Anyone used these through-hole USB-C 2.0 sockets? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: danie1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 07:13:29 pm
content: https://lcsc.com/product-detail/USB-Connectors_Jing-Extension-of-the-Electronic-Co-C168704_C168704.htmlThey look easy enough to solder and robust (compared to micro at least).The footprint looks like it might be a bit too small to get within tolerances at prototype places.The pins look to be 0.3mm square so the smallest hole they can fit in is probably about 0.43mm (thanks pythagoras for the first time in years!). The pins closest to the middle are 0.9mm center to center which leaves 0.47mm clearance between the hole edges which is pretty tight.It's 0.03mm under JLC limits but support said just send it and it should be fine.Anyone used these or propose a better usb-c socket? I was looking for through hole both for ease of installation and robustness and only need 2.0 connections.Thanks

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 15, 2020, 09:08:31 pm
content: I have used the 12-pin right angle versions and they are not too hard to solder:https://lcsc.com/product-detail/USB-Type-C_Korean-Hroparts-Elec-TYPE-C-31-M-12_C165948.htmlhttps://lcsc.com/product-detail/USB-Type-C_Korean-Hroparts-Elec-TYPE-C-31-M-14_C223907.htmlA small ~1-2mm chisel tip and flux should do the job. Can expand the pads around the chassis holes slightly, to make them easier to solder and provide more strength.Interesting that for the vertical part their example footprint uses 0.4x0.4mm square holes. I'm not sure what sort of process would produce those. Its going to be tight, can't say if it would work reliably or not.

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2020, 09:44:29 am
content: Quote from: danie1 on May 15, 2020, 07:13:29 pmBought these for a design but haven't solder them yet. Used the LCSC's library footprint. I used KiCad but follows their recommendation.I started to use the SMD version of the USB-C. 2 things: the surface doesn't oxidise like the USB micro (and turn ugly) and it is robust as hell!And JLC, these guys can do nearly everything thrown at them.

author: danie1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2020, 03:12:40 pm
content: Looking back at a previous design I've realized I've had the tolerances for drilled holes set the same as trace to trace which is substantially lower so I've already exceeded their stated capabilities and that pcb works ok. I assume it reduces yield a bit but if I ever wanted to mass produce I could pay them or someone else for tighter tolerances I'm sure and for prototypes, as long as 3/5 works that's good enough for me (and I've actually had about 80/80 with overly tight tolerances work out fine with them so far).

author: danie1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 12:57:18 pm
content: Just had the boards through with this footprint on and they've chopped off the edges of the annular rings to fix the clearance which seems a fine solution to me. It's gunna be a difficult solder job though, I didn't realize how close together they'd really be, no idea how I'm going to get my soldering iron in - perhaps I'll solder in the big tabs then cut them flush with the board to get easy access to the middle pins... not sure.When the parts come from LCSC I'll let you know how it goes, could well be that the surface mount version might end up being easier to solder.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 01:08:57 pm
content: You drag solder it like SMD pins. Dont try to solder them 1 by 1.

author: danie1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 17, 2020, 01:49:22 pm
content: Ta, I'll give it a try. Won't the lack of solder mask cause bridges?

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 18, 2020, 08:29:39 pm
content: Medium sized tip straight down the middle with lots of flux should work?If it bridges just add more flux and pull it to the next pin.

author: danie1
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 20, 2020, 11:59:26 pm
content: The designers obviously knew what they were doing, the pins are really short when going through a standard thickness pcb which makes it much easier to get the iron on them without touching the other rows.I got one bridge which I just couldn't tease out with just the iron but I took some copper braid to the whole thing and took of most of the solder and it looks a lot better. Instead of domes on each pad that almost touch the holes are filled but almost flat. The big tabs on the side should reinforce it enough so minimal solder on the data pins should be fine I'm sureBottom line review: they are mechanically very solid, JLC managed the tight pin spacing no problem but they were a medium faff to solder. I wouldn't want to solder lots for production and wouldn't expect someone building a kit to be comfortable with it... so dunno how useful they are really.It's a shame they don't make one with fewer pins. They could bridge the data pairs internally and save 2 there, plus there are several tiny gnd and power pins. A single line of gnd, power, d+, d-, and the 2 voltage selection pins would be really nice.