Homemade usb connectors - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 09:38:03 pm
content: So have any of you made these homemade usb connectors? It is basically a pcb with 2 traces at the side. there is solder on the front of the traces so it connects to the usb port. As you can see , it has only two pins , +5v and gnd simply becouse i dont need all 4 pins for what im doing.If you want you can add 4 pins. I use this prety much ever since i got into etching PCBs. In fact , my first usefull pcb had this usb port.Do any of you guys use it?Btw, Sorry if im posting this in the wrong section but i wasent sure where to post it and this is kindof beginer stuff.

author: Simon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 02, 2014, 09:41:59 pm
content: Never thought of making one, useful thought though

author: Balaur
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:24:29 am
content: Come on, just cut open an USB male connector. It opens quite cleanly actually.It's faster, better and nicer!

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:25:37 am
content: But you have to waste a connector

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:28:39 am
content: Congratulations on saving about 40 cents:http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/A-USBPA-2-R/AE10637-ND/2170553

author: david77
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 01:33:15 am
content: Is that really worth the effort? USB connectors are cheap and pretty much everybody should by now have one spare USB cable or an old device where you can cut the lead off.I'd have to be very desperate to etch my own USB connector and risk ruining the socket or device I'm putting it into.

author: Rick Law
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 02:18:47 am
content: If I may make a suggestion.I see you made a good blob of solder there for good contact. But that may not be a good idea. Solder is not a hard metal at all. Crumbs and little solder dust will likely start to collect.A while back, I purposely put a blob of solder on the ends of a "current-sense"shunt resistor" so the alligator clips can get a better contact, until I see the blob getting smaller as time goes on. I started investigating and see fine solder dust on the PCB just under the blob. I stop doing that and instead solder a copper wire loop for the clips.Perhaps consider hot glue on the other side to add thickness so you don't need the solder blob on top of the copper trace.

author: tjaeger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 03:30:52 am
content: I hope you're using lead-free solder...

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 03:35:16 am
content: Quote from: david77 on January 03, 2014, 01:33:15 amAgreed, I ordered 20 or so from dipmicro.com, they are 27 cent each, less when you buy more, worth having around.http://www.dipmicro.com/store/CON-USB-A

author: rollatorwieltje
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 04:46:42 am
content: A piece of stripboard also works. Just cut it 4 strips wide and leave about 1/4th of the traces on the sides.http://www.instructables.com/id/Custom-and-cheap-USB-A-plug/I have done this when I ran out of USB connectors, but it's not durable at all. Bare copper oxidizes very fast and solder just scrapes off over time, leaving conductive dust inside your USB port.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:02:35 am
content: A lot of USB drives actually do this "connector using the PCB" trick:http://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=2946

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:35:02 am
content: Quote from: amyk on January 03, 2014, 08:02:35 amAt least they use (if they are of any quality) good thick gold plating, I still try and avoid those types of thumb drives, I always buy ones with a proper connector.

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:15:59 am
content: Quote from: Rick Law on January 03, 2014, 02:18:47 aminteresting idea with the hot glue. But it would be kindof hard to spread hot glue evenly

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:17:57 am
content: Quote from: tjaeger on January 03, 2014, 03:30:52 amHmm..Meh.. Just a reel of some random solder i bought. But im prety sure leded solder is rare, isnt it? Anyways is it a problem if i use leded solder?

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:20:23 am
content: Quote from: amyk on January 03, 2014, 08:02:35 amYes i`v seen those. They are what acctualy gave me the idea to do it.

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:22:27 am
content: Quote from: mariush on January 03, 2014, 01:28:39 amYea, might be a good idea to buy one. I will buy some on my next digikey order. But if you dont have any, this is a good idea.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:23:00 am
content: Put it on into a thick layer then let it cool, place in freezer for an hour then take out and file quickly, as it will behave like soft wood when frozen. When it starts getting stringy freeze again and carry on until at right thickness. File with a wooden surform rasp at first to get level then change to a coarse metalworking file.

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:31:13 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on January 03, 2014, 10:23:00 amI might try that out

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:36:20 am
content: Careful that when frozen it is very brittle and may peel away from the substrate easily if the bond is not very good mechanically. Roughen the surface with coarse sandpaper and wipe clean with degreaser ( alcohol or thinners) to make a good chemical and mechanical bond immediately before application of the glue.

author: rafalpilat0077
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 10:45:19 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on January 03, 2014, 10:36:20 amkk

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:12:24 pm
content: Quote from: rafalpilat0077 on January 03, 2014, 10:17:57 amLeaded solder is indeed rare. If, that is, you are in a place which hasnosolder, in which case lead-free solder isalsorare.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:21:19 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on January 03, 2014, 08:12:24 pmReally? Uncommon maybe, definitely not rare yet. Do you sell a lot of stuff on ebay perchance?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:23:35 pm
content: Quote from: Lurch on January 03, 2014, 08:21:19 pmDid you read his entire post?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 03, 2014, 08:26:07 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on January 03, 2014, 08:23:35 pmNow I get it!