All connectors both for power and signal have a finite life for mating and de-mating. This is because the actual mating surfaces abrade each other as they slide against each other. Also, any spring features in the connector that keep the mating contacts together loose their tension over repeated cycles. Connectors intended for high reliability specify the number of mate / de-mate cycles. Connectors used in "consumer" products are generally not specified for mate / de-mate cycles. Such connectors can be made at lower cost which is generally a high priority for any consumer product. Such connectors generally are designed so they will have a mate / de-mate life greater than the number of cycles a "typical" consumer will use.
In the electronics business there are some products that are tested extensively prior to shipment to the customer. Sometimes these test involve the item being connected to and disconnected from systems used for testing several times.
In these cases "connector savers" (sometimes called "socket savers" are employed. Savers are connected to all the connectors on the product before any testing begins and are maintain installed on the product until just before shipping.
The saver is connector set that mates with the connector on the product. and provides a connector identical to the one on the product where test equipment can be plugged in. In this way the saver bears all the wear from the multiple mate / de-mate cycles. While the product only has one mate /de-mate cycle.
I think many of us in the test group mate and de-mate USB connections with our test machines a lot. Some years ago when I first started using USB as the interface for the custom electronics I design. bought some short (15CM) USB extension cables for use as socket savers. They served me well. Over the ensuing years they have developed actual socket savers for USB with a length of about 5 to 7 CM (varies with brand).
If you search on "USB connector saver" and "USB socket saver" you should be able to find some. In appearance they have the body of a connector with a male connector on one end and a female connector on the other. Just plug them into your test machine and leave them there. Let the saver take the wear.
Have a Great Day! Pat (tablepc) _______________________________________________ test mailing list -- test@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe send an email to test-leave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fedora Code of Conduct: https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/project/code-of-conduct/ List Guidelines: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Mailing_list_guidelines List Archives: https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/test@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Do not reply to spam on the list, report it: https://pagure.io/fedora-infrastructure
