DIY USB Camera From Old Laptop

Hi welcome.

This time I will show you how to reuse and old laptop camera and make an external USB webcam. Mine was taken from very old laptop – HP Pavilion DV6 something – Ricoh RY5U870.

FINAL PRODUCT

PARTS

1. camera
2. step down power supply module – AMS1117-3.3V – [€1.29] – local store OR [€0.40] – buy
3. plastic connector from old webcam cable
4. new set of cables – Mini Micro SH 1.0 2-Pin JST Connector with Wires – [€0.74] – buy
5. old USB cable Type A, or buy a new one, around €1 – local store
6. some fancy plastic box – €0.75 – local store

Total prize: €2,89
Notes:
– The price above showing the totals if you don’t have anything lying at home
– Prices may differ, above showing the prices in the time of my order

HOW TO

STEP 1: THE CAMERA

Tools:
– Screwdriver

Open the laptop screen, if not done so and unscrew/pull out the webcam.

STEP 2: THE WIRES

Your laptop can have different wire colors. Please google your webcams serial number to check what is what.

My wires & connection:

USB cable	AMS1117 regulator	Camera
Black (GND)	–>5.0V ->regulator-> 3.3V –>	Silver/White
Red (V+)	–>5.0V ->regulator-> 3.3V –>	Red
White (D-)	—->	Blue
Green (D+)	—->	Black

STEP 3: CAMERA Connector

Tools:
– razor blade
– magnifying glass
– tweezers

As a 1st please make a photo of the connector from laptop camera! This is just in case you forgot which cable was were, so just to be sure… Then take razor blade, magnifying glass and tweezers and carefully pull out old cables from the connector. Then do the same for new set of cables. Once you have the cables in the old connector, you can connect the camera with the new cables, add the regulator and other – data – cables. You can of course take the razor blade and cutoff the old cable. I’ve done this (old connector – new cables) to safe the old cable, and really the new set of cables is more or less zero costs.

STEP 4: Step down power supply module

Tools:
– soldering iron

The power supply I bought does not have any cables soldered. So this part was totally up to me.

STEP 5: USB Cable

I’ve used old USB A Cable lying around, but you can also buy it – it’s really cheap. Mine was about 1 meter long – which is really enough. So.. I’ve cut of the other side of the USB cable which is not required and make some space for cables to solder them!

STEP 6: TEST

Now how to test your webcam? Under Windows Vista, 7 or 10 there is not some handy software, that you can test the cam with. You can use Skype or any other tool, but you can check also below nice program.
More on links from bustatech.com: WebcamViewer 1.0 or more recent version WebcamViewer 3.5.

The driver was not a problem for me, as Windows 7 found it easily over automatic MS update.

UPDATE: I’ve also tested this cam with Windows 10 .. Working nicely 🙂