Converting keyboard to USB-C

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

My keyboard has a wired USB cable - tethered to the device.  I watched a bunch of youtube videos noting how it's just 4-core USB and almost any device can be snipped, and a USB-C socket soldered into place.

I am about to try this - but before doing so - I noticed that the cable attaches to the keyboards PCB with this connector - anyone know what it's called?  It has the same 4 core wires as USB, and is about 7mm by 4mm (ish).

Purpose being, I want to see if someone can make a cable up for me with that on one end, and USB-C female on the other.

Ta

 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

I believe it's a "5 pin micro JST" but if anyone here knows better, I'm happy to be wrong!

[Sikh]

What model keyboard is it? Or if you can find an identifier on the PCB or provide a picture of the whole PCB, I'm sure we can find the type of JST connector it is. Plenty of people talk about this stuff in the mechanical keyboard community so it should be easy to find.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

It’s a Corsair K55 RGB Pro XT

[ShadeOfBlue]

Another important attribute of a connector is the pitch (distance between neighboring pins as measured from their centers).

If the pitch is 1.25mm, then it looks like it might be equivalent to a Molex 0537800570. The mating plug is a Molex 0511460500.

 

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

So someone else suggested Molex, and I wrote it off thinking they'd not paid attention, as the only Molex I was aware of was the old style HDD power connector - but with your context of a part number, I think you could be right!

[DKAngel]

could just unpin the wires from the connector and pin new ones in?

there should be holes on the other side of the connecter to unclip

[xrobwx71]

  On 12/02/2025 at 10:08, Dick Montage said:

So someone else suggested Molex, and I wrote it off thinking they'd not paid attention, as the only Molex I was aware of was the old style HDD power connector - but with your context of a part number, I think you could be right!

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Same here, I've been dabbling in PC repairs since the mid 1990's and learned something new today!

https://www.molex.com/en-us/products/connectors

[Som]

  On 11/02/2025 at 20:05, Dick Montage said:

My keyboard has a wired USB cable - tethered to the device.  I watched a bunch of youtube videos noting how it's just 4-core USB and almost any device can be snipped, and a USB-C socket soldered into place.

I am about to try this - but before doing so - I noticed that the cable attaches to the keyboards PCB with this connector - anyone know what it's called?  It has the same 4 core wires as USB, and is about 7mm by 4mm (ish).

Purpose being, I want to see if someone can make a cable up for me with that on one end, and USB-C female on the other.

Ta

 

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Why not just use a usb a to c adapter?

[Matthew S.]

  On 12/02/2025 at 10:08, Dick Montage said:

So someone else suggested Molex, and I wrote it off thinking they'd not paid attention, as the only Molex I was aware of was the old style HDD power connector - but with your context of a part number, I think you could be right!

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Molex is the manufacturer, technically even the old FDD plugs were molex's 😛

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

  On 12/02/2025 at 19:42, Som said:

Why not just use a usb a to c adapter?

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Not the point mate

  On 12/02/2025 at 12:39, DKAngel said:

could just unpin the wires from the connector and pin new ones in?

there should be holes on the other side of the connecter to unclip

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It’s a surface mount connector, no wires to unpin.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Right, so - I did it.  Turns out that:

1) something must have been missing continuity because this time it just worked

2) I bought a much better soldering iron (full soldering station) - my last one was USC rechargeable junk and just not reaching the temperature

Next step, Stream Deck (I unfortunately have one of the old integrated cable ones)