USB charging vs Data Cables

jeff51 · 2023-12-08T23:13:46.546Z

I don’t know. I’ve seen a few fried USB connector areas inside PCs over the years.
Not sure of the cause. But clearly burned components on the MB where the front panel connectors are connected.
The users claim nothing nefarious took place.

What happens when two mains connected systems sees a +5 hot where a ground is supposed to go? Could it make some sensitive components let the magic smoke out?
Or the +5 to one of the data lines?

RC I’m not worried about a correctly wired cable. A charge cable just won’t pass the data.
It’s something wired bass-ackwards I’m thinking about.
zoulas - thanks for the link. Thick vs thin - some Apple cables are mighty skinny.

Heck,Anker is shipping $2000 power stations with the 120v or 240v sockets with reversed hot and neutrals on some of them.

I’ve got a few USB meters for monitoring charging, but nothing that checks cable integrity.
Any suggestions? Cheap/easy is the operative word.
All the Best,
Jeff

Mandrake50 · 2023-12-08T23:38:12.402Z

Yeah… mis-wired cables could cause problems.
. For that, testing is the only sure way to tell. I don’t have tester. But being as I am, if somebody comes up with a suggestion that is not stupid expensive, I will probably buy one…

zoulas · 2023-12-09T00:18:33.927Z

The fried USB connectors were due to cheap cables and chinese knock off peripherals that dont follow the USB spec.

jeff51 · 2023-12-09T00:31:55.835Z

zoulas:

The fried USB connectors were due to cheap cables and chinese knock off peripherals that dont follow the USB spec.

This is what I am worried about.
I found this thingy on Amazon.
For 15 bucks, I’ll give it a go.

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Amazon.com: Treedix USB Cable Data Line Test Board USB Cable Checker Data Wire Charging Test Card Type-C Micro Type A Type B : Electronics

Lightbringer · 2023-12-09T03:21:05.499Z

If it were all micro, then it’s a matter of 2-wire vs 4-wire, and with a micro socket, you could hook up the A end into a powerbank or other supply, then just sniff the power- and data-lines with an LED each.

No light at all means a miswiring, power-only LED (can stick a resistive load to draw, say, 500mA from it) means power’s intact, data-LED lit even barely means something’s jiggling on that line vs being totally off.

I got some micro sockets so’s I could hook up, say, 5V fans directly to a usb port via generic cable vs via some weirdo adapter. All I care about is power, and no negotiation for anything above 500mA, so simple is good, but you could wire up something quick or just use that board above to do more thorough testing.

Quadrupel · 2023-12-09T08:58:21.439Z

Do not buy Adibas.

SammysHP · 2023-12-09T10:15:02.927Z

Just wanted to recommend such a device. Not only will it show wrong pin assignment, it will also show you whether it’s just simple two-wire power cable, four wire or USB3 and how many data lanes (if it supports higher data rates, thunderbolt etc).

jeff51 · 2023-12-09T20:56:42.223Z

Got the thingy on the way. I’ll let you know how it works out.
Got my label maker ready to mark the cables.
All the Best,
Jeff

Mandrake50 · 2023-12-09T21:42:22.207Z

I would like to see your results and thoughts on the tester. I might just buy one if it works well.
I am not really concerned with bad or mis-wired cables, but I like testing gadgets.
I guess being a retired engineer does that to a person…

jeff51 · 2023-12-11T23:45:42.709Z

Got it in.
Mine doesn’t have the battery clip problem that many reviewers complained about.

The on board connectors do look and feel rather breakable. Especially the Micro USB socket.
Reviewers often have this complaint. Micro rips off the board.

After bit more careful playing. I think a tiny drop of superglue on each socket might give me more confidence that I won’t rip a connector off by applying even a small amount of nonlinear stress.

A couple of quick pics below.

I’ll do a longer review when I understand it better.

Mandrake50:

but I like testing gadgets.

Go for it. I’d like to throw some more brain cells at it!

Easy to tell Charge from Data.
But I’m not sure it will define a miss-wired cable. Would be nice if the connections would cascade like on my serial breakout box.

For $15? Shut-up and take my money!
All the Best,
Jeff

A to C with Data - Basic cable.

A to Data C in up1920×2560 327 KB

A to C – Charge only.

A to C Charge only1920×2560 425 KB

Mandrake50 · 2023-12-12T00:31:19.403Z

jeff51:

But I’m not sure it will define a miss-wired cable

Yeah, if wires are crossed in a certain way, I can see where it could light up the “correct” lights on both sides. I looks like it is just a continuity checker. Still interesting.

jeff51 · 2023-12-12T23:56:38.191Z

Mandrake50:

Yeah, if wires are crossed in a certain way, I can see where it could light up the “correct” lights on both sides. I looks like it is just a continuity checker.

That’s all it is. But I do see contact points next to the LEDs.
Perhaps a meter could be applied to those one at a time and see where it comes out on the other side.
Maybe even a voltage to light up the corresponding LEDS.
Need to think about that some.
But at least I can now quickly cull out the charge only cables.

Decided I’m going to mark all my USB-A cable ends with a “Top” decal.
I’m sick of the random markings that seem to be the way of these things.
All the Best,
Jeff

Mandrake50 · 2023-12-13T00:13:43.013Z

jeff51:

I’m sick of the random markings that seem to be the way of these things.

It is strange. We should have a fifty/fifty chance of getting the old USB plugs oriented correctly on the first try.
For me this seems to be like a 2 in ten chance… ARRRRG !!

Good idea on the labelling, as long as you can see how the socket is oriented… SIGH. Thank god for USB C… what took them so long… or better why was it designed so poorly to begin with ??

Lightbringer · 2023-12-13T00:24:35.484Z

Get day-glo neon-green tie-wraps, the teenytiny ones. At each end loop around the cable at the base of each connector, put the bump part where “top” should be. Snug down tightly by gripping with needlenose pliers.

Could have a “system” like green for data and red/pink for power.

jeff51 · 2023-12-13T22:25:20.696Z

Mandrake50:

For me this seems to be like a 2 in ten chance… ARRRRG !!

Me too. Feels like I can get it wrong on the same connection both ways!

RC, I’ve got a Brother P-Touch label printer.
It prints on this great thin laminated media. Various colors. Never smudges.
Going to color code the charge only cables.

I love this thing. I had to buy a second one cause my Win95(?) era version ran out of media. That and the last driver update was XP - Serial interface anyone?

Labels stick well to the “A” plug end and don’t get nasty-gooey, like all the other tape, when stuck to a cable. Also makes a great cable wrap type of label.

White label with “Top” on so I can tell which way is up without needing a flashlight.
Now if we could only get desktop makers to put the “A” ports oriented in the same direction.

I’ve marked my USB wall warts with their output rating with the label facing so it corresponds to the top label on the cables.
Going to have a labeling frenzy once everything is sorted out.
All the Best,
Jeff

jeff51 · 2023-12-14T19:39:57.526Z

And the labeling frenzy has begun…
All the Best,
Jeff

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Mandrake50 · 2023-12-14T20:52:41.958Z

Sigh…If I did 20 cables per day it would probably take me a month an a half to label all of my cables.
What really sucks is when I have to dig out a cable that uses the USB mini connector. Though I probably have at least 30 of them, it will take half an hour or more of digging to find one…
How did you get that lightening bolt symbol. I have a P-Touch system and don’t believe I ever saw that option.

jeff51 · 2023-12-14T22:21:16.584Z

Mandrake50:

I have a P-Touch system and don’t believe I ever saw that option.

Mine is the new-ish D610BT printer. Keyboard and PC connected input.
But I think all the computer connected P-Touch (might?) use the same Windows software.
Think my editor is version 6.3.1

The lightning bolt is under the symbols drop-down button option on the menu bar on the top of the screen. Have to scroll several rows down to find it.
It’s under the “sign” symbol set.

There might be one in some symbol character font. But I don’t remember seeing one.
I’m sure there must be a bunch of them out there someplace.
All the Best,
Jeff

From the printers keyboard - which I never use - There is a symbol button. Then arrow key to find the symbol you want. It’s built into this printers symbol set. I just looked.

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Stay_Thirsty · 2023-12-14T23:40:58.348Z

Instead of labels, I use a WHITE OUT pen to mark them…just a dot on them, and to me that is the DOWN side. A lot faster, and sometimes more durable.

pennzy · 2023-12-15T00:19:04.302Z

Me too except I mark the top.