[Ovmsdev] USB port fragility

[sharkcow]

Oh bummer :(
I just got my replacement modem module yesterday after frying it due to
operation w/o antennas... my delivery took 21 days :(

Wishing you better delivery time,

sharkcow


Am 09.10.20 um 19:26 schrieb Chris van der Meijden:
> I ended up ordering a new device today. The old one was totally bricked ...
>
> The device was already competely toast before I started the soldering
> attempts. Would not start on 12Volt either.
>
> So now I'm hoping on a fast delivering from Hong Kong so the development
> can continue :-)
>
> Greetinx
>
> Chris
>
>
> Am Mittwoch, den 30.09.2020, 21:33 +0200 schrieb Chris van der Meijden:
>> Not my day today ...
>>
>> The system was completely gone, so I took the OVMS out of the car.
>> Tried carefully to put the USB cable on and bam ...
>>
>> For the second time now the connector broke off.
>>
>> I will take a forced OVMS break now ...
>>
>> Chris
>>
>>
>> Am Montag, den 10.08.2020, 08:09 +0300 schrieb Jarkko Ruoho:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> USB-C would be good for future proofing.
>>>
>>> Another mechanically lasting option would be fixed cable. It's also
>>> very ugly :)
>>>
>>> In my experience also shaking could be a problem, if you have the
>>> USB-cable connected. So maybe Micheal's warning should include also a
>>> warning against vehicle usage with USB-cable always connected to the
>>> device. Hot glue with good installation (also cable supported near
>>> the connector), should last there quite well.
>>>
>>> I have an electrified lawnmower, where I use Arduino for the blade
>>> speed control. Due to blade imbalance there is more shake than in an
>>> electric car, but micro-USB connectors broke there in less than one
>>> hour. Mini-USB variants lasted longer, but I think that's just a
>>> small incremental improvement. Now it works fine, as I have no cable
>>> connected during normal operation.
>>>
>>>
>>> ke 5. elok. 2020 klo 18.23 Collin Kidder (collink at kkmfg.com
>>> <mailto:collink at kkmfg.com>) kirjoitti:
>>>> I've had my fair share of USB connector failures over the years.
>>>> Actually, that is the reason that all EVTV boards have had USB-B
>>>> (the type you see on a printer) ports for years now. The giant USB-B
>>>> connector is not likely to break off and hasn't ever done so for us.
>>>> I'll bet you probably don't want to switch to such a huge connector
>>>> but it solved the problem for us.
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 4, 2020 at 2:51 AM Mark Webb-Johnson
>>>> <mark at webb-johnson.net <mailto:mark at webb-johnson.net>> wrote:
>>>>> In this batch we tried to address the reported / experienced problems:
>>>>>
>>>>>  1. USB port dislodged with rough handling - change was to increase
>>>>>     solder pad area and adjust thermal profile when soldering
>>>>>  2. Large capacitors dislodged during shipment - change was to
>>>>>     increase solder pad area and adjust thermal profile when soldering
>>>>>  3. Reports of GPS Antenna non functional (no continuity) - change
>>>>>     to new (more robust) internal antenna cable
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> We have also seen #3 seen internally, during random QC checks, with
>>>>> the GSM Antenna (although no reports from users).
>>>>>
>>>>> If you remember, back when v3.2 was released we had to change that
>>>>> internal antenna cable (due to ROHS issues with the type of plastic
>>>>> used). Since then we have had a number of reported issues with GPS
>>>>> reception that were traced back to poor contacts or no continuity
>>>>> with these internal antennas (particularly the batch late last
>>>>> year). So, we (a) add a QC step to check continuity and ‘wiggle’
>>>>> the antennas to ensure they are stable, and (b) change the
>>>>> component to a ROHS compatible antenna similar to the previous one
>>>>> we used. The new component feels much more solid (particularly when
>>>>> connecting to the modem PCB) and so far tests 100% with no QC failures.
>>>>>
>>>>> Regards, Mark.
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 4 Aug 2020, at 2:39 PM, Michael Balzer <dexter at expeedo.de
>>>>>> <mailto:dexter at expeedo.de>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Great, that looks much more rigid and should solve the issue.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What's the reason for / benefit of the thicker antenna cables?
>>>>>> Also just rigidity, or do they have an effect on signal strength?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regards,
>>>>>> Michael
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Am 04.08.20 um 03:24 schrieb Mark Webb-Johnson:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> The small solder area is my suspicion too, and a relatively easy
>>>>>>> fix. Through hole would be better but would require a new
>>>>>>> component and circuit redesign (with associated complexity and
>>>>>>> re-certification issues). Here are some pictures of the
>>>>>>> 2020-06-15 batch with the changes. But it will be some time
>>>>>>> before distribution stock is cleared out and those start to be
>>>>>>> shipped. Note also that 2020-06-15 also includes a change to new
>>>>>>> thicker antenna cables for both GPS and GSM.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Regards, Mark.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 4 Aug 2020, at 9:11 AM, Craig Leres <leres at xse.com
>>>>>>>> <mailto:leres at xse.com>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 2020-08-03 01:26, Michael Balzer wrote:
>>>>>>>>> I've had multiple cases now of damaged and broken off USB ports.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I managed a mechanical "no heat" desolder of the usb port on one
>>>>>>>> of my modules last year (I wasn't careful when sliding the seat
>>>>>>>> back with a cable plugged in). When I took it apart I could see
>>>>>>>> that there was not very much solder in the four holes that
>>>>>>>> secure the usb shell to the board. At the time my suspicion was
>>>>>>>> that the small amount of solder from the factory wave solder
>>>>>>>> made for a weak bond. I was lucky that I didn't lift any pads
>>>>>>>> and was able to resolder it.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Craig
>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Michael Balzer * Helkenberger Weg 9 * D-58256 Ennepetal
>>>>>> Fon 02333 / 833 5735 * Handy 0176 / 206 989 26
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