Lumia 521 Qi Wireless Charging Mod

[exiva]

Continuing from my first mod of dying the white Lumia 521 shell to Yellow, I've now added in Qi wireless charging to my Lumia 521. It's a pretty finicky mod, but it works.

Here's some video of it in action.

It's not something to try to do if you've never soldered before, as you can easily ruin the phone. I've documented the process a bit and can answer questions if you want to try it yourself. I don't believe this mod will work on the 520, it does not seem to have these test pads at the bottom for USB like the 521 does.

 

[calfee20]

Why didn't you solder the wires to the opposite side of the board?

 

[exiva]

Why didn't you solder the wires to the opposite side of the board?

The set of test pads for USB (Probably used for flashing the device at the factory) are on the reverse, above the USB port.

 

[Shawn Magm]

That looks pretty sweet.

 

[Smyrna5]

Maybe I'm dense, but it isn't clear to me what you added, besides the wires. Great mod.

 

[xandros9]

this is beautiful

 

[exiva]

Maybe I'm dense, but it isn't clear to me what you added, besides the wires. Great mod.

Huh, not sure how i forgot the last 2 pictures. Edited with them.

this is beautiful

It's actually kind of a pain in the ***. I wouldn't recommend doing it. If you look in this picture, the grey material is some kind of shielding, or magnet... or something that makes it all work. Without it, the Qi plate connects to the coil, but after a few seconds errors out and stops charging. Problem is I can't get enough of this material in the 521 to make it work properly (Throw the phone down at any direction/angle on the plate) ..I've already sanded off as much of the plastic inside the case as I can. So it has to be pretty straight on the plate or it won't charge. It was just a proof of concept attempt at adding it in.

 

[Smyrna5]

Ah yes. It makes a lot more sense with that last picture

 

[worldspy99]

Nice work. Although I am getting rid of the Lumia 521 since I got a used Lumia 810 with built in wireless charging. Any details on coloring the case?

 

[ohgood]

Nice write up!

So long as you can get to the back side of the micro USB , you can add this to any phone, well, any device really. It's harder at the USB prongs , but it works.

Did it a few days ago and very happy with the results, much as you are I'm sure.

I'll be adding this to my gopro, tablets, and other phones.

 

[worldspy99]

Do you have a video of how you dyed the battery cover yellow?

 

[exiva]

Nice write up!

So long as you can get to the back side of the micro USB , you can add this to any phone, well, any device really. It's harder at the USB prongs , but it works.

Did it a few days ago and very happy with the results, much as you are I'm sure.

I'll be adding this to my gopro, tablets, and other phones.

Depends on the mA rating it needs. You could endup never actually charging the battery.

Do you have a video of how you dyed the battery cover yellow?

Not a video no, but I wrote it up on my blog. Mine's still holding up well, no fading no running of colors. I did however chip a corner, but that had nothing to do with the dye.

 

[worldspy99]

Thanks for the info about the dyeing process on your blog!

 

[worldbesta]

Hi, I want to mod my Nokia 520, but when I open it, the motherboard look little different. Just want to find out do you have the mod Qi wireless charging for this Nokia 520 phone?

 

[xandros9]

Hi, I want to mod my Nokia 520, but when I open it, the motherboard look little different. Just want to find out do you have the mod Qi wireless charging for this Nokia 520 phone?

Hello! Read the post:

I don't believe this mod will work on the 520, it does not seem to have these test pads at the bottom for USB like the 521 does.