Solving the loose USB contact issue in the Honeycomb Alpha Yoke.

[SimWare 729]

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Solving the loose USB contact issue in the Honeycomb Alpha Yoke.

It has been reported in some cases that the USB connection to the computer sometimes broke down.

Wobbling or pushing the connector in the USB port could restore the connection,
but  in the same manner, cable or connector movement could interrupt the connection.

This is not really a fault, but the result of cumulative tolerances on the small USB-C system.

In some cases the USB port is a little bit too deep inside the Alpha housing,
preventing the USB cable to go deep enough to insure reliable electrical contact.
On the picture below, the USB port is “buried” a little too deep inside the housing.

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THERE IS AN EASY FIX FOR THIS !

 

STEP 1 :
Take the USB cable, USB-C side.

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STEP 2 :
With a standard cutter cut out a +/- 1mm slice of the rubber part as shown below.

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STEP 3 :
The metallic part is now longer, allowing the connector to enter deeper into the port.
(Hereunder, the connector before and after)

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That’s it !
The electrical contact is now very firm and reliable.
 

 

[dcthreepainter 4]

I don't have a problem, but I checked my Alpha (purchased July 2022) out of curiosity.  While plugged in, I can see some of the metal portion of the USB-C connector via a gap between the Alpha's case and the cable sheath.

 

So I suspect this issue has been resolved by the manufacturer ...unless someone else has a recent purchase exhibiting the problem.  Let us know!

 

Regardless, Thanks for the helpful info @SimWare!

[SimWare 729]

You are welcome.

It isn't really a problem of a single specific piece.

It is the sum on some tight tolerances combined to cumulative errors 

of a rather small connection system.

It is a "deadly" combination, difficult to identify and expensive to solve. 

The trick above allows to solve 99% of the occurrences of this issue quite easily.