Thread: USB Power Supply

Originally Posted by b1b2b3

Hey all,

I have an Alpine CDA-9886 head unit in my car, which has input for a USB. I have all of my music on my 120GB external hard drive, which has two USB connections (one for data, and the other for power). I was wondering, as the h/u only has one USB connection, how would I go about connecting another USB straight to my battery so that it can help to power my external hard drive while it's being used?

Thanks in advance for any help .

One of these.....

[media]http://images.auctionworks.com/hi/61/61482/DOTHUSBCCAD1_pp.jpg[/media]

That's for image only. No idea if it is a good one or not.

for the most part mine gives me trouble every now and then but its the simpleist solution

Originally Posted by b1b2b3

Yeah I have seen them, but they're so big and ugly.. I was hoping to be able to do something a lil more subtle.. I guess if it really comes down to it, I'll have to use some big chunky thing like that won't I lol.

Thanks for the extremely fast response.

Disassemble it, solder wires to the conectors, and hide it. No reason you HAVE to use it in a lighter. It's just the cheapest 5v supply out there.

you could run the wires from the back of the cig lighter to a usb cable, google the usb cable pin out and youll see which leads need connection to the battery and ground

Originally Posted by eric_barcus

you could run the wires from the back of the cig lighter to a usb cable, google the usb cable pin out and youll see which leads need connection to the battery and ground

Wouldn't that send 12V instead of 5V to the drive?

Originally Posted by b1b2b3

so there is no fancy stuff going on inside of that casing that I would stuff up if I took it apart? I would just straight cut the cigarette lighter connection away, add a wire from the battery, cover it suitably and then cover it? Also, how would connect up a ground? Or do you think there will already be two wires inside the casing for both power and ground?

That side piece, that "holds" the adapter in the lighter, is the ground. Once you open it, there will be a wire (or pressure connection) connected to one of the sides. That is your ground. No on breaking it, Yes on everything else you asked.

Originally Posted by b1b2b3

so there is no fancy stuff going on inside of that casing that I would stuff up if I took it apart? I would just straight cut the cigarette lighter connection away, add a wire from the battery, cover it suitably and then cover it? Also, how would connect up a ground? Or do you think there will already be two wires inside the casing for both power and ground?

There will be power and ground going in, and power and ground going out.