Is the PowerCase connector for Kobo Sage USB?

opaintner · 12-26-2023, 05:16 PM

Hello all!

I just received a Kobo Sage for Christmas to replace my aging Kindle 4. I love tinkering with these things, and upon inspecting it for the first time I noticed four pads on the side of the device that were intended to be connected to the Kobo Power Case.

Due to the fact that there's four pads like USB, it leads me to believe that there is more than a simple charge circuit going on, and there might be a chance for some more advanced uses for that connector. It seems like there's potential to make a charging dock or something like that, which would be really cool!

Has anyone experimented with that connector to see if there's anything that can be done with it other then a connection to the PowerCase? Thanks a bunch!

DNSB · 12-26-2023, 08:24 PM

It's a power connector with very limited data capability for the battery information. It does not work as an USB interface.

NiLuJe · 12-27-2023, 12:30 AM

Check the bespoke driver in the Sage's sources (drivers/misc/ntx_cilix.c), that'll probably answer most of your questions.

Code:

cilix.c - driver for i2c through uart bridge

I would strongly advise *against* buying one, even for testing purposes, because I can't even really say that it's working as intended: it behaves... very, very, very badly; so the net effect is pretty insignificant; making it barely more useful than a very expensive cover

.

Quoth · 12-27-2023, 07:54 AM

Very common for LiPo battery packs to have +, Clock, Data (for I2C) and -. Also on Canon battery packs and allows camera to see serial number.
Some Kindle internal packs are similar.
Larger packs also may have a connection to an onboard thermistor, especially laptop packs and some power tools.

I did wonder myself if it was USB, but thought it unlikely. Of course the similar 4 spots on some tablets are for USB, a keyboard dock.

Quoth · 12-27-2023, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

I would strongly advise *against* buying one, even for testing purposes, because I can't even really say that it's working as intended: it behaves... very, very, very badly; so the net effect is pretty insignificant; making it barely more useful than a very expensive cover

.

Both this and the Oasis are so poor and expensive you are better off with 5,000mAH to 12,000mAH generic power bank.
Curiously the Oasis one is allegedly poor too.
The power banks with a solar front panel seem useless (2 each of 2 models here), at least in Ireland. Maybe outdoors in Arizona? I have an A4 folding solar panel and even it would take days to charge a power bank.

EDIT:
Some USB power banks are marked with actual USB charging capacity. Most are sneaky and mark the when new LiPoly cell capacity. The delivered charge is less as the cell is 3.3V to 4.2V during use and is converted at 75% to 90% efficiency to 5V. You need one rated at at least 1.5A for the Sage. They are usually 1A, or 2.1A or maybe even both on two sockets.

DNSB · 12-27-2023, 01:36 PM

For what it's worth, I was given a power cover for a Sage. I ended up re-gifting it and sticking with a 10,000mAH power bank and USB cable. The power cover is, if I remember correctly, 1200mAH so the power bank is able to recharge my Sage multiple times without requiring a recharge itself (not to mention being able to recharge my other devices).

opaintner · 12-29-2023, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiLuJe

Check the bespoke driver in the Sage's sources (drivers/misc/ntx_cilix.c), that'll probably answer most of your questions.

Code:

cilix.c - driver for i2c through uart bridge

I would strongly advise *against* buying one, even for testing purposes, because I can't even really say that it's working as intended: it behaves... very, very, very badly; so the net effect is pretty insignificant; making it barely more useful than a very expensive cover

.

Oh yeah, I've universally heard that they suck. Where would i go about finding this source? It's not included on the Kobo's filesystem anywhere, is it?

NiLuJe · 12-29-2023, 05:28 PM

https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Rea...d4f612d785fdcd

It's the full AW SDK, so there's also a bunch of bootloader and Android stuff.

12-26-2023, 05:16 PM	#1
opaintner Junior Member Posts: 8 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2021 Device: Kindle DX	Is the PowerCase connector for Kobo Sage USB? Hello all! I just received a Kobo Sage for Christmas to replace my aging Kindle 4. I love tinkering with these things, and upon inspecting it for the first time I noticed four pads on the side of the device that were intended to be connected to the Kobo Power Case. Due to the fact that there's four pads like USB, it leads me to believe that there is more than a simple charge circuit going on, and there might be a chance for some more advanced uses for that connector. It seems like there's potential to make a charging dock or something like that, which would be really cool! Has anyone experimented with that connector to see if there's anything that can be done with it other then a connection to the PowerCase? Thanks a bunch!

12-27-2023, 12:30 AM	#3
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	Check the bespoke driver in the Sage's sources (drivers/misc/ntx_cilix.c), that'll probably answer most of your questions. Code: cilix.c - driver for i2c through uart bridge I would strongly advise against buying one, even for testing purposes, because I can't even really say that it's working as intended: it behaves... very, very, very badly; so the net effect is pretty insignificant; making it barely more useful than a very expensive cover . Last edited by NiLuJe; 12-27-2023 at 12:34 AM.

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12-26-2023, 08:24 PM	#2
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,464 Karma: 145525534 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	It's a power connector with very limited data capability for the battery information. It does not work as an USB interface.

12-27-2023, 07:54 AM	#4
Quoth the rook, bossing Never. Posts: 11,164 Karma: 85874891 Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Ireland Device: All 4 Kinds: epub eink, Kindle, android eink, NxtPaper11	Very common for LiPo battery packs to have +, Clock, Data (for I2C) and -. Also on Canon battery packs and allows camera to see serial number. Some Kindle internal packs are similar. Larger packs also may have a connection to an onboard thermistor, especially laptop packs and some power tools. I did wonder myself if it was USB, but thought it unlikely. Of course the similar 4 spots on some tablets are for USB, a keyboard dock.

12-27-2023, 01:36 PM	#6
DNSB Bibliophagist Posts: 35,464 Karma: 145525534 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Clara HD, Lenovo M8 FHD, Paperwhite 4, Tolino epos	For what it's worth, I was given a power cover for a Sage. I ended up re-gifting it and sticking with a 10,000mAH power bank and USB cable. The power cover is, if I remember correctly, 1200mAH so the power bank is able to recharge my Sage multiple times without requiring a recharge itself (not to mention being able to recharge my other devices).

12-29-2023, 05:28 PM	#8
NiLuJe BLAM! Posts: 13,477 Karma: 26012494 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Paris, France Device: Kindle 2i, 3g, 4, 5w, PW, PW2, PW5; Kobo H2O, Forma, Elipsa, Sage, C2E	https://github.com/kobolabs/Kobo-Rea...d4f612d785fdcd It's the full AW SDK, so there's also a bunch of bootloader and Android stuff.