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Although I've not heard of any previous issues, there's always the possibility of a faulty or deformed socket, looks ok in the picture, are you sure you have a mini usb and not a micro usb ?

Sure! I get my cable to work nicely with the USB-FTDI adapter which is mini usb too...

I can't quite see from the photo, are the contact wires in the correct place, or can I see one that's bent? Try looking at the connector from 45° to the side - the contacts should be in a flattened loop on the top of the insulating block. This is on a NanodeRF.

 Here is a picture of the emonTX connector on the right and the USB2FTDI connector on the left.

The left one looks like it supposed to look (and my mini USB work) - the right is either wrong or damaged? 

Attach a picture of a working mini usb (left) and on the right the connector on the emonTX that i cannot get the connector into.

It looks to me as if the shell is just not wide enough adjacent to the PCB, and it looks deliberate (i.e. not damaged). All 3 that I have handy are from the shop (including an emonTx V3) and look like the one on the left. I'm guessing the socket on yours is from a different supplier. Email the shop support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com point them at this thread and see what they say.

It seems the emontx3 has a less common mini-usb type-A fitted rather than the more familiar type-B. 

"It seems the emontx3 has a less common mini-usb type-A fitted rather than the more familiar type-B."

In which case, that's a change from the original, and different to the V2 and the emonGLCD. Methinks it's a parts ordering foul-up.

[I didn't realise that two types existed at the mini & micro sizes!]

O dear, this does indeed look like a mistake. I will look into the numbers that this affects and find a suitable USB cable to send out to those that need it. njberland can you give me your order number or send this in a message to support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com

Found what I think is a suitable cable available in the US here http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Edp..., I will get one to test and confirm that it is the right one.

We forget it for now - it will work without the USB power... I will order several more emontx units and hope they will have the right connector...

And for your reference my order number was #5667.

Sorry about this issue, we have tracked the problem down to a supplier who mixed up these connectors. We have managed to obtain some adapter cables. We will make these adapter cables available to anyone who needs to power the emonTx via 5V USB. Please let me know if you by emailing support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com if you would like a cable.

Sorry for any hassle caused, it's amazing that it's taken this long for this issue to be brought to our attention. 

To update on where we have got to on this. The first sample we got for the USB mini A to USB male A cable fitted correctly but as the miniA has been depreciated the supplier did not have a large stock of these ready to ship so they are now manufacturing a batch of these specially for us. They should be shipped to us next week around the 13th of June and then we should have them here ready to send out around the 20th of June as a provisional estimate.

As Glyn mentioned please let us know if you need a cable by emailing support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com and we will send one out to you as soon as they arrive here.

I face the same problem. I purchased emonTx V3 last Friday. The Mini-USB cable connects with the USB to serial UART but doesn't seem to fit in with the 5V USB DC.

I also face another problem. There is a white flap that prevents the USB to serial UART to be inserted inside the hole in the emonTx V3. It is shown here.

Five posts in this thread tell you what to do about the USB connector. I have answered your other question elsewhere. Don't post the same question twice, it only wastes everyone's time and causes confusion.

Custom made USB cables to fit the incorrect connector on the emonTx V3 have now arrived ahead of schedule. Cables have been shipped out today to everyone who has requested a cable. 

Again, apologies for this situation and the hassle caused. 

Hello,

I also got a TXV3 that has the wrong connector. Sadly I bought this unit to take with me to Uganda for a PV project for a school with no power but now it looks like I cannot use this port. I am also having trouble getting them to talk and dont see anything from the UART.

Thanks,

-Troy

You can power the V3 via the FTDI connector, or you can use battery power, or you can provide 5 V via the screw terminal block. But first email the shop support@openenergymonitor.zendesk.com and explain that you have the wrong connector fitted.

Did you also buy your programmer from the shop? What operating system are you using on the computer? If Windows, have you installed the drivers according to the instructions here. Bear in mind it attempts to detect the serial port at start-up and if it fails to detect it then, no serial output is generated.

I dont mean to hijack this thread but I just have a ftdi programmer. I figured it should work on this too. Any reason why its not working?

The programmer I am using:

http://www.parallax.com/product/32201

I am using windows 8 and Arduino sees it as COM3

Troy - The device you have linked to isn't really suitable as it doesn't provide power, it has 4 pins GND, RST TX, RX, the order of those 4 pins do not match the pins on the emonTx's either. If you were able to "patch" the 4 connections to the emonTx to remap them, you could probably solder a fly lead onto the devices PCB to pick up 5v from the mini-usb socket, that could provide 5v to a 5th pin on the emonTx. Although this could get you out of a bind for programming it's not ideal for a fulltime solution.

Perfect. That did it. I am communicating now. I agree its not ideal but better than not having emon setup!!

Thanks for the help!