Camer is built but were to plug it in.

[LloydF]

Hi, so camera is built installed and ready to pug into? The build stops right there!

[tician]

If the build guides' BOM is accurate, there should be three of the 4-pin Molex to USB converter PCBs included in the kit. One is for the CM-730, a second should be for the camera, and not sure if the third is just a spare or intended for stereo vision with a second camera.

[KurtEck]

Maybe?

But then I would wonder why I cut off a USB connector from the camera, to convert to a molex, that I plug into a molex to USB converter? Why not just leave on the original connector?

[tician]

Maybe?

But then I would wonder why I cut off a USB connector from the camera, to convert to a molex, that I plug into a molex to USB converter? Why not just leave on the original connector?

How big is the original USB Type-A connector on the camera, and how far outside the chassis does it force the cable to protrude compared to the WIFI and Bluetooth dongles? Hardwiring the camera with a proper right-angle connector would be a much better solution than that adapter PCB and unshielded spliced cables.

[LloydF]

Hum. So right angle connectors are at a real premium, I never really noticed how few right angle connectors there are not out there.
I think ill try the camera on a different pi first, did not leave myself a spot to check my connections and blowing up my pi now would be just, sad.

[kgranat]

As Tician mentioned, the idea is to plug the 4-pin end into one of the 4-pin molex/usb adapters. I'll see what I can do about getting the guide updated to reflect that.

Whenever we're putting together a robot like the HR-OS1 or HR-OS5, long USB-A connectors have always been a pain. They waste a lot of space and can make shelling the robot a pain. Right angle connectors are difficult to source and still have clearance issues. The 4-pin molex plug saves a lot of space. It also allows us to save space on peripherals. We've got a design for a 4-pin molex USB hub that's really small - I don't have an ETA on that, but it's in the works. The hub will make it easier to get more plugged into the edison on a small footprint.

That all being said, you can just plug the USB cable right into your raspberry pi, or find your own right angle connector and solder that in place if space allows.

The third 4-pin molex/usb adapter is for the Intel Edison's USB TOG connector (it's actually soldered in reverse of the other two for space saving)

[jwatte]

Have you considered the Raspberry PI native camera? It has less overhead and higher performance than an USB webcam. Although you have to route a persnickety flat cable...

[LloydF]

Dam, ok no heat guns on web cam for heat shrinking. The really thin wires have a plastic coating that hates heat and will melt all the plastic away in one second ;-(. Did you reverse the wireing on your usb to 4-pin, mine seems to plug in on the ps3 controller the outherway around?

[LloydF]

Hi, just be careful one USB to 4 pin adapter is wired reverse of the other two (2) somehow I missed that and it's sorta important to know up front.

[kgranat]

LLoydF, can you send me pictures of your 4-pin connectors? I know we ship them soldered in 2 different orientations (2 of them with the molex facing down, one with the molex facing up) but the wiring itself should be the same - that is using the 'wrong' one should not cause an electrical fault, it should just be at a different orientation.

I want to see the ones you have - if they really are soldered reverse electrically, that's a problem.


We shipped the board with the reverse orientation in a separate bag with the usb-otg connector, but I agree it could use better labeling. I'll try to get some pictures on the assembly guide.