Where to get a USB 3.1 "type E" front panel header? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: AJMansfield
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 17, 2020, 01:38:54 pm
content: I'm currently in the process of designing a product that will need to have USB type C ports on its panel, and due to physical constraints with the design it would be convenient to use the USB "type E" connector commonly used on computer motherboards for connecting a front panel cablelike this one.However, despite extensive searching, I have been totally unable to find even a single manufacturer or supplier who actuallysellsthese connectors, or even a whiff of a part number I could search.Here are some images of the connector I'm trying to find, for reference:The closest I've been able to come arethese "IDC 20 pin to A-key 20 pin"adapter boards, so clearlysomeoneis making these connectors available to more than just major motherboard vendors, and there's definitely multiple different designs for such a board on the market (e.g. thisthis cheaper $11 oneis shorter and has different/fewer passives on it).While a large number of online vendors that sell the front panel cables and adapter boards have taken to calling this a "USB Type E" connector, I haven't been able to find any official provenance for this terminology.TheOfficial USB-IF Specification(PCMCIA Proposal 279, section 2.1.1) for this connector calls it either a "USB 3.1 Front-Panel Internal Connector" or an "Key-A 20-pin Shielded Header".The manual for theROG strix B550-E "gaming"motherboard (selected at random from newegg) calls it a "USB 3.2 Gen 2 Front Panel" connector.I was also able to findone sellerthat called the cable end a "USB 3.1 type-c MINI 20 pin Front Panel Header" but this "type-c mini" terminology doesn't appear anywhere else that I've been able to find.And with all of this, none of these terms have turned up anything remotely close to BOM-able for this connector.Right now, the best strategy I've been able to come up with if I want to implement this connector is to justbuya bunch of the cheapest "type E" adapter boards I can find and salvage the connectors off of them, but that's a stupid, expensive solution and I hate it.If anyone has any information at all about this connector, which manufacturers are actually making this connector, where I can buy it, or (the holy grail) a BOM-able part number for the thing, I would be immensely grateful for whatever it is you know.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 17, 2020, 02:24:56 pm
content: This ??https://www.amazon.fr/EZDIY-FAB-Concentrateur-10Gbps-Type-C-Chargement/dp/B07T4NYNKJ/ref=pd_lpo_147_img_0/259-5152579-1596535?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07T4NYNKJ&pd_rd_r=4b1fa031-ed41-4de1-984d-a669a79fef9c&pd_rd_w=zjwDy&pd_rd_wg=Le30v&pf_rd_p=a9e8383d-b25d-45ec-acc2-a094dd781c31&pf_rd_r=5943FRCKCAA9NAYC9VS1&p;refRID=5943FRCKCAA9NAYC9VS1;sc=1&Tried to find the same in the usa market, not the same connections ??some cablehttps://www.newegg.com/p/181-029Y-000C6?Description=usb%203.1%20gen%202%20cable&cm_re=usb_3.1%20gen%202%20cable-_-181-029Y-000C6-_-Producthttps://www.newegg.com/p/181-029Y-000C2?Description=usb%203.1%20gen%202%20cable&cm_re=usb_3.1%20gen%202%20cable-_-181-029Y-000C2-_-Producthttps://www.delock.com/produkte/G_85327/merkmale.html

author: AJMansfield
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 17, 2020, 02:48:19 pm
content: No, that is not at all what I am trying to get. I am trying to get the surface-mount connector that those cables connect to, so I can use it in my own custom PCB design. (Although if you are able to find thebarecable end-connector without any of the rest of the cable assembly, thatwouldbe helpful since the same manufacturer would probably also make the surface-mount connector.)

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 02:11:41 am
content: C8656-20CFDSAQRWU3IR-20A1L1PHW5http://conshare.com.cn/pro_view-143.htmlWhen the manufacturers themselves nor the official specs don't call them "type E" connectors, it's not surprising you won't find anything useful.

author: Sceptre
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 03:03:12 am
content: Amy FTW!Delock has an M2 to USB 3.1 adapter that has a name/logo stamped on the connector, but I can't make it out:https://www.delock.com/produkt/63998/merkmale.htmlHere's the USB Implementers Forum spec for that connector and front-panel interconnect:https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/USB3p1_Front_Panel_CabCon_Implment_Doc_Rev1p1.pdfLots of details, but no connector manufacturer or part number listed that I could see.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 03:47:47 am
content: That says LOTES, who calls them "ICC3.1" in their cables,https://www.lotes.cc/en/product.php?act=list&cid=17&act=list&cid=17but I can't find the female part.

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 10:06:26 pm
content: Talk about Google Fu failing me; I couldn't find these sockets at all.

author: AJMansfield
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 18, 2020, 11:38:56 pm
content: Thank you so much amyk, now just to see if I'll actually be able to get any of them from them at an anywhere-reasonable price.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 19, 2020, 12:28:08 pm
content: why not send an email at Delock for this itemyou may get some answers ??https://www.delock.com/produkte/S_89801/merkmale.html

author: AJMansfield
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 05:12:33 pm
content: Success!WinWin has responded to my inquiry, and will indeed sell me the part - in fact, they're even sending me a free sample.Although if anyone else decides they also want this connector for something, message me: I may end up having a few extra reels of it in the not-too-distant future.

author: SkittSkizzle
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 16, 2025, 08:37:15 pm
content: Hey, I'm a new member so I can't pm you but did you end up getting spares of these headers? I am interested in designing my own pcb for them as well within Altium and struggled to find details before finding this goldmine of a thread.If you have some parts to spare or are able to direct me to assist in accessing them I would appreciate it!Thanks!

author: smaztom
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 11:20:54 am
content: It makes me wonder, why is it such secret? Do you have to pay for licence to use such connector anywhere? I went trough all reputable websites with no trace of such connector, even on backorder. Well, anyway I have managed to track down example of such connector.We are likely looking for:Lotes AUSB0297Good luck trying to order them not trough Taobao.

author: mtwieg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2025, 12:20:45 pm
content: I also was unaware that such a thing exists. Does it have some sort of latching/retention mechanism?

author: smaztom
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 08:22:17 am
content: Only point in using that connector is that, it is possible to get pre-made panel-mount USB-C connectors cheaply. I don't believe that it has such features, but relies on pure friction only.

author: JohanH
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2025, 10:53:07 am
content: Quote from: smaztom on March 21, 2025, 08:22:17 amAnother point might be, that it has better signal integrity. It's shielded, and the signal layout might be better than the old traditional USB connector. This could be an advantage with higher speed signals and longer cables. This is just a thought, because I haven't seen any specs.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2025, 07:22:46 am
content: Quote from: smaztom on March 20, 2025, 11:20:54 amIt's not secret, likely just something that (western) search engines have decided to not index due to the relatively low volume of people searching for such things. Almost all the manufacturing is happening in China, after all; and I suspect looking at that part of the Internet, using Chinese search engines, and knowing Chinese, may get you far better results.