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build_guides/bluetooth_conversion.md

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---
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title: From Wired to Bluetooth
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description: How To Add Bluetooth to Most Keyboards
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author: Boardsource
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subcategory: easy
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draft: false
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tags:
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- 40%
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- 60%
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- ergo
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- kit
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banner:
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thumbnail:
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---
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### Hardware
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| Item | Count | Required |
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|---------------------------|-------|-------------|
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| BLE Controller | 1/2 | [x] |
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| Battery | 1 | [x] |
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| Battery Helper PCB | 1/2 | [] |
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| Power Switch | 1 | [] |
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| Keyboard Kit (solderable) | 1 | [x] |
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| Milmax sockets/pins | 1/2 | [] |
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# The hardware changes
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Building a bluetooth keyboard is very similar to building a wired keyboard. The
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main difference is changing out the controller to something that supports
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bluetooth, and a battery to give it power. Controllers like the
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[Nice!Nano](https://www.boardsource.xyz/products/nice!nano_v2) and
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[SuperMini](https://www.boardsource.xyz/products/supermini) will both work with
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bluetooth and replace a pro micro/elite C/blok as those don't have a wireless
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function.
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# When to buy optional items
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For things like the [Battery
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Helper](https://www.boardsource.xyz/products/Battery-Helper), these are useful
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if your PCB does not support a battery+switch as many keyboards were built
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without wireless in mind. While you do not need a switch, it's highly
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recommended to be able to turn off your keyboard for storage or transport. The
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power switch is usually supported on any keyboard if it already supports a
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battery. The most common power switch for keyboards is
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[this](https://www.boardsource.xyz/products/smd-slide-switch), and one is
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included with the battery helper if you use that. Milmax sockets and pins are
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massively recommended as they allow you to easily remove the controller if you
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want to test things, or if something goes wrong and you need to replace it.
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Desoldering controllers from standard headers is quite difficult, and most
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people would not want to go through that should they need to repair/replace
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anything.
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# PCB's that include battery+switch support
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This is a short list of keyboards that we offer that do not need the battery
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helper if you want to use a power switch. These PCB's have the function
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integrated into the keyboard. Anything not on this list will likely need a
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battery helper.
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- Corne
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- Sweep
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# Installing the battery
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If you are using the battery helper, you can see the [documentation for that
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here.](BatteryHelper.md)
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For other keyboards that integrate batteries and switches, please reference the
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image below for their pinout and where to connect them.
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### Corne
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Photo of corne with battery attached
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Image of corne pins for power switch and polarity for battery
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### Sweep
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Photo of sweep with battery attached
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Image of sweep pins for power switch and polarity for battery
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# Final checks
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It's recommended to check power switch (if used), and the voltage of the battery
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with a multimeter to ensure that the controller is getting the correct voltage.
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Most controllers will flash a light when they see power, but this is a good
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thing to check before you start wrapping things up. It may be a good idea to
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flash a firmware before installing the controllers as well as it may be easier
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to debug.
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# Further reading
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Some other useful articles that we have about ZMK may help you get your firmware
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in working order.
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[What is ZMK?](../guides/what_is_zmk.md)
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[A GUI for ZMK!](../guides/zmkGui.md)
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[How to Flash](../guides/flashing_a_uf2.md)
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## Extra
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For questions, ask in [Boardsource Discord
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server](https://discord.gg/5qpqbgaTYz)

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