Hi guys been having a lot of issues with this board , the micro usb keeps ripping off the board ive had several clients pull the usb lead out and also the female off the board comes with it. Is there any way of changing this to a normal 2.0 usb , I never had the problems with the Nano but I need Auto Com port Detect and the nano didn't do this. Is there any other way or different boards I could use thanks guys
If you are putting it in an enclosure, you can get panel mount USB extensions. That way the user yanking on the cord doesn't exert any stress on the board.
There seem to be solder pads next to the connector; maybe a bit of extra solder on there makes it a bit stronger.
I don't think that there's really space to mount a normal B type connector (if you can find one). As a result, it will stick out and be just as weak.
Do you ship the Pro Micro as a bare product? Or in a housing as part of the product?
You can consider a panel mount micro usb connector; you can get them with a cable that will fit in the Pro Micro.
I've seen more complaints about the connector being fragile.
Ah, see that @pert was faster regarding the panel mount ![]()
It goes inside a housing I wish I could get the nano to Auto Detect the Comport
Never had any probs then really. The housing is only 10cm bigger than the board so looking for something a little smaller maybe
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232694958797?ViewItem=&item=232694958797
Do you think this would work ??
I have my doubts. But you can try.
Realise that it converts Micro USB to an A type connector (as on the PC); so you will need special cables (A to A).
Maybe AudioQuest Micro USB to USB B Adapter; it at least has the B type for connection to the PC. But might be far too big. This one seems smaller.
Google search term: micro usb to B
Yes, it's quite unfortunate how much space those panel mount extensions take up. You can find them with a right angle micro plug, which makes it more compact. But even then the too-long cord is taking up a lot of space and making things messy. I ended up making a small one by cutting it down to the length I needed and splicing the right angle micro plug on there.
I think the adapter solution is reasonable, but only if you can figure out how to mount the adapter securely to the enclosure.
Yes, the SMT Micro-USB connectors seem to be real pain in the neck.
Over on AVR-Freaks, various people complained about them breaking off of JTAG ICE3 boards.
In the "Microcontroller MOOC" using the TI ARM Launchpad, students had problems with them tearing off, and were specifically cautioned to be extra careful (and/or implement some sort of strain relief as shown below:)
And quite recently, the "Bus pirate" people have decided that probably no-one can adequately hand-solder an SMT microUSB, so they've re-spun the board for a much more expensive connector with tabs...
http://dangerousprototypes.com/blog/2018/09/27/bus-pirate-usb-micro-b-connector-test/
I try to be really careful, AND implement some sort of strain relief (sometime easier than other times - which exact board are you using?)
Also, it looks like some boards (like the Genuine Arduino/Adafruit "Arduino Micro" are at least laid out to accept a tabbed USB connector (I don't know if they're actually manufactured with one; the board looks designed to take several different connectors...) (The Adafruit Feather and ItsyBitsy 32u4 boards also seems to have a connector with tabs, and they specifically mention "the new version of this board has a better USB connector) on one of their products (which I can't find now.)
(OTOH, the Sparkfun Micro Pro is an all SMT connector.)
For my personal designs, I've started putting full-sized connectors on the board when they fit. And I try to do some sort of strain relief on boards that I buy, or that don't have room for the full-sized connector.)



Im using the Pro Micro Atmega32u4 5v
Im not sure if theres enough space to strengthen this, ive tried glue also but this sometimes seeps into the micro usb then makes this un usable ![]()
I wish they did a stronger usb to avoid this from happening
That looks like a clone of the Sparkfun board.
Well, if you were buying them from a "real"vendor, you could probably ask and see if they'd start using a stronger USB connector. But then they'd probably be too expensive ![]()
I've received boards where there was a glob of hotmelt glue over the microusb connector in an effort to keep it from being torn off. Not sure how well it worked.



