repair - anker soundcore gets usb-c

Last update: Sun Sep 6 20:55:07 2026

Got an Anker Soundcore for 1000JPY (~5USD) delivered. I like their performance (I have a Soundcore 2) and I needed a cheap Bluetooth speaker, so an obvious choice. BUT the USB connector (micro or mini? hard to tell) had an encounter with a gorilla or some similar beast. It worked, battery was still dandy but no way to charge it. Overall an easy fix, but with a catch ...

Presentation

Principle

Anker Soundcore USB connector was utterly destroyed. I don't know who did that, but they went all-in on it. Seriously check the picture, I'm not even sure if it was a micro or mini USB connector.
Original plan was just to add an USB-C breakout board on the side, 2 wires and done. I tried injecting 5V around one of the main power coupling capacitor, but the *charging* circuit behaved as if shorted. After maybe 15 mins of trial and errors, it dawned to me: they ARE shorted! The USB connector must have been so mangled that VCC and GND must be shorted in it.
Rosin, hot gun, 1 minute and the connector was out (plus a small cap that I had to put back). And yes, short is gone, now behaving as expected. The rest is just drilling holes for the USB-C connector breakout, wires and reassembly, nothing worth much details.

Points of interrest

The charging circuit was shorted because of the physically destroyed USB connector

Implementation

Bill of materials

USB-C breakout board ... maybe 50JPY?

Pictures

Look at what they did to my poor Santino...

He's gone, Jim. ... no but seriously how did they do that?

USB connector removed, wired to the charge regulator USB-+ input and decoupling cap GND

Thing of beauty, joy forever. It sure is ugly but it works.

Links

Helpful sources

Inspiration

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