AM5N saddle USB C port failure

RobPettengill

I've been controlling my AM5N from my ASIAIR + for about 6 months via the USB C port on the saddle reliably.

Recently the port failed. I had the mount set up for two nights in my garden. The first night all worked perfectly, the second night the ASIAIR could not see the AM5N. Did the usual connector due diligence:

Reseated the connectors on both ends of the cable
Checked for looseness or obstructions in the connectors
Replaced the cable with two different known good cables

I was able to work around the problem by connecting to the USB B port on the mount body. That worked just as affected. This seems to narrow the problem to the AM5N USB C port itself or the wiring from the mount body to the port on the saddle.

I'm contemplating disassembling the saddle to take a look at the port wiring before sending it in for repair. Has anyone had a similar problem that they have resolved? Has anyone seen directions or a tear down video of the AM5N?

F5146666

Did not have such a problem so far, but you can easily remove the saddle by simply removing the 4 screws on top of it. Underneath the saddle there are two cable connectors (one for power one for USB) that can be removed from a small PCB that is installed in the saddle. The cables go through the DEC harmonic drive hollow shaft directly to the mainboard in the mount body (also cable/PCB connectors).

My personal opinion about the root cause of your problem is:

1) USB-C Connector of the saddle itself (inner parts of the connector or solder connection to saddle PCB)
2) Cable connection/pins on the saddle PCB side became loose
3) Wire broken between saddle PCB connector and mainboard connector

What you could try regarding 1) is to do a visual inspection if you can find/see anything suspicious and carefully clean the USB-C connector on the saddle with a brush (ideally with a suitable cleaning fluid and compressed air).