Type-C in Micro USB footprint (female connectors)

[joric]

Stumbled upon those weird 6-pin female Type-C connectors on Aliexpress:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10pcs-Micro-USB-6pin-type-C-Female-Connector-USB3-1-For-Mobile-Phone-Mini-USB-Jack/32885941456.html

No pinout, just sizes. 6-pin Type-C? What they are for? Also maybe someone knows if there are Type-C connectors with Micro USB footprint, I'd gladly replace every Micro USB at home with those Type-C puppies if footprints matched. These ones look almost like it.

Pictures:





Upd:

Look like these:



So no Micro USB compatible data pins, CC1 and CC2 are voltage switching lines and D+ and D- don't seem to be connected. SAD!

[ataradov]

This is an interesting find. I was looking for something like this.

Nope. Misinterpreted the schematic. Here is an article that shows the pinout of the 6-pin connector https://www.scorpia.co.uk/2016/03/17/using-usb-type-c-on-hobyist-projects/ . It looks like it has all that is needed for  compatibility mode.

Ok, I totally missed the pinout table. It is a power-only connector. CCx are Configuration Channel pins.

[joric]

Yeah power only connector. Even if they were D+/D- it would be tricky to solder on a regular 5-pin footprint. Hope someone finds a real Type-C / Micro USB replacement connector.

[ataradov]

It would be nice to find Type-C with fewer pins, even if they are not compatible with old footprints. Soldering full connector by hand is hard, and full connectors are way more expensive. And it looks like it should be possible to connect the necessary signals inside the connector and only bring out DP/DM/VCC/GND. But it does not looks like such thing exists.

[joric]

Tried to compare their pinout, picture in scale:



Maybe it's doable with kapton tape and individual wires, but it would be messy, they sure don't match at all.

Micro USB connectors are really that small, the "body" is 6.90mm vs 8.64mm for type-c. Outer size is about the same, considering "whiskers", 8mm vs ~9mm.

[Monkeh]

It would be nice to find Type-C with fewer pins, even if they are not compatible with old footprints. Soldering full connector by hand is hard, and full connectors are way more expensive. And it looks like it should be possible to connect the necessary signals inside the connector and only bring out DP/DM/VCC/GND. But it does not looks like such thing exists.

The closest I've seen: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/hirose-electric-co-ltd/CX90M-16P/H126318CT-ND/9559137

It's not too scary looking.

[Howardlong]

FWIW, I've found to my expense that USB C receptacles aren't particularly robust, particularly if you inadvertently try to insert a Lightning plug into one. 

[Monkeh]

FWIW, I've found to my expense that USB C receptacles aren't particularly robust, particularly if you inadvertently try to insert a Lightning plug into one. 

I blame Apple. For Lightning existing.

[joric]

Just noticed, the infamous TS80 uses Type-C connector too, wonder what's that:



Upd: looks like that one-sided 18-pin connector from the post above:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/hirose-electric-co-ltd/CX90M-16P/H126318CT-ND/9559137

I've compared it with a regular Micro USB connector from here:
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-fci/10118192-0001LF/609-4613-2-ND/2785387

Footprints to scale (red - Micro USB, blue - Type-C, pin spacing is 0.65 mm vs 0.5 mm):



Doesn't match at all! You probably could use some kind of a custom flex cable to replace one connector with another.

Upd: TS80 uses rather specific Chinese 16-pin Type-C connectors (pinout is similar to the connector above), they cost $9.18 for 30 pcs ($0.30 a piece):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/30pcs-lot-16-pin-Sunk-in-board-USB-3-1-Type-c-Female-Connector-Receptacle-Socket/32847321603.html

Or, even better, $0.19 a piece (trackable shipping isn't too expensive either):
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/YuXi-USB-3-1-Type-C-16pin-female-connector-For-Mobile-Phone-Charging-port-Charging-Socket/32840308311.html



Pin spacing apears to be about the same 0.5 mm:



Those 16-pin Type-C receptacles are actually USB 2.0 because there's no high speed data pins.

[ataradov]

Even without the need to retrofit old footprints, I'd like to see a Type-C connector with just the basic pins, but easy to layout and solder footprint.

[Mr. Scram]

Even without the need to retrofit old footprints, I'd like to see a Type-C connector with just the basic pins, but easy to layout and solder footprint.

The basic pins being the USB 2 pins? Me too.

[Monkeh]

Well, the one I linked is.. that. Just what you need to use a C connector. It's not that evil looking to solder, either.

[rs20]

0.5mm is no problem whatsoever, thanks for pointing out that connector! It's way better than the standard USB-C connectors with a similar pitch but 2 rows, making the "underneath" row completely impossible to rework. Definitely going to consider switching to USB-C with that connector.

I doubt there'll ever be a mass-produced USB-C connector in a micro-B pinout. Even though it's "easy to make" by some arbitrary standard, it would require significantly more specialized tooling that normal USB connectors (in particular, IIUC, you'd need to short D+ (A6 to B6) and also D- (A7 to B7) in the connector -- which is opposite layers and forming an X shape that is at risk of shorting D- to D+ -- tell me how to do that with a single pass of metal stamping and insertion into plastic.) And given that the standard connectors and the easily manufactured connectors pointed to by Monkeh are both available, there's just no commerical or industrial customer will to pay even 2 cents extra that would justify the larger investment required. But that's just a guess.

[Mr. Scram]

Well, the one I linked is.. that. Just what you need to use a C connector. It's not that evil looking to solder, either.

One problem with that one is that it's only 1,25A. I know it's USB2 in disguise, but increasing current carrying capabilities would be one of the reasons to upgrade cable and connector.

[Monkeh]

Well, the one I linked is.. that. Just what you need to use a C connector. It's not that evil looking to solder, either.

One problem with that one is that it's only 1,25A. I know it's USB2 in disguise, but increasing current carrying capabilities would be one of the reasons to upgrade cable and connector.

1.25A per pin. 1.25 * 4 = 5. I'm pretty sure high current cables connect all pins.

Also, it's a proper USB C connector - you can ask for 20V.

[Mr. Scram]

1.25A per pin. 1.25 * 4 = 5. I'm pretty sure high current cables connect all pins.

Also, it's a proper USB C connector - you can ask for 20V.

I missed the per pin bit. That should be plenty. Increasing the voltage is a neat trick, but not having to step down the voltage can be useful for cost conscious projects.

[joric]

Got those chinese 12-pin USB 2.0 Type-C connectors from here:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/YuXi-USB-3-1-Type-C-16pin-female-connector-For-Mobile-Phone-Charging-port-Charging-Socket/32840308311.html

It's not the worst compatibility in terms of size but it's certainly totally incompatible by pinout.
It would need a lot of work and precise soldering to replace, perhaps a special flex cable or a riser board.

[joric]

Larger picture:

[combs]

Sorry for the thread necromancy--I put together an Eagle footprint for the 6-pin USB-C part: https://github.com/combs/USBC6P

They're working well in my application, and are easy to solder!

[pseudobacon]

Old thread I know but whilst browsing Taobao I found 8 pin connectors with the CC1 and CC2 pins. This will allow connection using Type-C to C cables, at USB 2.0 speed.





Schematic here:

[ataradov]

I found 8 pin connectors with the CC1 and CC2 pins. This will allow connection using Type-C to C cables, at USB 2.0 speed.

CCx are Configuration Channel pins, they have no bearing on the data connection. But D+/D- pins are interesting.


Do you have a link to the product page? Edit: Sorry, missed the Taobao link.  Now we need to find that on something in a more approachable language.

[BravoV]

And this has 6 pins  ? -> Type C USB 3.1 Female Socket 6 Pin 4 Leg Simple Type PCB Mount

[ataradov]

And this has 6 pins 

That's how the thread started. 6 pin connectors do not have data pins.

[Mechatrommer]

And this has 6 pins  ? -> Type C USB 3.1 Female Socket 6 Pin 4 Leg Simple Type PCB Mount

That's how the thread started. 6 pin connectors do not have data pins.

thats a little bit different.. 200pcs for $10, the original post is 10pcs for $3 and more shiny. the 200pcs is more dull and dont have "clip cutting" on top (like my lcsc stock, about same 20-30cents/piece price as OP), but only $10.. here is different seller $5/100pcs Type C 6 Pin USB SMT Socket Connector USB 3.1 Type-C Female Placement 4 fixed feet For PCB DIY high current charging looks more shiny again

[ataradov]

There are many versions of that 6 pin connector. But they all don' t have the actual data pins.

That 8 pin connector is interesting, but I can't find it anywhere else.