Labradar MiniUSB Power Connection Fixes- Update 2

[hoz53]

my labradar is a long time out of warranty and still works good except the miniusb connector seems to be worn out so its connection to a battery is unreliable/sporadic. Thinking about taking it apart to try and fix it but of coarse i dont want to destroy it. Id rather use some AA batteries mabie rechargeables or hook up a pwr supply. Anyone have any info they can share with me on this. Thanks Much

Update 2 -9/16/22— Taking a LR apart. took my LR apart. there are 8 screws that hold it together- one is hidden under a warranty sticker in battery box. carefully pry at the sides after the screws are out and the front and back will slide apart. there is a ribbon cable that connects the two sides. i was careful with that so i didnt pull it out of either sides connector. Looks like the miniusb connector is on a board with a ribbon cable hooked to the board. i will leave that alone and not try to replace the original miniusb connector. Easier to get to the wires that come from the battery box, so i am planning to splice into them to hook up a panel mount power jack. i would just send the unit to LR for repair but i feel the design of this miniusb for power is poor. or they should have put in a seperate power jack to begin with. Pics of the insides of an LR are below. i did buy some usb to miniusb cables today to try but got the wrong size. the existing port on LR looks pretty trashed anyway. i would just use some rechargeable batterys but i dont think they would provide enough voltage.

Edit. 22:57 eastern friday nite.— been reading an article about this on the hide since my original posting. It gives alot of good info that is probably about all i need. https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/labradar-battery-issues.7014287/
Anyone have any additional info would be appreciated thanks

 

[morpheus]

Not sure if the socket is already too worn out, but I use one of these to avoid this issue: Magnetic Charging Cable

 

[hoz53]

Not sure if the socket is already too worn out, but I use one of these to avoid this issue: Magnetic Charging Cable

Thanks for that info. ill try it.

 

[Charlie-NY]

Not sure if the socket is already too worn out, but I use one of these to avoid this issue: Magnetic Charging Cable

Does muzzle blast or the blast from a brake ever knock that off?

 

[6.5 forever]

I thought my connection was bad. But I bought a new two foot cord and that connecter fit tight and no more problem.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I thought my connection was bad. But I bought a new two foot cord and that connecter fit tight and no more problem.

I have seen this on other devices as well. I have a bose speaker like that

 

[MikeT124]

I started using those on the family's cell phones to charge them and also on the various chargers. I came up with the brilliant idea of using them on the LR also because the LR connector was getting pretty rough. No problems at all since and it's been about 2 years now.

Mike

 

[LVLAaron]

If the port is actually the problem, you can find a replacement from any supplier.

https://www.mouser.com/c/connectors/usb-connectors/?product=Micro%20USB%20Type%20B%20Connectors&termination%20style=SMD%2FSMT

 

[rayporter]

i went to the magnetic charging cable also and have no problems.

 

[divingin]

my labradar is a long time out of warranty and still works good except the miniusb connector seems to be worn out so its connection to a battery is unreliable/sporadic.

Might try hitting it with contact cleaner (be careful around the plastic); maybe with a tiny brush dipped in the solvent.

The micro USB connector has always seemed a little flimsy to me. If you're looking at replacement, the question is whether or not it's a board mounted connector, which would potentially make for a relatively difficult repair.

That said, if you want to graft in a semi-permanent battery, you could always pigtail off the alkaline battery contacts. As I recall (from experience here) the 6 AA cells are arranged in 2 groups of 3 (i.e. the input to the LabRadar is 4.5V - 2 groups of 3 series-mounted cells wired in parallel.)

 

[hoz53]

Does muzzle blast or the blast from a brake ever knock that off?

i dont have a brake but i never saw other guys have the wire knocked loose- never had it from recoil in my case.

 

[hoz53]

Might try hitting it with contact cleaner (be careful around the plastic); maybe with a tiny brush dipped in the solvent.

The micro USB connector has always seemed a little flimsy to me. If you're looking at replacement, the question is whether or not it's a board mounted connector, which would potentially make for a relatively difficult repair.

That said, if you want to graft in a semi-permanent battery, you could always pigtail off the alkaline battery contacts. As I recall (from experience here) the 6 AA cells are arranged in 2 groups of 3 (i.e. the input to the LabRadar is 4.5V - 2 groups of 3 series-mounted cells wired in parallel.)

yeah i stuck a thin knife blade around the miniusb and also tried a different cable and had it working 4 awhile but it didnt last. you are rite the 6 batteries are hooked up so they provide 4.5 volts- usb is 5 volts so it works. if the miniusb is a board mount ill leave it alone- if its seperate ill replace it -- either way im gonna put in a panel mounted power jack to plug my power supplies in. thanks

ps i may even put a power supply in the LR so i can plug it into 120VAC if i wanna

 

[hoz53]

I thought my connection was bad. But I bought a new two foot cord and that connecter fit tight and no more problem.

i tried 2 but i could try another one- thanks

 

[morpheus]

Does muzzle blast or the blast from a brake ever knock that off?

Not in my experience.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Does muzzle blast or the blast from a brake ever knock that off?

The muzzle blast knocked a magnetic connector loose from the front of my LabRadar a couple times early on. The caveat is that I was using a cable with a "straight", or "in-line" magnetic connector, which makes the cable stick almost straight out from the face of the unit. When I switched to a cable with a right angle magnetic connector, the problem stopped, presumably because the cable lays relatively flat against the face of the unit as it hangs down. I also loosely wrap the cable around the base a couple times. The magnetic connectors work very well. They are inexpensive and you can usually buy them in a set with at least a couple different types of cable connectors (i.e. straight or right-angle) and various magnetic plug-ins.

 

[hoz53]

If the port is actually the problem, you can find a replacement from any supplier.

https://www.mouser.com/c/connectors/usb-connectors/?product=Micro%20USB%20Type%20B%20Connectors&termination%20style=SMD%2FSMT

im going to replace the miniusb if its feasable— thanks

 

[hoz53]

The muzzle blast knocked a magnetic connector loose from the front of my LabRadar a couple times early on. The caveat is that I was using a cable with a "straight", or "in-line" magnetic connector, which makes the cable stick almost straight out from the face of the unit. When I switched to a cable with a right angle magnetic connector, the problem stopped, presumably because the cable lays relatively flat against the face of the unit as it hangs down. I also loosely wrap the cable around the base a couple times. The magnetic connectors work very well. They are inexpensive and you can usually buy them in a set with at least a couple different types of cable connectors (i.e. straight or right-angle) and various magnetic plug-ins.

thanks for that info.

 

[hoz53]

my labradar is a long time out of warranty and still works good except the miniusb connector seems to be worn out so its connection to a battery is unreliable/sporadic. Thinking about taking it apart to try and fix it but of coarse i dont want to destroy it. Id rather use some AA batteries mabie rechargeables or hook up a pwr supply. Anyone have any info they can share with me on this. Thanks Much

Update 2 -9/16/22— Taking a LR apart. took my LR apart. there are 8 screws that hold it together- one is hidden under a warranty sticker in battery box. carefully pry at the sides after the screws are out and the front and back will slide apart. there is a ribbon cable that connects the two sides. i was careful with that so i didnt pull it out of either sides connector. Looks like the miniusb connector is on a board with a ribbon cable hooked to the board. i will leave that alone and not try to replace the original miniusb connector. Easier to get to the wires that come from the battery box, so i am planning to splice into them to hook up a panel mount power jack. i would just send the unit to LR for repair but i feel the design of this miniusb for power is poor. or they should have put in a seperate power jack to begin with. Pics of the insides of an LR are below. i did buy some usb to miniusb cables today to try but got the wrong size. the existing port on LR looks pretty trashed anyway. i would just use some rechargeable batterys but i dont think they would provide enough voltage.

Edit. 22:57 eastern friday nite.— been reading an article about this on the hide since my original posting. It gives alot of good info that is probably about all i need. https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/labradar-battery-issues.7014287/
Anyone have any additional info would be appreciated thanks

git it

 

[Della]

I thought my connection was bad. But I bought a new two foot cord and that connecter fit tight and no more problem.

Same here.

 

[dttheliman]

Does muzzle blast or the blast from a brake ever knock that off?

Depends … on how close , and how big ,even with a right angle connector , a new cable resolved it for me