Prevent your mini-USB connector from getting ripped off

Hi everyone,

here’s a little tech bulletin – especially for DITs and those who move their Element panels more frequently. The single weak spot of the Element panel is its mini-USB port. The majority of all repairs that we do (being the official service center for the EU) is fixing broken USB-connectors – particularly on the Element-Tk panel. Mostly these are panels that are used on-set and carried around a lot – and it just happens that people stumble over cables. When that happens, there’s a high likelihood, that the mini-USB connector gets ripped off the circuit board inside the panel. To prevent that from happening, there is a simple prevention measure you can take. All you need is three things:

– an angled mini USB-extension cord, like this
– a thin zip-tie
– a small piece of double-sided tape

The particular extension cable that we found on Amazon has the advantage of having a small hole in the mini-USB socket, securing it easily with the silver stand of the panel. In between the connector and the silver stand, we put a small piece of double-sided tape, to prevent the connector from sliding down the stand – done! The cable is short enough to not be in the way, or obstruct any of the trackerballs from underneath. However, in addition to this, you could of course tape the cable to the underside as well.

Et voilà – if now someone steps on the cable, you’ll have a damaged extension cord for a mere 7€, instead of a damaged panel for a more significant 950€ 😉 .

Cheers,
Mazze