Watch out! USB micro connectors are flimsy

After 5 days and about 20 mate/demates, my uart/usb micro usb connector fell off. It looks like the board manufacturer tried to epoxy it down for more support... But it didn't work. What are my chances of getting an RMA?

0 Former Member over 13 years ago

h_corey,

Did you purchase the board though Digilent or Avnet?
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0 Former Member over 13 years ago

I had microusb cable where other clip was jammed and it need to force insert and remove.

Now I'm using other microusb cable (Nokia) and now I don't need to use force.
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0 Former Member over 13 years ago in reply to Former Member

Avnet
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0 Former Member over 13 years ago in reply to Former Member

h_cory,

My appologies for not getting back to you sooner. Here is the email address you want to use to start the RMA process:

em-web-messages@avnet.com

Let me know how you make out.
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0 bhfletcher over 13 years ago

Sorry for the trouble. Most USB connectors have some sort of panel surrounding the connector to provide additional support. Unfortunately, we do not have that option with ZedBoard as it is a development board meant to be left accessible on a benchtop. Aside from adding the epoxy we have, we encourage you to be careful. Perhaps leave your USB cables plugged in on the ZedBoard side as much as possible. Perform your plug/unplugging on the PC side instead of on the ZedBoard side.
Bryan
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0 Former Member over 12 years ago

J14 on my zedboard came off as well. It would prevent hard time for all users if all micro-USB SMT connectors on the board are replaced by through-hole type. Since this is dev board, user accessible connectors must be rugged.
Hope this suggestion is taken for implementation.
Thx
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago

Thank you for starting this thread! We use ZedBoards in a University environment, and we currently have 5 out of 50 boards with stripped-off USB connectors.

Altera/Arrow's competition, the SoCKit, now has a reinforcement bar across the microUSBs, with a warning that users of earlier versions of the board need to be VERY careful and users of the current board should absolutely not remove or tamper with the reinforcement bar.

I apologize for the rant, but the microUSB connectors on the ZedBoard and the original SoCKit qualify for Design News's "Designed by Monkeys" column.

The best way to play the hand we are dealt may be to leave two of the female USB to male microUSB pigtails (one is provided with the ZedBoard) plugged in at all times, making all temporary connections/disconnections on the distal ends of these pigtails. I am also looking into additional expoxy or hot glue or other ideas for reinforcement, and I am WIDE open to constructive suggestions.
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0 Former Member over 11 years ago in reply to Former Member

I have a MicroZed and I haven't heard of any problems with the USB, ethernet or JTAG cables. However, being an engineer, I presume that sooner or later I will accidentally yank the cables sufficiently hard that the connectors are damaged.

One technique uses standoffs to mount the MicroZed on another metal (or wood, or plastic, or FR4) sheet, then to tie a loop in the cables to a hole in that sheet.

Another is to attach a standoff that rises above the board, attach a P-clip to the standoff, and loop the cables through the P-clip.

Strain from yanking the cables will not be transmitted to the connectors. It won't, of course, stop the board from being damaged by flying across the room, but it is an "low-hanging 80%" solution.
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