New Fairphone 2 Bottom Module with an appropriate case

Yes, I would be fine with that. But it’s important to know that these cases can only be used with the new bottom module and the new bottom module can only be used with those cases.

4 Likes

I’ve just edited the subject and hope it fits now to both those statements.

4 Likes

Hi,
You’re doing such a great job !
We were talking about the bottom module troubles on a french facebook FP group, and someone linked to this. I’m in awe as I recently opened my bottom module to discover that the mic torn of its pads from the PCB itself. (fell down with plugged charger… It kind of confirms your statement about the fragility of the tracks & pads when bending the PCB.) I was so disappointed to see I couldn’t fix it, and here you are with your prototype… Are you going to sell it ? Is it even possible for you to sell it ? I would be really interested in buying it (and I’m probably not the only one !) and I hope you’d find a way to make this possible !

7 Likes

That’s most likely what’s going to happen, now that I have a working prototype.
Sorry for my late final answer to your question, but I really had different problems when you posted the idea

5 Likes

I’m now selling small quantities of the boards. Have a look at my post in the “sell” section

8 Likes

For reference: New Fairphone Bottom module with USB-C port

6 Likes

The New PCBs arrived and I have soldered one of them and it is working way better than the old one the connector is a relly good molex one.
There are some minor issues, but I’ll fix those and test some more and then also send some pictures of the module.
I will also do some minor changes to the housing

14 Likes

Here are some pictures.
I had for some unknown reason trouble with the mic I ordered, switched it out and it works perfecly. All of the other stuff including the USB-C connector worked perfectly the first time I tried.

18 Likes

The PCBs are so gorgeous ! Great work Leo !!

6 Likes

Great work, @Leo_TheCrafter! I hope one day in the future, when the FP2 runs out of support, the module specifications of all modules will be published by Fairphone as open source! (just dreaming)

Btw. I’m still interested in buying one of your new modules!

4 Likes

Here are some technical changes I made:

  • Slimmer fuse

  • Routed USB +/- as diffferential pair with propper track length matching

  • Better USB connector (MOLEX 105450)

  • Propper USB power line filtering with ferrite beads

9 Likes

My microphone breaks very often. Is that better with this “alternative module”? Does it fit into the standard slim case?

3 Likes

No, You need a special case, but I’ve never had a mic break.
There were some contact problems with the older revisions, but those are fixed due to newer and better meassurements of the connector.
For the case I have a printed case out of TPU, flxible plastic.
It is not only a alternative, but also gives you USB-C

1 Like

I guess that is because the microphone’s position at the bottom side is different and the USB-C port has a different shape that the case needs to leave accessible as well, right?

2 Likes

Yes that’s the reason.
You can carve out an old case, but it’s not reccomended, because then the connector can’t be propperly supported and the port might wear out quickly

2 Likes

I wonder if mics damage due to water, and I wonder if you could mod the case to have the mic working with the old case.

My old case is on the way out, only thing with Leo’s C-case if that it is difficult to apply/remove and there is going to be dirt under the edges and corners because there is room under the screen and the case on the edges and corners.

I actually plan to do a differnet approach with the case soon, made out of solid PLA, but there’s some prototyping and design involved, that just takes it’s time

4 Likes

Good point, I was wondering if the TPU case would be rigid enough to keep the battery in place.

I’ve never had an issue with that (restart due to loose connection was a concern), but I fell like the USB-C connector is still not enough supported.
You can get rid of dust with canned air pretty easily, but still this problem needs to be adressed as well

When do you think the new case is available?

1 Like