USB extension cable

G

Gordon.C

Member
Hi,

I just found out that not every USB extension cable is able to support electricity to a device (external hard drive). Those thin ones can support only USB flash drive, they dont supply enough for a hard drive.

Is there some indication by which I know which cable will support a more power demanding device?
Is the only indicator the thickness of the cable?
 
I didn't know they had a HD and using usb power. I have a dvd burner 8x with usb. I did call the manufacture and concerned about same question. My model requires usb2 minimum for mine and the power supply for the netbook. Dam thing worked too. never seen no sheet like that.
 
We actually sell an extension cable at work that has some kind of circuitry in it. I'm guessing a type of repeater to help clearify the signal, but I don't know for sure. Maybe if we have one that's open, I could try it on my external HD
 
I'm not saying they don't exist, but I've never happened upon a USB cable that didn't support power. As long as you see four metal pins on both ends you should be good. The two outer pins are for power and the two inner pins are for data... there isn't much to a USB cable.

EDIT:
I take that back. On some external hard drives that use two USB cables, one just to provide the needed power, the power cable of course only does power, although these cables usually have a different port on the other end (typically cylindrical), so they don't get confused for a data cable. I would think that any USB extension cable would also be able to transmit power.

2nd EDIT:
The first edit is probably a little confusing. Obviously the USB cables described support power, I was using this as an example of the only USB cables I have have encountered without both data and power.
 
Last edited:
Even I have never stumbled across any cable that doesnt charge/power.
All the cable with adapters(some cylindrical deformation at the end) always work in powering/charging your device
 
I have never encountered this difference either until yesterday.

dsc01231ha.jpg


Cable on the left (thinner one) does not support enough power for HD but enough for Flash. Thicker cable can support HD without problem.

I can only add that the thin cable cost me $0.2 on eBay whereas the thick one costs about $1.
 
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