Summary of Make Your Own Smartwatch From An Old Cell Phone
This article details repurposing an old Nokia 1100 into a smartwatch by scavenging its internal components. The author focuses on extracting the LCD screen, vibrating motor, speaker, and protective cover. A significant portion of the project involves identifying the LCD model (PCF8814), locating its schematic online to understand pinouts, and soldering wires to the tiny pins for easier breadboard connection.
Parts used in the Old Cell Phone Smartwatch:
- Old cell phone (Nokia 1100)
- LCD screen
- Vibrating motor
- Small speaker
- Protective cover for the LCD
- Ribbon cable wire
- Breadboard
Step 1
Scavenging Parts
What I’d like to do for this crazy/ambitions project is turn an old cell phone into a smartwatch. So obviously an old cell phone is required. The primary reason for this project is simply that I had an old cell phone laying around and wanted to find a creative way to repurpose it. The one I had is a Nokia 1100, but most other old cell phones would work, so long as you can find the schematics for the LCD online. Taking apart the 1100, there weren’t too many scavenge-able parts to choose from. First and foremost, there was the LCD screen, then I was also able to extract a vibrating motor, a small speaker, as well as a protective cover for the LCD. What you’re able to scavenge really depends on what type of phone you have, and how old it is. The older the phone, the more scavenge-able parts you will find.
Step 2
Figuring Out The LCD
Without a working LCD, we have no project, so I need to figure out how to get it working outside of the phone. The first step is to see if I can find a schematic for it online. Doing a search for “Nokia 1100 LCD”, I was able to find out a ton of information about it. I found that the LCD model number is PCF8814. I was also able to find a schematic that listed the pinouts.This is a view from the back side of the LCD, so Pin 8 is on the far left when looking at the back. There are 9 pins, but one is unused, leaving 8.
- LED (Positive – 3.3v)
- VDD
- VDDI
- SCLK
- SDA
- GND
- CS
- RES
The pins on the LCD are very small, so in an effort to make them easier to connect to, I soldered wire from a ribbon cable to each pin, and then hot glued it all into place. So now I can connect each of the wires to a breadboard to make it easier to work with the LCD.
For More Details : Make Your Own Smartwatch From An Old Cell Phone
- What is the primary reason for this project?
The primary reason was to find a creative way to repurpose an old cell phone that was laying around. - Can most other old cell phones work for this project?
Yes, most other old cell phones would work as long as you can find the schematics for the LCD online. - Does the age of the phone affect available parts?
Yes, the older the phone, the more scavenge-able parts you will find. - What specific LCD model number was identified?
The LCD model number found was PCF8814. - How many usable pins are on the back side of the LCD?
There are 9 pins total, but one is unused, leaving 8 usable pins. - What method was used to make the small LCD pins easier to connect?
Wires from a ribbon cable were soldered to each pin and then hot glued into place. - Where can information about the LCD be found?
Information can be found by searching online for the specific phone model and LCD, such as Nokia 1100 LCD.
