Also, if you use PROS, turn on hot/cold linking to upload via the controller instead. Upload a project to the brain for big changes but if it is minuscule (ex when testing auton) just do it via the controller to again avoid stressing the port.
For my team, we’re planning to use magnetic usb attachments for the port once they arrive, but unfortnatly I don’t think Vex is going to change to USB C or anything. With my port it’s already seeming degrade, and difficult to plug into.
But that’s inevitable, no one ever posts that their hardware is not broken. I also don’t think for the most part it’s a QC issue, all this hardware gets treated pretty roughly by the end user, some of it will get broken. With cortex, it was usually blown motor ports due to shorted motor wires and things like that.
I don’t recommend using a magnetic connector.
They pick up metal shavings and short everything.
If you want a usb attachment (which is a good idea), I recommend a simple usb connector:
My team has a micro-USB to USB extension so that we can plug a cable directly into the USB instead of puling out and putting in a cable to the micro-USB. We just keep it plugged in at all times and it is covered by a little C channel to keep it from moving.
We used a magnetic connector and always left the micro-USB end in the controller. One time I tried to pull it out and the connections came off and got stuck inside.
I have 8 V5 brains that are broken. That micro USB port keeps breaking off. My school has had these for 9 months and we are being charged $80 per unit to be fixed. I guess they are not made for school use.
Hey, there is no “fix” other than having VEX repair them.
But ongoing it’s suggested that you do a USB adapter that is fastened to the robot. We do use the mag adapters, but our RULE is to “Never cut metal near the robot brain” to keep swarf out of all the ports.