortunately the 15 hour battery is one of its weakest points, and you might need to charge it a couple of times if you're away for a few days. The cable that comes with it isn't exactly that big, but it could be smaller- here's how you make one that is.

To answer the criticism that will come before I even continue- yes there are products out there that will do this. here is one and it's $1.07 shipped. It's exactly what you would need to have a small adapter with you, and a very nice deal. However, if you want one that fits the Clip even better, or simply want a DIY project, here's how.

To make this adapter you need an existing mini USB cable. Cut off as much of the rubber on the USB A plug as you can and strip it down to the 4 colored wires that are inside the outer insulation. Splice them back together (make sure you insulate the splices) as short as you can (while still having enough length to twist it on top of the male connector) then glue it as the picture shows. The result is a nice, tiny connector that looks a bit more natural when connector to a computer, compared to the linked dongle that sticks out an inch or so.

clip-plug-01.jpg clip-plug-02.jpg clip-plug-03.jpg clip-plug-04.jpg
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Comments

temp on November 24, 2009 12:01 AM

Can someone explain to me WHY Sandisk uses proprietary ports? It makes no sense to me at all.

temp on November 24, 2009 12:23 AM

Sorry to abuse the comments but i have one valid question now:

Will USB 3.0 solve some of these proprietary cable issues?

Proprietary My Foot! on November 24, 2009 1:09 AM

The player featured in this article uses a bog standard mini USB cable. The author even linked to one for just over a dollar. Nothing proprietary about that, now is there?

FWIW the big name competition are the ones with the proprietary cables.

Jprone on November 24, 2009 7:41 AM

The biggest culprits for proprietary stuff is Sony and Samsung I find....

Sandisk, Cowon usually are better about that.

Scooter on November 24, 2009 9:27 AM

Really, Jprone? Most Sandisk products use proprietary cables. As far as I'm aware, the Clip is the only one that doesn't. Even the Fuze is proprietary.

Mike on November 24, 2009 10:56 AM

Unlike mini-USB connections, is there a "standard" connection for docking ports (the kind at the bottom of a player, which can be used for docking purposes)? If not, perhaps that is why everyone uses proprietary connections.

Mike on November 24, 2009 11:01 AM

By the way, nice DIY article. And thanks for the link--especially at that price, good to have around!

Ron on January 16, 2010 4:55 PM

Just purchased a clip+...how does one charge it when there is no computer available?

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