Wires.

[packnrat]

Is the controler plug a common item?
As mine is mia. So unable to charge the controller.
going on a side trip to work. See if Best Buy has anything.

 

[Top Hat]

If you're not using a apple cable, you can use your android phone cable to charge the RC.

 

[Mr. Salty]

Is the controler plug a common item?
As mine is mia. So unable to charge the controller.
going on a side trip to work. See if Best Buy has anything.

The charger cable for the controller is microUSB. Any microUSB cable will work.

 

[sea157]

You can get it here:
USB Data Cable Remote Controller Charging for DJI Spark Mavic Air Pro Drone RC | eBay

 

[BD0G]

micro USB cable will charge the Remote Controller as others have stated.

 

[packnrat]

If you're not using a apple cable, you can use your android phone cable to charge the RC.

So if I go to a android phone place I can get a usb to this special connector.
nothing at Best Buy as per the kid working there.
The connector to the phone ( short cord) is a rectangle not one with the corners cut out, does that still work?

 

[packnrat]

micro USB cable will charge the Remote Controller as others have stated.

Male USB to make usb?

 

[FoxhallGH]

Is the controler plug a common item?
As mine is mia. So unable to charge the controller.
going on a side trip to work. See if Best Buy has anything.

There are a lot of threads on this forum about the fragility of the USB socket on the side of the RC controller. Broken micro usb port on the mavic pro controller ... The USB cable you will most likely buy, is a USB 2.0 to micro-USB cable. This has a small connector on the end with angled sides. This can appear to go into the charging socket either way round, BUT - one way is OK, the other way will break the small tongue in the middle of the USB socket.
Make sure you have the micro-USB plug the right way round, then mark it (spot of paint or something) so you know which way is OK ... If you break the connector, you will not be able to charge the controller, and it will cost time and money to repair!

 

[BossBob]

You could also get some of these.
http://a.co/5VLJdDf

 

[Mr. Salty]

So if I go to a android phone place I can get a usb to this special connector.
nothing at Best Buy as per the kid working there.
The connector to the phone ( short cord) is a rectangle not one with the corners cut out, does that still work?

First of all, there is no "android phone place." Any place that sells smart phones sells Androids (except an Apple Store), including Best Buy.

And again, this isn't a "special connector." It's a standard USB to microUSB cable. You can literally buy them at the closest gas station.

The port on the controller doesn't have the beveled sides like most microUSB ports, but it's still a microUSB port.

 

[old man mavic]

First of all, there is no "android phone place." Any place that sells smart phones sells Androids (except an Apple Store), including Best Buy.

And again, this isn't a "special connector." It's a standard USB to microUSB cable. You can literally buy them at the closest gas station.

The port on the controller doesn't have the beveled sides like most microUSB ports, but it's still a microUSB port.

and as Foxhall correctly said it is very easy to damage the controller if it is not pluged in correctly he was not saying it was not a micro USB

 

[Mr. Salty]

he was not saying it was not a micro USB

I wasn't quoting Foxhall. The OP did call it a special connector that Best Buy claimed to not carry. That's bunk. Best Buy does carry microUSB cables.

 

[FoxhallGH]

OK - repeating a thread a mile long in one post ... here we go ...
The micro-USB connector on the side of the RC controller is a micro-USB 'A' type. You'll not find many of these types of cables around, as they are designed to be the primary end of a data cable, rather than the end that you plug into a device to connect it to charging or data. Since this port is designed to be a data connection 'FROM' the controller 'TO' the mobile device clamped between the controller's wings - DJI have made this a micro-USB 'A' type. The type of cable you'll purchase for an older style Android phone (Android is now standardising on the oval style USB-C) consists of the 'type A USB 2.0' plug at one end (i.e. to fit the DJI Charger brick), and a micro-USB 'B' style at the other end.
Now - the micro-USB 'B' differs in that it has the two 45 degree corners on it to locate it the right way round in a micro USB B socket. The micro-USB 'B' plug WILL however, fit into a micro-USB 'A' type socket -BUT - you have to take into account, that the very small tongue in the socket, is off-set to one side! When you push the micro-USB 'B' plug into the socket, make sure that you have the plug the right way round so that it accommodates the connector-tongue into its off-set slot. Then when you do that, I suggest that you mark the plug so that you know which way round to plug it in from then on ...
Bottom line is don't beat yourself up if you can't find a USB 2.0 to micro-USB 'A' (VERY few specialised suppliers stock them) ... Just buy the standard USB 2.0 to micro-USB 'B' type, and be careful about how you use it!

 

[packnrat]

Ok I am not big on all connector name or styles, so give me a bit here please.

but I just need a “ micro” usb at one end and a reg usb on the other do I have that right?

a “micro” usb is shaped just like the usb right?

a usb 2.0 is?? Shaped just like any usb ?
That rectangle plug on most computers? Wall warts, etc.
had to get to work so can do nothing now till wed.

 

[packnrat]

Ok that’s my problem I have been trying to fine a little usb shaped recatangle, not one with both upper cornners lopped off.
So problem solved, it was all do to me not knowing or understanding all these little connectors.
Maybe due to my work hrs this week? lucky to get 6 hrs sleep ( this am. only 5 hrs each the three nights before) after a 14+ hr day.
I am a old guy and not very good with computers.

 

[old man mavic]

Ok that’s my problem I have been trying to fine a little usb shaped recatangle, not one with both upper cornners lopped off.
So problem solved, it was all do to me not knowing or understanding all these little connectors.
Maybe due to my work hrs this week? lucky to get 6 hrs sleep ( this am. only 5 hrs each the three nights before) after a 14+ hr day.
I am a old guy and not very good with computers.

dont worry i am old as well and i am still learning your not alone

 

[FoxhallGH]

Ok I am not big on all connector name or styles, so give me a bit here please.

but I just need a “ micro” usb at one end and a reg usb on the other do I have that right?

a “micro” usb is shaped just like the usb right?

a usb 2.0 is?? Shaped just like any usb ?
That rectangle plug on most computers? Wall warts, etc.
had to get to work so can do nothing now till wed.

You need one of these cables:
[Big end into the charger brick, little end into the controller micro-USB 'A' connector, BUT the right way round!!!]

 

[BD0G]

What is misleading is when one looks at the shape of the connector on the upper left side of the Remote Controller one can clearly see that it is rectangular in shape and the edges are not rounded so one assumes that some special DJI proprietary cable is needed to make the connection. Even though the connector on the remote controller does not have rounded corners to help with proper cable insertion and orientation the Micro USB cable end WILL fit into the connector on the Remote Controller. Since there are no rounded edges at the top this makes it hard to determine proper orientation of the cable when inserting.

Just use the Micro USB cable and insert it slowly . If you feel any substantial resistance DONT FORCE the cable end into the Remote Controller. Simply flip that end of the cable 180 degree's and reinsert. If less resistance is perceived then this is the proper way to insert the cable.

DJI must have saved a few pennies per connector by purchasing in bulk this style of connector and that made it harder on the actual users of the product.

Some folks have placed a spot of nail polish on the side that points upwards once they have found the proper orientation. Then its easier to know what side of the connector goes up by looking for the nail polish dot. Just a tip!

 

[FoxhallGH]

What is misleading is when one looks at the shape of the connector on the upper left side of the Remote Controller one can clearly see that it is rectangular in shape and the edges are not rounded so one assumes that some special DJI proprietary cable is needed to make the connection. Even though the connector on the remote controller does not have rounded corners to help with proper cable insertion and orientation the Micro USB cable end WILL fit into the connector on the Remote Controller. Since there are no rounded edges at the top this makes it hard to determine proper orientation of the cable when inserting.

Just use the Micro USB cable and insert it slowly . If you feel any substantial resistance DONT FORCE the cable end into the Remote Controller. Simply flip that end of the cable 180 degree's and reinsert. If less resistance is perceived then this is the proper way to insert the cable.

DJI must have saved a few pennies per connector by purchasing in bulk this style of connector and that made it harder on the actual users of the product.

Some folks have placed a spot of nail polish on the side that points upwards once they have found the proper orientation. Then its easier to know what side of the connector goes up by looking for the nail polish dot. Just a tip!

Just a couple of corrections here please ...
The connector on the side of the RC controller is not a DJI proprietary connector, and not used because it is cheap. Although a lot of us use the USB-A connector in the base of the controller, the primary purpose of the micro-USB 'A' connector on the side of the RC controller, is to make a data connection out to a mobile device clasped in the fold-out wings of the controller unit. The USB standard recognises different formats for connectors that are at the 'host' end, and at the 'peripheral' device. The micro-USB A connector on the RC controller is a 'host-end' connection, and therefore is 100% correct in it's use and format. In all cases except the [oval] USB-C connector now, the USB standard uses 'A' to designate the connector/plug set that is used at the host end, and 'B' to designate the peripheral end.

See ... USB and USB Micro/Mini Cable Connector Guide | C2G

In DJI's case, they do have a dilemma because the RC controller does spend time both as a 'host' to the mobile device running Go 4, and as a 'peripheral' to the charger block. If you look around, you'll see that it is pretty much impossible to purchase a micro-USB B to micro-USB B cable, or micro-USB B to lightning, or micro-USB to USB-C ... so in this instance, DJI have actually got it pretty much as right as it can get ...

Rather than the push-it-and-see method, I'd strongly recommend a visual inspection, as you can see that the connector-tongue in the micro-USB 'A' socket on the side of the controller, is actually positioned in the rectangular socket body, toward the back of the controller - and likewise, looking at the micro-USB 'B' plug, you can see that the slot that accepts the tongue, is closest to the longest side without the angled edges. Therefore, hold the controller with the sticks toward you in your right hand, and the micro-USB 'B' plug with the angled edges toward you in your left hand - and then introduce them to each other ... If you are really worried (and due to the implications of getting it wrong - you should be), then [as wisely suggested above] you can put a spot of paint on the micro-USB connector, and on the body of the controller to assure you that all is the right way round ...

 

[packnrat]

Applied red to mine.

 

[packnrat]

But as a add note here.
Someone said something about damaging this little conector.
Is there such a thing as a male usb to a male usb cord?
This way if needed one can hook up a power supply to charge up the controler via the USB port?
Only seen power supply’s with a usb output plug.

 

[STUFF2C]

As shown in an above post they make a magnetic connection where the micro usb is left in place. I bought a dozen of these from china (real cheap) and it has saved me an untold amount of money replacing kids phones. Charging is only a magnetic click away with zero stress on the unit connection.