USB connectors ARRRGH!

[George Sjoberg]

Every couple of weeks one or another of the USB cables in my observatory come loose. I wake up in the morning to find I've lost the night These connectors were never made for devices that move. So the mount, camera focuser, etc cables are always coming loose. Has anyone found a way to secure these connectors?

..george

[Colin Haig]

I've mounted the computer on the scope, and so the USBs never move. There's just a power cord that goes up to it, and a cord to the mount to control it. That eliminated the problem.
Some folks have suggested these guys: http://www.l-com.com/usb-usb-cable-a...e-a-connectors
Also, I use zip ties or twist ties, Velcro straps, and secure everything.
Hot melt glue is a final desparate option ;-)

[Dick Berg]

George,

Not the connectors themselves, but if you are able to bundle the USB cables together, and use a cable tie to fasten the bundle to a specific point somewhere in the vicinity of the end of the polar axis and/or declination axis, then the stress will be completely taken off the connectors even as the telescope is moved around the sky. (Assumes your USB devices are on the tailpiece of the telescope.)

[Eric Dose]

The rule I use is "strictly separate the electrical connection from the mechanical connection." This was the intent behind screw binders on serial ports and many video ports. But USB was designed for connection convenience not security. So for USB on and around scopes, I lash or tape or velcro or tie down every single cable at a few inches from each end--without exception--to something that moves strictly with the USB socket. Yes this makes from some weird-looking kit, but my USB disconnect failures have gone to zero.

By the way, be careful about binding cables *to each other*. Even cables that are quite flexible separately can become overly rigid when bundled together. If bundling for neatness, double-check the flexibility of the bundle together through its entire range of motion.
--Eric