7.1 Swapping Microcontrollers: Bluetooth

Converting dactyl manuform keyboard to bluetooth

7.1.1 Introduction

This page discusses how to convert your non-Bluetooth dactyl manuform keyboard to a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard. If you have purchased a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard directly on our store, then this page is not relevant to you because Bluetooth has already been setup for you.

Unplug any cords or batteries before swapping your microcontrollers.

7.1.2 Necessary tools and components

• 3mm Allen key

• 2 x Microcontroller that support Bluetooth. The nice!nano V2, the SuperMini nRF52840 and the Pro Micro nRF52840 are officially supported, but most microcontrollers with a footprint similar to the Arduino Pro Micro should work. Not compatible with BlueMicro840 V1.0.

• 2 x LiPo batteries with 2-Pin JST-PH. It's safest to get them from Adafruit or Sparkfun.

Double check the LiPo battery for your microcontroller! Different microcontrollers may require different batteries. Using the wrong battery can lead to explosions!

Make sure that your JST-PH is correctly wired! The black wire and red wire should be in the correct orientation on the JST-PH connector, as shown in Figure 7.1.1.

It's recommended you use batteries from Adafruit or Sparkfun. You can use other vendors, but note that some vendors sell LiPo batteries with their wires reversed. See video on this issue by Adafruit here.

Figure 7.1.1 Orient your JST connector same way as the photo above. The black wire should be on the right and red should be on the left.

Figure 7.1.2. This 3.7V 110mAh LiPo battery worked with nice!nano's during testing.

7.1.3 Adding Bluetooth

1. Remove the plastic cover and take out the default microcontroller that came with the keyboard.

Figure 7.1.2.1 Take out the default microcontroller that came with the keyboard.

1. Insert the Bluetooth enabled microcontroller.

• Optional: If you want the USB-C port to be closer to the edge of the keyboard, you can loosen the screws counterclockwise with an 3mm Allen Key by a half circle. Then slide the PCB forward. Tighten the screw again afterwards by turning it clockwise.

Figure 7.1.2.2 Insert the new Bluetooth-enabled microcontroller. If you want the USB-C port to be closer to the edge of the keyboard, you can loosen the screws.

1. Insert the LiPo battery.

• No special instructions for inserting the battery. As long as you obtained the correct battery, the connector will insert correctly. This is because the JST-PH socket can only accept the battery header in one direction.

Figure 7.1.2.3 Insert the new Bluetooth enabled microcontroller and the LiPo battery.

1. Put the cover back on.

• You did it 🎉! Proceed to the section on flashing your keyboard with ZMK.

Figure 7.1.2.4 Put the cover back on.