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Can I use USB data pins as a power source?
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$begingroup$
I'm trying to build a circuit as seen below, where a sequencer controls the flashing of some LED sections, and an SPDT switch controls power to either the left or the right section of LEDs.
However, I want the PCB with the switch and power source to be located a distance (~1 meter) from the LEDs and sequencer, and I was wondering if I could use USB to connect them.
To be clear, I am NOT connecting this to any sort of computer or microcontroller, I want to know if it is possible to have a USB cable provide VCC and GND from one circuit to another, and then use D+ and D- to provide/disconnect power to the LEDs via the switch. All voltages would be 5 V, and I can adjust the current draw of the LEDs as necessary.
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can achieve this (three power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my own?
power-supply led usb interconnect
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm trying to build a circuit as seen below, where a sequencer controls the flashing of some LED sections, and an SPDT switch controls power to either the left or the right section of LEDs.
However, I want the PCB with the switch and power source to be located a distance (~1 meter) from the LEDs and sequencer, and I was wondering if I could use USB to connect them.
To be clear, I am NOT connecting this to any sort of computer or microcontroller, I want to know if it is possible to have a USB cable provide VCC and GND from one circuit to another, and then use D+ and D- to provide/disconnect power to the LEDs via the switch. All voltages would be 5 V, and I can adjust the current draw of the LEDs as necessary.
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can achieve this (three power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my own?
power-supply led usb interconnect
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
5
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
$begingroup$
I'm trying to build a circuit as seen below, where a sequencer controls the flashing of some LED sections, and an SPDT switch controls power to either the left or the right section of LEDs.
However, I want the PCB with the switch and power source to be located a distance (~1 meter) from the LEDs and sequencer, and I was wondering if I could use USB to connect them.
To be clear, I am NOT connecting this to any sort of computer or microcontroller, I want to know if it is possible to have a USB cable provide VCC and GND from one circuit to another, and then use D+ and D- to provide/disconnect power to the LEDs via the switch. All voltages would be 5 V, and I can adjust the current draw of the LEDs as necessary.
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can achieve this (three power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my own?
power-supply led usb interconnect
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
I'm trying to build a circuit as seen below, where a sequencer controls the flashing of some LED sections, and an SPDT switch controls power to either the left or the right section of LEDs.
However, I want the PCB with the switch and power source to be located a distance (~1 meter) from the LEDs and sequencer, and I was wondering if I could use USB to connect them.
To be clear, I am NOT connecting this to any sort of computer or microcontroller, I want to know if it is possible to have a USB cable provide VCC and GND from one circuit to another, and then use D+ and D- to provide/disconnect power to the LEDs via the switch. All voltages would be 5 V, and I can adjust the current draw of the LEDs as necessary.
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can achieve this (three power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my own?
power-supply led usb interconnect
power-supply led usb interconnect
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
edited 8 mins ago
Peter Mortensen
1,60031422
1,60031422
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
asked yesterday
Alex HeuerAlex Heuer
286
286
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex Heuer is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
5
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
5
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago
5
5
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
2
2
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago
|
show 3 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can
achieve this (3 power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my
own?
Cables will do whatever you want them to do, they carry current from one point to another. The biggest concern would be if someone accidentally plugged the USB cable into a regular USB device which would probably blow out the data lines on that device.
Most USB cables use bigger conductors for the power lines, so the data lines would best be used for lower currents.
But you can use any cable you want as long as you can find ends for it and a way to solder your circuit to the ends. At that point it might be easier to just go down to your local hardware store and splice a 4 conductor cable and solder to that.
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is neither Kosher nor Halal. It should actually be explicitly forbidden in the Electrical Engineering code of ethics. Some certification standards explicitly frown upon this.
Besides the wires probably being extremely under-dimensioned for the delivery of power, using narrowly-defined standard connectors for non-standard uses is a sure way to cause an unforeseen problem down the road. Particularly if this use would ensure the destruction of any standards-compliant device that could be plugged into it, as is this case.
I have had apparently standard but mis-wired cables in my hand that have caused the malfunction and even destruction of standard-compliant devices.
Standardization bodies actually spend a lot of time designing their connectors so that these cannot be confused/mistaken/interconnected with anything else out there. Don't make our job harder.
Some connector types are more generic than others, stick to those.
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, USB cable's data lines are significantly thinner than their power lines, and shouldn't/can't be used to supply any significant amount of power.
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your best bet is likely to be a more generic connector. There are many common types of cable out there other than USB that will have two major advantages: Larger conductors on all pins, and no chance of damaging USB devices by mistaken connections.
Consider using a DIN connector on either end of your cable, for example. These connectors are common enough that they're cheap, and generic enough that the presence of the connector does not automatically make people expect it will work for any one protocol.
Molex's mini-fit and micro-fit connectors are also popular for power, but be careful if you use mini-fit jr connectors, as they are commonly used on PC power supplies.
JST connectors are commonly used for batteries in RC applications, and may be a good fit for this as four-conductor JST connectors are sufficiently uncommon that people wouldn't have any particular expectation for what they're meant to be used in, yet sufficiently common that they're very cheap, even pre-assembled cables with a four-pin JST connector on either end can go for less than $2.
The links in this post are just what I found in a very quick search of digi-key; if you search yourself you may find more options, and you can tailor to your needs regarding conductor size. Or you can look for just the connectors and make your own cable, which is not that hard if you have a crimping tool.
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
$endgroup$
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can
achieve this (3 power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my
own?
Cables will do whatever you want them to do, they carry current from one point to another. The biggest concern would be if someone accidentally plugged the USB cable into a regular USB device which would probably blow out the data lines on that device.
Most USB cables use bigger conductors for the power lines, so the data lines would best be used for lower currents.
But you can use any cable you want as long as you can find ends for it and a way to solder your circuit to the ends. At that point it might be easier to just go down to your local hardware store and splice a 4 conductor cable and solder to that.
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can
achieve this (3 power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my
own?
Cables will do whatever you want them to do, they carry current from one point to another. The biggest concern would be if someone accidentally plugged the USB cable into a regular USB device which would probably blow out the data lines on that device.
Most USB cables use bigger conductors for the power lines, so the data lines would best be used for lower currents.
But you can use any cable you want as long as you can find ends for it and a way to solder your circuit to the ends. At that point it might be easier to just go down to your local hardware store and splice a 4 conductor cable and solder to that.
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can
achieve this (3 power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my
own?
Cables will do whatever you want them to do, they carry current from one point to another. The biggest concern would be if someone accidentally plugged the USB cable into a regular USB device which would probably blow out the data lines on that device.
Most USB cables use bigger conductors for the power lines, so the data lines would best be used for lower currents.
But you can use any cable you want as long as you can find ends for it and a way to solder your circuit to the ends. At that point it might be easier to just go down to your local hardware store and splice a 4 conductor cable and solder to that.
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
$endgroup$
If this is not possible, is there an existing type of cable that can
achieve this (3 power leads and a ground), or will I have to solder my
own?
Cables will do whatever you want them to do, they carry current from one point to another. The biggest concern would be if someone accidentally plugged the USB cable into a regular USB device which would probably blow out the data lines on that device.
Most USB cables use bigger conductors for the power lines, so the data lines would best be used for lower currents.
But you can use any cable you want as long as you can find ends for it and a way to solder your circuit to the ends. At that point it might be easier to just go down to your local hardware store and splice a 4 conductor cable and solder to that.
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
answered yesterday
laptop2dlaptop2d
26.5k123382
26.5k123382
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
Thanks, I'll see if I can find some 4 conductor cable and some suitable connectors I can use to connect and disconnect my two PCBs. I guess I'm making my own cable
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer You can buy header cables and connectors quite regularly. They often have a single-end setup for connecting to a header, with leads off to be soldered to something else. Ex: allelectronics.com/item/con-234/4-pin-connector-w/header-0.156/… the nice thing about them is you can solder the connector to one device, and the cables to the other, then it's obvious that the cable and connector go together, vs. reusing something that's not built for it.
$endgroup$
– Der Kommissar
yesterday
1
1
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
$begingroup$
@AlexHeuer As far as pre-made cable found in home stores: network cable and phone line works great for passing low amounts of power like this. For higher current you can step up to alarm wire, thermostat wire or sprinkler controller wire.
$endgroup$
– JPhi1618
yesterday
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is neither Kosher nor Halal. It should actually be explicitly forbidden in the Electrical Engineering code of ethics. Some certification standards explicitly frown upon this.
Besides the wires probably being extremely under-dimensioned for the delivery of power, using narrowly-defined standard connectors for non-standard uses is a sure way to cause an unforeseen problem down the road. Particularly if this use would ensure the destruction of any standards-compliant device that could be plugged into it, as is this case.
I have had apparently standard but mis-wired cables in my hand that have caused the malfunction and even destruction of standard-compliant devices.
Standardization bodies actually spend a lot of time designing their connectors so that these cannot be confused/mistaken/interconnected with anything else out there. Don't make our job harder.
Some connector types are more generic than others, stick to those.
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is neither Kosher nor Halal. It should actually be explicitly forbidden in the Electrical Engineering code of ethics. Some certification standards explicitly frown upon this.
Besides the wires probably being extremely under-dimensioned for the delivery of power, using narrowly-defined standard connectors for non-standard uses is a sure way to cause an unforeseen problem down the road. Particularly if this use would ensure the destruction of any standards-compliant device that could be plugged into it, as is this case.
I have had apparently standard but mis-wired cables in my hand that have caused the malfunction and even destruction of standard-compliant devices.
Standardization bodies actually spend a lot of time designing their connectors so that these cannot be confused/mistaken/interconnected with anything else out there. Don't make our job harder.
Some connector types are more generic than others, stick to those.
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
This is neither Kosher nor Halal. It should actually be explicitly forbidden in the Electrical Engineering code of ethics. Some certification standards explicitly frown upon this.
Besides the wires probably being extremely under-dimensioned for the delivery of power, using narrowly-defined standard connectors for non-standard uses is a sure way to cause an unforeseen problem down the road. Particularly if this use would ensure the destruction of any standards-compliant device that could be plugged into it, as is this case.
I have had apparently standard but mis-wired cables in my hand that have caused the malfunction and even destruction of standard-compliant devices.
Standardization bodies actually spend a lot of time designing their connectors so that these cannot be confused/mistaken/interconnected with anything else out there. Don't make our job harder.
Some connector types are more generic than others, stick to those.
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
$endgroup$
This is neither Kosher nor Halal. It should actually be explicitly forbidden in the Electrical Engineering code of ethics. Some certification standards explicitly frown upon this.
Besides the wires probably being extremely under-dimensioned for the delivery of power, using narrowly-defined standard connectors for non-standard uses is a sure way to cause an unforeseen problem down the road. Particularly if this use would ensure the destruction of any standards-compliant device that could be plugged into it, as is this case.
I have had apparently standard but mis-wired cables in my hand that have caused the malfunction and even destruction of standard-compliant devices.
Standardization bodies actually spend a lot of time designing their connectors so that these cannot be confused/mistaken/interconnected with anything else out there. Don't make our job harder.
Some connector types are more generic than others, stick to those.
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
edited 12 hours ago
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
answered yesterday
Edgar BrownEdgar Brown
6,4672735
6,4672735
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
$begingroup$
In this case I agree, but there are valid 'off spec' uses for standard connectors. For example SATA cables make a wonderful way to hook things like PECL clocks between cards at GHz rates with very low jitter (Also for serdes links between FPGAs). Cheap as anything, impedance controlled, latching and second sourced by everyone, whats not to love?
$endgroup$
– Dan Mills
yesterday
6
6
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills: There's a significantly difference between "This is a non-standard use of the connector, it won't work when plugged into a standard host port" and "This will fry any standard device you plug into".
$endgroup$
– Ben Voigt
yesterday
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
$begingroup$
@DanMills nice to know that this actually works well. I've been in discussions about how to transport differential high-speed signaling between boards for ca. forever, and very few solutions seemed great.
$endgroup$
– Marcus Müller
15 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, USB cable's data lines are significantly thinner than their power lines, and shouldn't/can't be used to supply any significant amount of power.
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, USB cable's data lines are significantly thinner than their power lines, and shouldn't/can't be used to supply any significant amount of power.
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
No, USB cable's data lines are significantly thinner than their power lines, and shouldn't/can't be used to supply any significant amount of power.
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
$endgroup$
No, USB cable's data lines are significantly thinner than their power lines, and shouldn't/can't be used to supply any significant amount of power.
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
answered yesterday
Marcus MüllerMarcus Müller
34.9k362101
34.9k362101
add a comment |
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your best bet is likely to be a more generic connector. There are many common types of cable out there other than USB that will have two major advantages: Larger conductors on all pins, and no chance of damaging USB devices by mistaken connections.
Consider using a DIN connector on either end of your cable, for example. These connectors are common enough that they're cheap, and generic enough that the presence of the connector does not automatically make people expect it will work for any one protocol.
Molex's mini-fit and micro-fit connectors are also popular for power, but be careful if you use mini-fit jr connectors, as they are commonly used on PC power supplies.
JST connectors are commonly used for batteries in RC applications, and may be a good fit for this as four-conductor JST connectors are sufficiently uncommon that people wouldn't have any particular expectation for what they're meant to be used in, yet sufficiently common that they're very cheap, even pre-assembled cables with a four-pin JST connector on either end can go for less than $2.
The links in this post are just what I found in a very quick search of digi-key; if you search yourself you may find more options, and you can tailor to your needs regarding conductor size. Or you can look for just the connectors and make your own cable, which is not that hard if you have a crimping tool.
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your best bet is likely to be a more generic connector. There are many common types of cable out there other than USB that will have two major advantages: Larger conductors on all pins, and no chance of damaging USB devices by mistaken connections.
Consider using a DIN connector on either end of your cable, for example. These connectors are common enough that they're cheap, and generic enough that the presence of the connector does not automatically make people expect it will work for any one protocol.
Molex's mini-fit and micro-fit connectors are also popular for power, but be careful if you use mini-fit jr connectors, as they are commonly used on PC power supplies.
JST connectors are commonly used for batteries in RC applications, and may be a good fit for this as four-conductor JST connectors are sufficiently uncommon that people wouldn't have any particular expectation for what they're meant to be used in, yet sufficiently common that they're very cheap, even pre-assembled cables with a four-pin JST connector on either end can go for less than $2.
The links in this post are just what I found in a very quick search of digi-key; if you search yourself you may find more options, and you can tailor to your needs regarding conductor size. Or you can look for just the connectors and make your own cable, which is not that hard if you have a crimping tool.
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Your best bet is likely to be a more generic connector. There are many common types of cable out there other than USB that will have two major advantages: Larger conductors on all pins, and no chance of damaging USB devices by mistaken connections.
Consider using a DIN connector on either end of your cable, for example. These connectors are common enough that they're cheap, and generic enough that the presence of the connector does not automatically make people expect it will work for any one protocol.
Molex's mini-fit and micro-fit connectors are also popular for power, but be careful if you use mini-fit jr connectors, as they are commonly used on PC power supplies.
JST connectors are commonly used for batteries in RC applications, and may be a good fit for this as four-conductor JST connectors are sufficiently uncommon that people wouldn't have any particular expectation for what they're meant to be used in, yet sufficiently common that they're very cheap, even pre-assembled cables with a four-pin JST connector on either end can go for less than $2.
The links in this post are just what I found in a very quick search of digi-key; if you search yourself you may find more options, and you can tailor to your needs regarding conductor size. Or you can look for just the connectors and make your own cable, which is not that hard if you have a crimping tool.
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
$endgroup$
Your best bet is likely to be a more generic connector. There are many common types of cable out there other than USB that will have two major advantages: Larger conductors on all pins, and no chance of damaging USB devices by mistaken connections.
Consider using a DIN connector on either end of your cable, for example. These connectors are common enough that they're cheap, and generic enough that the presence of the connector does not automatically make people expect it will work for any one protocol.
Molex's mini-fit and micro-fit connectors are also popular for power, but be careful if you use mini-fit jr connectors, as they are commonly used on PC power supplies.
JST connectors are commonly used for batteries in RC applications, and may be a good fit for this as four-conductor JST connectors are sufficiently uncommon that people wouldn't have any particular expectation for what they're meant to be used in, yet sufficiently common that they're very cheap, even pre-assembled cables with a four-pin JST connector on either end can go for less than $2.
The links in this post are just what I found in a very quick search of digi-key; if you search yourself you may find more options, and you can tailor to your needs regarding conductor size. Or you can look for just the connectors and make your own cable, which is not that hard if you have a crimping tool.
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
answered yesterday
HearthHearth
4,5351136
4,5351136
add a comment |
add a comment |
Alex Heuer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex Heuer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex Heuer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Alex Heuer is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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5
$begingroup$
Why not use the power lines to supply power to the LEDs? Or is this using the USB "form factor" but not USB protocol?
$endgroup$
– pjc50
yesterday
$begingroup$
It would use the form factor, not the protocol. I'm not connecting it to any computer or microcontroller
$endgroup$
– Alex Heuer
yesterday
$begingroup$
If you're going to do this, you should probably use semiconductor switches at the downstream side and run 3v3 logic signals through the data pins. Better yet use wiring intended for your purpose.
$endgroup$
– Chris Stratton
yesterday
2
$begingroup$
To sum up all the answers: Physically yes, you can do it. Ethically, no you shouldn't do it.
$endgroup$
– Majenko
16 hours ago
$begingroup$
Is there any reason you don't want to have the data channels drive a transistor that then uses the expected VCC to power the LED?
$endgroup$
– UKMonkey
12 hours ago