Slim Meshtastic T Deck 10,000mAh Battery Case

This is a slimline case for the LilYGO T Deck Meshtastic Device designed to fit the 10,000mAh MakerFocus battery. Compared to other case designs it has;

1). Smooth edges making it easy to hold in the hand.

2). Cut back bezel around the keyboard to allow for unhindered typing

3). Snap fit screwless design.

4). Easier access to on off slider button.

5). Slot for a slider button to disable the GPS additional PCB to save battery power.

6). A Wider external Antenna to support Paradar Antennas ~ 13.5mm in Diameter 

This design requires support on the Case Top and I print with a 0.6mm Nozzle and a Bambu X1C With Support filament. Because the case is thin take care removing support.

I would recommend ASA, ABS or at a push PETG and avoid Carbon fiber filaments as it has rougher surface finish that restricts the snap fit design.

Because its slimline care has to be taken assembly and the GPS Antenna slot and SMA Pigtail needs to be fitted before slipping in the T Deck. 

IMPORTANT.

I would advise taping the 2 Antenna wires to the bottom of the Top part of the case in the cable slots to prevent damage when inserting the T Deck.

Insert the T Deck from the bottom of the Top Case with the USB bottom end first and try to get it in the USB Slot first. 

**** Make sure you protect the On Off Slider when inserting by pulling the side of the case back while inserting, otherwise you can bend it off the PCB. ****

Make sure you attach the battery and GPS PCB (if you choose to install one) before inserting the T Deck in the Case as connecting the battery can be difficult after its in the case.

The Battery case is where you should stick the provided foil antenna with the cable towards the bottom but an external antenna is recommended. I use picture frame sticky dots to secure the battery to the case. The bottom part of the case should connect to the top case snap fit 1st. Then push and clip in the snap fit on the top of the case

Note: the 10,000mAh Battery comes with a JST Connector too big for the T Deck and you will need to solder  a Micro JST 1.25 Connectors 2 Pin Male connector to fit it to the T Deck. Take care of the polarity as many of the connectors on eBay are wired incorrectly !!!!! Ground goes to the T Deck pin on the right and VCC to the pin on the left when looking into the hole of the female JST Socket on the PCB. My connectors were wired incorrectly so I had to wire them what looks the wrong way around on the JST Male Connector side (with the red on the right hand pin …but that is actually soldered onto the battery's Ground cable). 

The GPS Unit I used was ATGM336H GPS+BDS Dual-Mode Module Flight Control Replacement GY-NEO6MV2

The GPS Isolation slider I used was 2 Position 3 Pin Mini Panel Slide Switch SS-12F15.
I break the Ground connection to the GPS Isolation switch and remember that the RX and the TX get swapped when connecting between the GPS PCB and the T Deck (So RX → TX and TX → RX). I also chose to connect my GPS PCB to the pins on the back of the External GPS Socket. There are GPIO Pins on the T Deck PCB … but I found this solution as the GPIO Pins on right on the edge of the device where I had some mounting tabs in the way.

The SMA pigtail I used was a SMA Female Plug to IPX U.FL Female Pigtail Cable Antenna WIFI Mini PCI ….don't buy a RP SMA .. its an older Female SMA needed for most antennas.  

Al purchased off eBay.

Good luck ! Apologies for it being a tight fit … but that's the design intention.