ct-Open-Source / ct-Open-Source/tuya-convert

Disassembly of unknown plug module ("WARNING: it appears this device does not use an ESP82xx and therefore cannot install ESP based firmware")

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#680 3 comments 1 reaction 0 assignees View on GitHub
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Description

Hai guise,

In my [earlier thread](https://github.com/ct-Open-Source/tuya-convert/issues/484) I think I had assumed at first I was dealing with RTL8710, although later in that thread myself and another guy had some indications the chip might be WinnerMicro W600...

So today I decided to explore further. I decide to put here in separate thread until I have positively identified what chip we are working with. But also to document disassembly, because I already made one mistake (so others won't have to).

So my plug modules are US and look like this:

![IMG_20200622_092444_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85293718-ba667a80-b46b-11ea-95bb-6e76f86ef335.jpg)

You can see where I already chewed this one up a little around the ground (I think you Brits call it "earth") pin. Which was completely unnecessary. I think I had assumed the front cover plate was glued or microwave welded on, and that I would probably need to destroy the thing to get it open (which I was OK with) but that turned out not to be the case at all! It simply snaps in... I had started out doing stuff like this (DO NOT do this):

![IMG_20200622_091551_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85294039-2943d380-b46c-11ea-9b5d-69acbb1c29c7.jpg)

![IMG_20200622_091514_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85294011-20eb9880-b46c-11ea-940b-51f7cab35ee8.jpg)

Which was completely unnecessary. You can see I made a mess of the edge of the plug now. I guess I will just end up using this one somewhere no one will see it... Anyway, all you need to do is use something thin like a plastic spudger (probably preferred) or I don't have one so I used a utility knife in the thin crack between the housing and front cover plate:

![IMG_20200622_091649_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85294295-732cb980-b46c-11ea-8031-78201fdb03ad.jpg)

The lid pops right off, and then you can see the little tabs around the edge, and no glue:

![IMG_20200622_092045_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85295081-6f4d6700-b46d-11ea-9932-e1c6638dfb9e.jpg)

Now, I don't know what this shmoo is, it is sticky, maybe there was supposed to be glue on the lid, but they missed? China man in factory has empathy for us hackers? Not sure:

![IMG_20200622_091831_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85295235-9efc6f00-b46d-11ea-949e-f4a9e533d614.jpg)

Anyway, now I can see what looks like some sort of module soldered to main board:

![IMG_20200622_095308_DRO](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85295850-7e80e480-b46e-11ea-843d-1401838a81e4.jpg)

![IMG_20200622_095308_DRO_rotate_crop_module](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/25938297/85296565-973dca00-b46f-11ea-8d68-f4954ffdbf4d.jpg)

Sorry for potato quality pic, but from bottom (left) to top (right) those are:

* 3V3
* GND
* RXO
* TXO
* PB16 or maybe P816 (?)
* PB15 or P815 or P915 (?)

OK at this point the back / bottom of circuit board where the plugs come out of the shell does appear to be attached to the shell somehow, so I will keep working on that and try and post another update later.

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start with the disassembly notes and photographs in issue #680, then read the earlier thread in issue #484 for the unresolved RTL8710 or WinnerMicro W600 identification. Document the module pin labels and safe housing-opening method once the chip and remaining board attachment are positively identified.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
embedded-iot
Issue type
Documentation
Difficulty
5/5
Estimated time
Over a week
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
20/100

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