Why aren't all USB connectors like this? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: iXod
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 06:44:33 pm
content: Reversible--doesn't care which way you plug it in:https://imgur.com/a/kE4KIfhiX

author: KaneTW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 06:48:36 pm
content: That looks like it'll break within 10k cycles.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 06:49:43 pm
content: They're significantly weaker + more fragile than a regular USB connector. It is also non-standard and would fail the USB-IF certification if you wanted to use the logos.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 06:58:12 pm
content: Ever heard of USB-C?

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 07:01:37 pm
content: Quote from: KaneTW on January 20, 2019, 06:48:36 pmYou'll be surprised that 10k cycles would actually exceed the USB requirements for USB B cables. According to USB.org USB B connectors must last at minimum 1500(!) cycles the extended lifetime rated connectors must last at minimum 5000 cycles. Source:https://usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn_Legacy_3_1_Compliance_Rev_1_1.pdfpage 7

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 07:15:04 pm
content: They should have made the original USB connector asymetrical so that it's obvious which way to plug it in, like they did with the later mini and micro USB connectors, that would have solved that issue.I'm not a fan of USB-C, it is still a bit of a bit of a mess from a standards standpoint and breaks backward compatibility with the huge array of existing USB devices on the market. My work laptop is a Macbook and I hate how I need dongles for everything, the cure is worse than the disease. I really don't have that much trouble plugging in regular USB connectors. If it doesn't fit one way I flip it over, no big deal.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 07:22:43 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on January 20, 2019, 07:15:04 pmThey did try to make it obvious. Per the USB 2.0 Standard, §6.5.1, USB “receptacles should be oriented to allow the Icon on the plug to be visible during the mating process.”

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 07:28:18 pm
content: That works until it's installed in something that sits vertically. Generally not a big deal though.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 07:37:08 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on January 20, 2019, 07:15:04 pmYou've never had to do the double flip?Try to insert it. Doesn't fit. Flip it. Still doesn't work. Flip it again. Goes in first try now.

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 08:04:48 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on January 20, 2019, 07:28:18 pmThe standard could have fixed that by using "shall" rather than "should", which would have ruled out ambiguous, vertical USB connectors.Committees are not always courageous.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 09:47:28 pm
content: What then do you do about those PCs and other devices which are designed to sit either horizontally or vertically? Then you have motherboards that could be installed into either an old style horizontal desktop case or a tower.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 11:00:10 pm
content: Quote from: tsman on January 20, 2019, 07:37:08 pmYeah, they should have written into the standard, that USB connector has to be 3 dimensional, not 4 or five, like the ones that they place everywhere. And you cannot even filter on Digikey for the 3D ones.

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 11:04:45 pm
content: Quote from: jfiresto on January 20, 2019, 08:04:48 pmWouldn't help. Too many people ignored the specifications and skipped certification. They misused the USB logo or just omitted it entirely.

author: texaspyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 05:08:53 am
content: Quote from: tsman on January 20, 2019, 07:37:08 pmWhen I connect a USB cable, right as I am about to plug it in... I rotate it 180 degrees. Successfully mates 90% of the time.If you don't do this, it is wrong 90% of the time.As far as connecror life goes, all my main USB connectors on my computers have short USB3 male/female cables on them. The connector on the end of the cable will wear out, not the one on the computer.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 08:00:45 am
content: I've never managed to wear out a USB connector. I have broken a couple of them by snagging on a cable that was plugged into one though. If you are testing hardware devices and plug and unplug your USB devices hundreds of times each day then you might possibly wear one out before the whole computer is hopelessly obsolete but that isn't a typical use case.

author: SilverSolder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 02:54:25 pm
content: Phone charging... once a day. 365 times a year. The 1500 cycle life of a USB connector would be used up in 4 years!

author: glarsson
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 03:04:33 pm
content: That's why our phones don't have USB for charging. :-)

author: jfiresto
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 03:06:18 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on January 21, 2019, 08:00:45 amI had a USB 2 extension cable fail through loss of contact pressure after leaving it plugged for a couple years. It was a cheap cable, however, and could very well have used deficient spring metal.Quote from: tsman on January 20, 2019, 11:04:45 pmA very good point.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 05:32:43 pm
content: I think I've charged my phone from a computer 2 or 3 times in a pinch, but the rest of the time I've used the wall plug charger that comes with it.