Did I say teardown? How about complete SHRED, because this thing didn't give up its secrets willingly.
I initially thought this cheap illuminated charging lead was going to have a parallel array of SMD LEDs down the length of the cable because it seemed quite bright in the pictures, and it does actually appear quite bright in real life.
But no. It actually uses a central strand of polymer fibre optic with a single 3mm LED (pushed HARD) firing down its end courtesy of a small press fit alignment cap. The fibre has small abrasions cut into it at regular intervals giving the impression of a series of bright dots of light along its length, culminating in the open end finishing in the plug at the other end of the lead where it still bangs out quite a bit of light to make that illuminate too.
Well worth the money for the effect.

10 thoughts on “Teardown of an illuminated wire usb charging lead.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tori Hanabi says:

    I have two of the braided-looking RGB gradient cycle ones that the device-side inputs broke on but the outlet side still works. I want to splice them into one long one because they stay on even without charging and make a cool LED light.

    I wanted to splice one DC side into the others device side, basically one powering to the other.

    Is that possible?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars blkmgk16 says:

    I bought the last one at my dollar store the other day, in pink even! Thanks for taking yours apart, I'm going to try and repurpose mine carefully!

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars coondogtheman1234 says:

    Had one of these. It stopped charging (pins bent) And I tore it to shreds bigclive style.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars JF Guy says:

    Just happen to see this old video and I must say glad you did it and glad I saw it. I have recently bought 2 of these cables and was really wondering how they worked. Since you were kind enough to destroy your's I won't have to. Well done!!

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars rob says:

    Fantastic channel!!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dave Walker says:

    Please can i come to your house

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Crocellian says:

    Get a proper utility knife not those detachable blade of pain deals.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars keefy says:

    A cutting mat is probably cheaper than a hospital visit where you have to wait while little Johnnie's head is extracted from the saucepan/space helmet and old Mrs Smith has her next door neighbour's ferret removed from her elasticated stockings. Poor Little Emily has to have the top knobbly bit of a size 5 knitting needle removed from her left nostril cavity after a failed attempt to pick her nose with it but the needle came, out leaving the offending piece behind. Then you're waiting to have 13 stitches put in by a nervous student nurse under the gaze of the doctor, who isn't looking at your finger instead, he is hoping for a look of the nurse's titty, cupped in the lacy bra. Not noticing the grimace on your face as she stitches 2 of your fingers together. Good post, Clive.

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Robert Wolf says:

    Dear Clive please do not attempt surgery for the nhs!

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dirkbonesteel says:

    * Fiber optic salvage. If you see a copy machine with document feeder and or sorter, there is often a nice long high quality fiber optic line controlling it The earliest fiber optic I ever saw was a Savin /Ricoh from the late 80's. They supplied almost the entire US government so there are still a lot of them someplace.

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