How Does a Divoom Timebox Work? IoT Hardware Teardown Series

When IoT developers want to know how something works, they start by taking it apart. Watch Very Mechanical Engineer Jake Washam tear down a Divoom Timebox Evo to learn how the engineers got the device’s unique look and sound.

[@JustTheJames]

Thanks for this. I have one of these that sat unused for about 2 yeas and it seems the battery is now refusing to charge. Gonna see if I can either replace it or power it off USB directly somehow

[@theshuttergrind]

Same issue here. Actually mine just refused to charge one day. Were you able to replace the battery? If so, which battery is it? Thanks in advance

[@JustTheJames]

@@theshuttergrind I remember I did find the type, but every battery I could find online didn't have the wires needed. The only safe way to attach wires to a lithium battery is to spot-weld - they absolutely cannot be soldered

[@frankiepankiefni]

I also had a look inside this device. The main CPU is a AK1052DN048 and on the LED board is a GD32F130F4P6TR.
Was hoping that i could fit in a ESP8266 to control the LEDs over MQTT or something.

[@ianthehunter3532]

Did you manage?

[@frankiepankiefni]

@@ianthehunter3532 No. I don't use it that much actually, only for listening to music when doing DIY stuff around the house.
Should you want to do some hacking with it, i think ESP8266 is also not powerful enough. Maybe with ESP32 you can do it. But i didn't investigate any further so you are on your own :P

[@TillmannHuebner]

@@frankiepankiefni you can always just write a script that uses bt to push stuff onto the frame

[@francescoi3741]

In the video it's not clear how you have removed the first back cover of the box. As it hasn't any visible point to be screwed or pulled. Can you explain better please?

[@RickSwartz]

I was in the same boat my friend. The answer was to pry it open using a spudger between case and back panel and use quite a bit more force than I would have liked. Using heat to soften the adhesive probably would have made the process easier and with less marks on the case.

[@RickSwartz]

Reply for step number 2: If you happen to have the Timebox sans Evo, after unscrewing, use a long thin rod (in my case a wooden meat skewer) to poke through the screw holes to press the front cover off. From there, you can access the battery and board.

[@francescoi3741]

⁠@@RickSwartzyes! It works. 👏🏻👏🏻 After removed the screws I used a long thin screwdriver in the screw holes to push the front display. In the meantime the box is damaged from other failed tentatives 🙏🏻 thank you

[@canrb]

Do you know what kind of battery that is?

[@ThereminHero]

Any way to easily add an AUX IN port? The old versions had this but they removed it in this newer version.