12' USB Cable needs booster ?

Thread Starter

SteveDouglas

Joined Apr 30, 2009
49
I have a couple of cheap 12' long USB cables and they are obviously made with very small gauge wire so I think there is not enough power getting through due to drop in the wires.

These cables do work with a USB keyboard but anything else such as a WiFi adapter or even reading a USB flash (thumb) drive will not work.

I know there are commercially available amplified or "booster" USB cables of this length and longer but, can I boost it in the following manner ? ....

Cut the red positive wire in the USB cable, "cap off" the positive coming from the PC, feed regulated 5VDC to the positive going to the female end and connect the negative from the added 5VDC supply to the black neg of the USB making it a common ground.



Basically just providing more power available at the female end of the USB cable.

Or, is the Positive side from the PC needed for data comms ?

Thanks for any help,

Steve
 
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