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When using connectors on wires (e.g. USB cables), there are four potential directions the wire can face relative to the connector:

Four right-angle USB-A connectors with different orientations

(image snipped from https://www.newnex.com/usb-right-angle-cables.php).

Is there a standard for referring to the directions of these connectors? "Up" and "Down" are fairly obvious, but "left" and "right" are ambiguous depending on if you are looking from the perspective of the cable or the connector.

I'm curious as writing specifications for these cables would be easier if there was a standard.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ I'm not sure up and down are unambiguous as USB connectors can be mounted vertically as well as horizontally. \$\endgroup\$
    – SteveSh
    Mar 24, 2022 at 17:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ Just add the appropriate picture to your specification to achieve ultimate disambiguity. \$\endgroup\$
    – Andy aka
    Mar 24, 2022 at 17:56
  • \$\begingroup\$ Unfortunately, there isn't. All of them would be called "right angle". \$\endgroup\$
    – Davide Andrea
    Mar 24, 2022 at 18:04
  • \$\begingroup\$ Specify the connector you want to use then there isn't a choice. \$\endgroup\$
    – Finbarr
    Mar 24, 2022 at 18:16

1 Answer 1

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They are knows as right angle connectors, the orientation would be manufacturer specific.

Lcom defines the cables listed in the picture of OP above as follows:

Down angle, right angle, Up angle , Left angle

enter image description here
Source: https://www.l-com.com/usb-right-angle-usb-cable-assemblies

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