Mounting ZMatter Board into the Enclosure

[ISY4Me]

I received my ZMatter Enclosure yesterday.  In looking at the separately purchased ZMatter board there is no way to mount the full board as originally shipped into the enclosure without interference with the internal antenna posts, which keeps the board from seating properly. 
 

I ran across one old forum photo of the enclosure. It clearly shows that to eliminate that issue, the top half of the ZMatter board was removed or snapped off.  
 

 

Not finding any guidelines for this procedure (no instructions included with the Enclosure), I wanted to ask the community if snapping off the top half of the ZMatter board is the correct procedure?   I don’t want to do anything that will impact my board warranty. 

Edited December 31, 2022 by ISY4Me
Clarify source of photo

[asbril]

1 hour ago, ISY4Me said:

I received my ZMatter Enclosure yesterday.  In looking at the separately purchased ZMatter board there is no way to mount the full board as originally shipped into the enclosure without interference with the internal antenna posts, which keeps the board from seating properly. 
 

I ran across one photo of the enclosure. It clearly shows that to eliminate that issue, the top half of the ZMatter board was removed or snapped off.  
 

 

Not finding any guidelines for this procedure (no instructions included with the Enclosure), I wanted to ask the community if snapping off the top half of the ZMatter board is the correct procedure?   I don’t want to do anything that will impact my board warranty. 

It took me some 30 minutes to get the board in the enclosure as you are right that is not easy to fit it.

The board is slightly tilted and one of  the antenna pins kept coming off the board. Finally I did get the board (slightly tilted)  in the enclosure and hopefully the antenna pin remains in place.

I don't remember whether the problem pin is the Zwave or the Zigbee, but  my eisy now does recognize Zwave. In other words,  I'll have to wait for the Zigbee firmware upgrade to confirm that both pins remain in place.

[ISY4Me]

8 minutes ago, asbril said:

1 hour ago, ISY4Me said:

It took me some 30 minutes to get the board in the enclosure as you are right that is not easy to fit it.

The board is slightly tilted and one of  the antenna pins kept coming off the board. Finally I did get the board (slightly tilted)  in the enclosure and hopefully the antenna pin remains in place.

I don't remember whether the problem pin is the Zwave or the Zigbee, but  my eisy now does recognize Zwave. In other words,  I'll have to wait for the Zigbee firmware upgrade to confirm that both pins remain in place.

@asbrilFrom your comment it sounds like you did not remove the top half of the ZMatter board as was shown in the photo I added, as I had the same issue with the board being tilted any not completely seated… by not completely seated, I mean I could not use the supplied screws to “attach” the ZMatter board to the existing board in the enclosure (the screws were not long enough).  It was tilted enough I was concerned about contact to the lid on the Enclosure and that left me uncomfortable. 
 

If removing the top of the ZMatter board is the recommended method (as shown in the photo) I can’t find it documented anywhere. I have submitted the question to the UD experts on a ticket to get an official answer. 
 

 

[hart2hart]

It took me some 30 minutes to get the board in the enclosure as you are right that is not easy to fit it.
The board is slightly tilted and one of  the antenna pins kept coming off the board. Finally I did get the board (slightly tilted)  in the enclosure and hopefully the antenna pin remains in place.
I don't remember whether the problem pin is the Zwave or the Zigbee, but  my eisy now does recognize Zwave. In other words,  I'll have to wait for the Zigbee firmware upgrade to confirm that both pins remain in place.

I suspected but after seeing this photo, I feel the right course is to snap off half of board. It’s scored and by visual inspection there are not electrical traces. I’ll wait to see if others chime in.

[asbril]

12 minutes ago, ISY4Me said:

@asbrilFrom your comment it sounds like you did not remove the top half of the ZMatter board as was shown in the photo I added, as I had the same issue with the board being tilted any not completely seated… by not completely seated, I mean I could not use the supplied screws to “attach” the ZMatter board to the existing board in the enclosure (the screws were not long enough).  It was tilted enough I was concerned about contact to the lid on the Enclosure and that left me uncomfortable. 
 

If removing the top of the ZMatter board is the recommended method (as shown in the photo) I can’t find it documented anywhere. I have submitted the question to the UD experts on a ticket to get an official answer. 
 

 

I did indeed not remove the top half and I would hesitate to take the risk of breaking the board all together. I was however able (with some effort)  to fully enter the screws. In fact, I remember that by turning the top around it was easier.

[ISY4Me]

1 hour ago, asbril said:

I did indeed not remove the top half and I would hesitate to take the risk of breaking the board all together. I was however able (with some effort)  to fully enter the screws. In fact, I remember that by turning the top around it was easier.

While the old photo shows how the half board cleanly fits in the Enclosure, I am really surprised this was or has not been discussed by the UD Team.  
 

Just for clarity to the members reading this, I am not advocating such a physical modification until directed by the UD Team and seeing that this is a holiday weekend we may not see any real guidance until next week.  If I get some feedback from UD I will post it… until then I am waiting. 

[ISY4Me]

I received a reply from @Michel Kohanim this afternoon regarding my ticket on this issue.  Here is a cut/paste of his response... shared with his permission.

There were no suggestions as to how to snap the excess off the board, but at least we are aware of the guideline.

Michel Kohanim wrote:

2023/01/01 17:28

Hi Jim,

Yes, so very sorry. You need to snap it in the middle.

JWeaver01 wrote

2022/12/31 08:05:27

With no guidelines or instructions included with the Enclusure I was trying to mount the “as shipped” ZMatter board into the Enclusure intact getting interference with the posts of the antenna connector.  Yes, there was extra depth to the cable that I originally pointed out, which made that interaction worst, but that may be a non-issue. 

But after looking closer at things this morning and seeing that one image of a mounted board (see attached) I am beginning to think that the full ZMatter board was never designed to mount in the Enclosure.  

Is snapping (or cutting) off the top half of the ZMatter board the sanctioned method approved by UD?  Recommendations on how to do that without damaging the board?