Hi Graeme - That sounds like a good idea.
Fortunately my CEM40 mount has a USB connector on the end of the dovetail slide. I plug the camera USB into that connector, so, there is no force on the connection and no chance of disconnecting the USB. The dovetail USB is internally wired to a USB connector on the back of the
RA assembly which only rotates and doesn't "swing from side to side", so, very little chance of a disconnection occurring there. The weak link in my USB "chain" is where the USB connects into the laptop in the house. The picture below shows the ethernet cable (that comes in from the mount, through a window) and it connects to the small box shown in the picture - just above the mouse. The other side of the box has the short cable with a USB connector and that is what is plugged into the laptop. If I "nudge" the cable going into the laptop it will sometimes momentarily disconnect, and, then I have the problem.
100_1129 by
STEPHEN KING, on Flickr
I plan on clamping the USB cable to the power cord connector with a bag-clip. Seems to work well to stabilize the connection as well as route the cable "out of the way".
Hope your idea works out for you.
Cheers,
Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website:
www.steveking.pictures