I broke my St-i

[PRejto]

Yikes! I broke my St-I this afternoon. I went to adjust something on the mount and standing up my head hit the USB mini B connector of the ST-I and sheared it off entirely. The connector feet also removed circuit board material so I think the damage is major. I assume the entire camera will need to go to SBIG for repair. But, I'll ask anyway if anyone knows if there might be service in Australia?

This design sure seems vulnerable to injury. Just how much harder would it have been to have the USB plug mounted off the circuit board? Damage that I caused would then only have hurt the plug itself and not the circuit board.

Feeling stupid and sorry for myself!!!

Peter

[Octane]

I'm so sorry for your accident.

Believe me, I know what you're feeling. :O

H

[lazjen]

I did something similar to my ST-i - I had to get it sent back and it went overseas for repair - that was all handled well.

I think I agree though that the USB connector for the ST-i is poorly designed and more susceptible to accidents like this.

[niharika]

Yep had the similar issue, had to send it back for repair. I now stay away from touching that end in every possible way.

[PRejto]

May I ask you what this cost approximately? I've written to SBIG but naturally no answer yet. I'm worried that since the board itself seems damaged the cost may start to approach the cost of the camera. Anyway, I hope not!

The first photo shows how the feet of the USB socket ripped off the printed circuit material. The second shows how the pins broke.

Peter

[Paul Haese]

Don't kick yourself too hard Peter; I can see how this would have occurred. Nearly done this several times myself.

[Peter Ward]

I've repaired STi's with similar damage here in Sydney.

With sufficient pressure these mini-usb connectors will shear from a modest blow/mishandling. They usually tear the traces from the PCB, hence re-soldering is not an option.

SBIG have been pretty good to date and have replaced some daughter boards under warranty (case by case basis)

That said...their patience is wearing thin. The part costs around $US200,
and they don't fall-off by themselves.

Any new STi's I now send out, have that connector epoxied to the daughterboard, which I'd recommend existing users do as cheap insurance.

[cfranks]

2 years ago, I did the same thing but to my Lodestar. A very experienced electronics friend soldered a USB cable directly to the circuit board and it is still working.
That being said, I had to return my ST-i to SBIG for warranty repair and they were excellent.

Charles

[PRejto]

Thanks for all the replies and words of support. Look how many reports of similar damage have come in in less than 24 hours! Whilst one cannot argue away personal responsibility in these accidents it nonetheless points out what I would consider to be a rather large point of vulnerability in the design of both the ST-i and the Lodestar. Sure, it's "efficient" to build the USB connector right onto the circuit board but it's a bit like a land mine. I doubt that even epoxying the USB feet down could have prevented the damage. When I get mine back I'm going to do two things. 1. use a right angled connector. 2. build some sort of clamp on protective device to protect the cable as it emerges from the camera. I'm imagining something like an old empty 35mm film canister held onto the ST-i body with an automotive hose clamp.

ST-i is going back to SBIG today.

Peter

[Octane]

Peter,

Can you please report back here when your item is fixed and when you receive it? And, if I'm not prying too much, costs? Would just like to keep track of timeframes for when my camera also makes its way back for surgery.

Thank you.

H

[PRejto]

Hi H.

Will do. Costs are mounting already. Express post to SBIG with $600 insurance cost me $87.30. I asked approx "how long?" 4 days. Not so great and not what I'd call "express." I packaged this up in a tiny box: total weight .176 kilos.

Peter

[Octane]

Thank you, Peter. Appreciate it.

I'm guessing my shipping costs are going to be substantially more than that, lol. I don't mind. As long as it gets there and gets fixed!

Cheers.

H

[multiweb]

I have a piece of PVC sticking out at the back of my lodestar. From day one this mini USB connector scared me.

I think camera manufacturers should think about this when designing their sockets and connectors. I know it can't be bullet proof but designing countersunk connections etc... is not that hard when manufacturing the outer-casing. Just needs some planning ahead.

[ericwbenson]

Ahhhh but then the next time your head whacks into the protective shield the OAG will get damaged because the guider is so rigid.... or you clamp the cable to the guider body to prevent the connector from tearing out, only to snag the usb cable really hard with your elbow... there are so many ways things can go wrong despite your best efforts, just move slower around the scope ;) The really big counterweights on the A200HR and the impressions in my skull have taught me that.

Best,
EB

[Peter Ward]

A bit late....but I could have repaired that in Sydney. (the traces are not torn from the PCB substrate).

[PRejto]

OMG. I don't know if I should laugh or cry! (I think I'll laugh). Thanks for the offer. I guess I was in too much of a hurry.

Peter

[alpal]

Yes - next time contact me,
I'm an Electronics Technician & judging by the photo -
that's an easy repair.

[MrB]

Yes, compared to BGA rework this is a walk in the park :D

[PRejto]

Hi Allan and Peter,

Lesson learned. If there is a "next" time (and there won't be!) I will surely seek your advice before leaping off to a repair in the USA! Many thanks for the offers of help!

Peter

[White Rabbit]

I've done this on my canon 1000d and my 5d mkii. So I'm super wary when moving around my ST-I. I was thinking of making a small cage out of coat hanger wire, might do that sooner rather than later now.

Cheers

[trent_julie]

Hi All,
If someone provides me some measurements I will design up a little "USB Holding cap" and put it up on thingiverse for anyone to download ab=nd 3d print. I don't have an STI but I am happy to try and help.

Trent

[PRejto]

Trent,

Thanks! I'll post the measurements once I have my camera back.

Peter

[lazjen]

What measurements do you need?

[PRejto]

I received word today that my "express" shipment to Santa Barbara arrived. Now SBIG has told me that the ST-I board is out of stock until mid August. :( Another month lost. Jeez.

So, how good are the Zwo cameras? Maybe I need some sort of backup camera in any case!

Peter

[Terry B]

As a simple prevention I have both cables that come out of the STi looped back and held to the body with an elastic band. A very simple prevention. I did it really to prevent accidentally ripping the cable out when guiding but it would also prevent damage.
Terry

[PRejto]

Unfortunately that would not have prevented the damage I did. My head literally hit the connector, not the wires. And I only have the USB cable attached as I "direct guide" through TheSkyX. A right angled USB connector might have saved me, but I'm going to install a shield as well once the camera returns.

Peter

[Terry B]

Or a smaller head.:lol::lol:

[PRejto]

ha ha. My head is already tooooooo small.

P

[trent_julie]

Hi,
I will need the outside diameter of the STI and measurements from top of usb to edges, everything else can be experimentation. If someone owns a camera in the Sutherland Shire I could work with them to complete it.

Cheers,

Trent

[Garbz]

WHAT THE HELL!.

I just saw this thread and the pictures posted. Who the heck mounts a USB socket with pads specifically designed to hold the plug in place on anything other than a ground plane. It's not supposed to be just an electrical connection its supposed to be connected to a giant pad fixed to the bottom of the board.

[alpal]

It actually broke off without too much damage to the board.
It looks like only one track was lifted.
That's good & makes it easy to repair.


I had to make my Lodestar very secure as per this photo
as it would have had the same problem.
It uses a plastic holder:
http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/info/p5029_Strain-relief-for-Lodestar-cable---protects-the-connectors.html
& needed a further tying down.
The tape is just used as a pad & is not around the wires.

[Garbz]

Point is that it shouldn't have been connected to just a track to begin with. Those connections are structural not electrical. Pin 5 is electrical ground. A lot of people focus so much on the electrical design they forget why connectors have the pins they do to begin with.

[PRejto]

Well, I really don't know about "repairable." SBIG says the board needs to be replaced and I'm in holding mode until they get some boards in stock.

That USB hoder from Telescok Express looks interesting but I rather doubt it wold have saved my camera from my head. I still think a right angled USB plug + a shield would pretty much prevent impact damage to the socket.

Peter