Accessories Incredible cradle from a storm cradle

[ckelly33]

I waited on the OEM cradle but then obviously had to look elsewhere. I bought the amzer storm cradle from amazon.com for $16. I had to make a few dremel modifications (like removing the original charger and making a hole further down the cradle). It was relatively easy (although I made too big a hole in the first one). Took me about an hour.

To secure the new USB to the new plug, I took my wife's cooking torch and melted plastic and smeared it in to fill the holes.

WORKS GREAT!!

 

[AHanks12]

What clock is that?

 

[ckelly33]

It's Bedside. It's in the market for $1.99 I think. When I drop it in the dock/charge it the clock automatically displays and it goes to phone calls only. Perfect for my work where I am on call but don't want to know when a text or email comes through (but you can, depends on your setting)

 

[DustinF00]

I waited on the OEM cradle but then obviously had to look elsewhere. I bought the amzer storm cradle from amazon.com for $16. I had to make a few dremel modifications (like removing the original charger and making a hole further down the cradle). It was relatively easy (although I made too big a hole in the first one). Took me about an hour.

To secure the new USB to the new plug, I took my wife's cooking torch and melted plastic and smeared it in to fill the holes.

WORKS GREAT!!

Do you know what size and type screws there are for the cradle ?

I cannot believe I am seeing this, I attempted to take my old storm cradle apart and couldnt get the right contact on my bits and never got it apart...

This gives me NEW HOPE ! ! !

Thanks in Advance. Appreciate it.

 

[ckelly33]

For this cradle, there were four very small phillips screws beneath the rubber feet. One of mine were almost stripped out and I was able to work it out with a smaller flat head (eyeglasses screwdriver).

As you face it the hole has to go where the front left screw goes in, so that internal post has to go to make the hole for the new USB port. Also, don't use the original USB that's built in....I've done this twice and the original dies quickly. The wires are too small and the USB has to be stretched and turned 180 from its original position, which stresses them.

I ripped the original completely out and used an old Storm charger, which also provides a better connection. The Storm charger has its own problems - the rubber is too thich to make the turn that it needs to, so you have to trim it down very thin. I actually exposed the wires accidentally in a couple of places but electrical tape fixed that.

To get the hole the right size, you just have to be patient with your Dremel, that way it goes in and is somewhat snug at the same time (my first, I made the hole too big).

Once you have the hole, Connect your USB to your phone (in case or out of case. I use a thich gel-type skin, so I left it on...now it fits WITH skin) and tape it tightly with electrical tape from underneath and remove the phone, careful not to move the position or angle of the USB

The next step should be done outdoors: light some black plastic on fire, roll your small screw driver around in it, pull some off (still on fire) on the screwdriver and blow out the rest of the flaming plastic. While the plastic on the screwdriver still burns, find where you want to smear it....it hardens FAST. Blow it out and rub it on. Repeat as necessary. This holds the mini USB so tightly that, if you misplace the angle, you'll have to dremel it out again (trust me I know). ***Do the top first and then, once the top is secure, remove the tape and do the underneath. DO NOT worry about how the top looks, you can smooth it out with the Dremel later and it will look fine.

I then ran the wire out the back and that's it.

Trying to post more pics but the size limit doesn't like the pics I took with my DINC! I will try get to resizing them soon

 

[ckelly33]

Oh, yeah, I bought the same Amzer cradle from amazon twice. One was straight across at the bottom, the second had cupped sides - like the OEM Storm cradle. Just dremel those down smooth if you happen to get one of those. Works the same and looks the same in the end.

 

[freddyttt]

can you take more smaller pics please.

 

[ckelly33]

pics. Because of the steep angle. and the length and lack of pliability in the plug that I used, it stick out the botton a little but. Doubling the rubber feet that came with it and it sits evenly.

Also, my Mini USB sits up high b/c I like to dock it with the skin on. At the angle + height seen it dockes perfectly with the skin on and the back of the phone+skin lays flat on the cradle.

 

[DustinF00]

OH, this makes more sense now. You have an aftermarket/3rd party cradle - I was looking at using the Blackberry branded Storm Cradle I own.

I will look for the propper torx or other star like bit and make sure I post pictures once I get this thing going...

 

[Robhimself]

It's Bedside. It's in the market for $1.99 I think. When I drop it in the dock/charge it the clock automatically displays and it goes to phone calls only. Perfect for my work where I am on call but don't want to know when a text or email comes through (but you can, depends on your setting)

THANK YOU!!! miss my storm one so badly. I didn't know about this app and i miss the sound profiles of blackberry.

 

[ckelly33]

THANK YOU!!! miss my storm one so badly. I didn't know about this app and i miss the sound profiles of blackberry.

Me too. Bedside works pretty much the same, especially with this cradle. You can adjust settings to turn on Bedside when connecting to power and it goes straight to phone calls only (or whatever), like the Storm.

 

[TKollman88]

Will this work with the seidio active case on?

 

[ckelly33]

Will this work with the seidio active case on?

Yes. The only thing that would changed is the depth of the microUSB. Before you permanently secure the USB to the cradle, set the phone+case on it and plug it in, then secure it at that depth & angle with electrical tape (or anything else until you can secure it permanently (such as with melted plastic as I did).

The temporary stablization is the hardest part but it is just a matter of patience.

Mine is so stable I don't think I could push it through if I wanted to

 

[TKollman88]

Yes. The only thing that would changed is the depth of the microUSB. Before you permanently secure the USB to the cradle, set the phone+case on it and plug it in, then secure it at that depth & angle with electrical tape (or anything else until you can secure it permanently (such as with melted plastic as I did).

The temporary stablization is the hardest part but it is just a matter of patience.

Mine is so stable I don't think I could push it through if I wanted to

I love you!

 

[ckelly33]

I love you!

gee...

 

[x0x]

OP: Alright, I'm going to say what I'm sure alot of other folks are probably thinking, so please forgive me in advance if I offend you; That looks dreadful.

You spent $16 on an aftermarket cradle, hacked holes in it (did you chew that one in the back out where the cable is?), then set it on fire (neighbors love toxic fumes) and melted it into a gooey mess.

Granted it looks okay when the phone is in it, but only because it completely hides the dock. If I did a fabrication job like that, I'd quickly throw it away, careful to hide it beneath the other trash, so as to sheild myself from future humiliation.

Don't quit your day job.


Edit: Hope you don't take this post the wrong way, just stating my honest opinion.

 

[ckelly33]

OP: Alright, I'm going to say what I'm sure alot of other folks are probably thinking, so please forgive me in advance if I offend you; That looks aweful. You spent $16 on an aftermarket cradle, cut holes in it (did you chew that one in the back out where the cable is?), then melted it (toxic fumes anyone?). Granted it looks okay when the phone is in it, but only because it completely hides the dock. Don't quit your day job.

LOL. I'm not offended. I did it for me not you, and it suits my needs just fine.

Actually, I was surprised at how bad it looked when the flash hit it. It really doesn't look that bad in normal lighting. The one in the "back" is actually on the bottom. It does stick out a little and I could've been more careful with the dremel in order to reduce the size of the hole, but I figured it was the bottom and I was over it by that point.

The bottom (of the original) had four rubber pads, the protruding wire exits where one of those was originally. With the other three rubber pads back on, it sits evenly.

And yes, the burning plastic was pretty bad smelling, that's why I did it outside.

NOTE: Don't quit school, you misspelled awful. It doesn't have an 'e'....unless you meant "full of awe" which would have a different connotation than the rest of your post

 

[drPheta]

man, with some acrylic and good dremeling, this looks like something I may try.

 

[najaboy]

man, with some acrylic and good dremeling, this looks like something I may try.

Ditto. Add an up angle connector USB 2.0 Cable (Angled Micro B USB Cable) - Risk Free - 877-522-3779 and it seems it could end up looking extremely good.

 

[ckelly33]

Ditto. Add an up angle connector USB 2.0 Cable (Angled Micro B USB Cable) - Risk Free - 877-522-3779 and it seems it could end up looking extremely good.

Awww man, That's AWESOME. I should have gotten one of these. It'd be slightly better with a power supply on the end rather than a USB although that little HTC thing that came with the phone will make this work.

I think I will have to get one and try v2.0

EDIT: Went to buy....pricey! Looks alot like the one that is built into the cradle itself. The wires are horribly brittle though. I considered soldering better wiring onto it but I was too impatient.

 

[najaboy]

You definitely pay a premium for the angled connector.

 

[dnlwthrn]

It might be worth someone finding out what material this Amzer cradle is made out of. If it is ABS, you can use MEK and some ABS shavings to make up a paste to fill in gaps and cracks and probably make it look nicer.

Another thought I had was to replace the original miniUSB plug with a microUSB plug, and still allow the cradle to use the power supply it originally came with. I may pick one of these up just to try it (don't really need a cradle, but it would be fun to mod it).

To the OP, thanks for your work (however bad it may look) as it gives the rest of us ideas!

 

[x0x]

LOL. I'm not offended. I did it for me not you, and it suits my needs just fine.

Actually, I was surprised at how bad it looked when the flash hit it. It really doesn't look that bad in normal lighting. The one in the "back" is actually on the bottom. It does stick out a little and I could've been more careful with the dremel in order to reduce the size of the hole, but I figured it was the bottom and I was over it by that point.

The bottom (of the original) had four rubber pads, the protruding wire exits where one of those was originally. With the other three rubber pads back on, it sits evenly.

And yes, the burning plastic was pretty bad smelling, that's why I did it outside.

NOTE: Don't quit school, you misspelled awful. It doesn't have an 'e'....unless you meant "full of awe" which would have a different connotation than the rest of your post

Haha, cool - glad you didn't take offense. As long as you are happy, that's what matters. I'm going to polish up on my spelling now.

 

[ckelly33]

It might be worth someone finding out what material this Amzer cradle is made out of. If it is ABS, you can use MEK and some ABS shavings to make up a paste to fill in gaps and cracks and probably make it look nicer.

Another thought I had was to replace the original miniUSB plug with a microUSB plug, and still allow the cradle to use the power supply it originally came with. I may pick one of these up just to try it (don't really need a cradle, but it would be fun to mod it).

To the OP, thanks for your work (however bad it may look) as it gives the rest of us ideas!

I hope there can be some inprovements, because you are looking at the best I could do! Maybe one of you nice folks will throw me a bone for coming up with the idea and build be a pristine one!

 

[ckelly33]

Haha, cool - glad you didn't take offense. As long as you are happy, that's what matters. I'm going to polish up on my spelling now.

well,....I WAS happy . Now I feel challenged! However, I've afraid I couldn't do THAT well if I tried again so I guess I will quit while I'm ahead.