Playdate Charging Frame Magnet Holder

How to with Something with Computers

Step 1: After (or during if you're confident in your measuring skills) the print prepare the backboard.

Measure out the center of the backboard carefull and drill a few holes where the magnets are going to end up. If you do the print first, you can use it as a guide to where the holes need to be drilled, just make sure you don't widen the hole of the print- it's a tight squeeze and that's by design. I used a 7mm wood drill and then widened it a bit later on, but in theory an 8mm drill is fine too. Carefully remove all the frayed bits with a file or with a sharp knife so the surface becomes nice and flat.

Then make sure to cut the holes at the exact same spot in the "background" picture you'll be using. In my case, I flipped the picture that came with the frame and used the plain white background.

Step 2: Installing the USB-C port

To wire it up I used a USB Type C 2-pin female connector that provides 5V and 3A which is more than enough to charge the Playdate. I carved out a small hole in the back of the frame to fit the connector and a little bit of extra space to make room for any thicker cables, then just absolutely blasted it with superglue to keep it in place. Just make sure the glue doesn't seep into the contact because it will keep the cable attached permanently if you're not careful. Ask me how I know..

Alternatively you could just straight up give it its own USB-A connection via a 2-pin DC USB-power cable male to open ended. Because USB-A provides 5V by default it should work just fine.

⚡DO USE A MULTIMETER AND CHECK THE OUTPUT AT SOME POINT DURING THE PROCESS BEFORE HOOKING IT UP TO THE PLAYDATE. I don't fully trust these cheap connectors I got so double check them. It should read pretty closely to 5V. We don't want to accidentally push too many Volts, that's could severely damage the Playdate.⚡

Step 3: Installing the print and its magnets

I used three circular 8mm x 3mm magnets per corner and 4 (or 6) 10mm x 20mm x 3mm rectangular magnets in the middle. In theory, depending on the magnets, you could make do with a lot fewer and in fact, the ones in the middle are technically not required at all - but it does provide a little bit of extra holding power and that kind of security is nice. You don't even have to cut a hole in the backboard of the frame for the rectangular ones, they'll pass through wood/thick cardboard no problem. Push the circular magnets all the way through until they're flush with the print. Then push end of the magnets through the holes you drilled and they should stick out slightly from the picture frame to ensure good contact for the connection.

I made the middle part big and flat so you could glue it unto the backboard but it turns out it's very strongly being held in place by its magnets so I didn't glue it on. You could though, and depending on how loose the holes you drilled are, you probably should.

This is all done assuming about 3mm thick backboard, which seems to be pretty standard for cheap picture frames.

Step 4: Wiring it up

I used a simple connector to attach two wires I had laying around to the little iron clamps, them being iron made them stick to the magnets quite strong so I didn't have to solder anything like I initially planned. Yes I used two red wires, I had them laying around, but if you have access to a black and red wire you should use it for clarity.

Hook the positive terminal up to the top left, and the negative to the bottom left. The playdate will be hanging on it facing forward, so we're mirroring terminals horizontally.

Step 5: That's it!

Be sure to measure the Voltage going through the magnets, and make sure it's very close to 5V. If you did it all correctly you should be able to plug in the USB and hang up your Playdate like the piece of art it is :).

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!