USB socket bad design? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: mclien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 05:24:19 pm
content: I have a wireless keyboard, which I use for my Kodi mediaplayer.(https://joy-it.net/en/products/TASTAMINI01)I had to replace it (warranty) 2 times.once because it wasn't charging the battery anymoresecond because the usb socket broke off after the 5th time I plugged the cable in. I could literally feel, how it got loos and went into the casing.So I got the replacement and since I don't want to keep me sending the defective one in every 2-4 weeks and wait for a replacement (took 3 weeks lat time), I looked into it (pics attached).To me it looks like the through hole parts of the USB port should be soldered, too.While this is voiding warranty, I'd rather have a keyboard that lasts longer than 2 weeks.So I can think of 2 possibilities to fix this.Soldering the missing part.Attaching some resin (glue with fibers) as reinforcement behind the USB port.Thoughts? (apart from buying a better keyboard, which I couldn't find in this size/ configuration)

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 06:05:01 pm
content: Are they not soldered on the other side? If so, then it is not how this connector is supposed to be used. I've seen people put solder pads under the connector and solder the whole body, but I don't know how reliable that is. If there a way to solder the legs, I would do so.Epoxy is a good solution for mechanical strength. Just be careful - those connectors have a lot of holes, so use high viscosity stuff. And it will make replacing a damaged connector next to impossible.Another thing I would consider is scratching off some of the solder mask on the sides of the connector and soldering a wire bracket to the copper plane and the top of the connector. This at least will be reversible.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 06:18:19 pm
content: It is suppose to be soldered undearneath the connector. So soldering is not critical. But you can take it off and resolder properly if you wish. However, what really going to fix you is adding hot glue right on top and closing the case, so that it is pinched between case with hot glue.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 06:19:09 pm
content: Its not uncommon with cheap USB devices, like hubs, to be quite appallingly put together. The designs aren't usually too bad, but when you get trouble and open them up you find anything not in the signal path hasn't been soldered. This means all the mounting tabs are just wiggling around, and giving little or no mechanical support to the much smaller signal connexions.

author: Audiorepair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 06:51:45 pm
content: I think I would be getting one of these and leaving it plugged into the keyboard :https://www.amazon.co.uk/short-usb-extension-cable/s?k=short+usb+extension+cable

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 06:55:34 pm
content: Quote from: Audiorepair on November 24, 2024, 06:51:45 pmHow does that help? An extension lead has no impact on the strain experienced by the connector on keyboard, which is the cause of most problems.

author: Audiorepair
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 07:32:01 pm
content: Because you only plug it in once.The OP says they repeatedly plug and unplug it.

author: mclien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 08:04:28 pm
content: Quote from: ataradov on November 24, 2024, 06:05:01 pmThe legs aren't soldered at all (neither side). But the holes are copper-plated on both sides, that should work.Thanks for the idea of the wire bracket on top of the connector, but I just checked: I need to remove parts of the casing for that (but since that are only some small ledges I might do so. But most likely finishing the soldering of the connector correctly should work.As for Adapters, I would rather use this one:https://www.adafruit.com/product/5523

author: mclien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 08:07:31 pm
content: Quote from: Audiorepair on November 24, 2024, 07:32:01 pmIf I keep it plugged in the purpose is kinda defeated. So connecting for charging is quite the correct use.Problem in this case is "repeatedly" was about a whole of 5 times, till it broke.Now I know why.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 08:19:31 pm
content: Quote from: Audiorepair on November 24, 2024, 06:51:45 pmAudiorepair, I love your suggestion. It is like a 'sacrificial USB port'

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 08:25:50 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on November 24, 2024, 06:18:19 pmIt's supposed to be soldered everywhere. All terminals and under the shell. Front side shell terminals are the most important as it's the place with the most of force applied. Not soldering them makes it very weak.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2024, 11:20:51 pm
content: Of course the USB connector should be fully soldered to the board, but on the other hand if it is, there may be more stress on the PCB too.Connectors used to be mounted to the chassis and attached via a short cable to the board, but in pursuit of cost-saving and planned obsolescence they got rid of that.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 12:37:17 am
content: Quote from: amyk on November 24, 2024, 11:20:51 pmConnectors on a separate board was a more recent trend, and mostly to reduce main PCB size. Nearly all Nokia phones (when it was actual Nokia) had micro USB soldered to main PCB. Most of them has connectors with no TH terminals, and they were torn off PCB (usually together with SMT pads) if you look on them funny. A few models which used connectors with TH shell terminals were rock solid and USB barely ever was an issue.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 03:53:50 am
content: Quote from: wraper on November 24, 2024, 08:25:50 pmCirca 2013 - 2016 there was bunch of cheap phones with micro usb. Yea, they'd bring them to you, you replace connector andit absolutely does not matter how you solder the damn thing. Some designs would come back to you. Hot glue trick helps a lot. Think of it as holding connector down in place while they go ahead and insert the cable in, drop the phone, wiggle the cable side to side, to make sure it is inserted properly.Sometimes they'd bring the phone with detached connector and piece of motherboard still soldered to that connector.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 12:25:18 pm
content: Quote from: u666sa on November 25, 2024, 03:53:50 amBecause they did not have TH terminals. You cannot solder TH terminals if there are none. Having TH terminals and not soldering them is even dumber than using connectors without them.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 02:11:53 pm
content: Quote from: wraper on November 25, 2024, 12:25:18 pmConnectors which are purely surface mount are almost always a disaster. Quite a lot of designs, especially USB C connectors, have moved from surface mount to being mounted in a recess at the edge of the board, soldered to plating running across the edges of the board. At first sight some of those look reasonably robust, but I wonder how their robustness compares with connectors that have the traditional through hole anchoring.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 02:29:46 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on November 25, 2024, 02:11:53 pmIME the most robust are connectors like what you described but with terminals bent 90oon the ends and soldered TH.

author: adeuring
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 05:26:46 pm
content: Quote from: mclien on November 24, 2024, 05:24:19 pmConsider to contact the seller about the issue. They might allow you to solder the connector properly without voiding the warranty. Or propose to send the unit back once more so they can do the soldering. After all, getting the problem fixed properly is also in their interest.

author: mclien
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2024, 06:08:24 pm
content: Quote from: adeuring on November 25, 2024, 05:26:46 pmWell, that would be a very tedious task.I got this one from a reseller. And as I see it the brand selling it most are producing in china.And there are 2 problems: the missing solder (which might be solvable with the right abound of solder paste in productionThe other is the hole in the PCB are only half connected to the actual copper plane (like half the circle is "sticking out " of the ground copper. )So you would need to get a contact, which is willing to change the design a bit, do provide better connection to the copper-ground and the carry the information through to the production facility plus correcting the adjusting the process of applying and processing the solder process.Side not, as I loo on the new pics, I seems the solder stop flowing directly at the actual copper at the hole... (I'll let you know if me additionmal soldering had work)

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 26, 2024, 01:06:01 am
content: Looks like design was correct and it's a production screw up. Just solder those terminals and it should be fine.