blackcobra487

I just bought a powered USB hub from a local computer store. The only issue is that the data cable slits into two plugs and the second one is where it draws power. I split open the second cable to find that there are more than two wires, since the manual said it was for power only I only expected two. My question is, with the second USB plug, is it safe to assume the red wire is positive power while the black is negative and the other two would be for data?
The hub does have a spot for a barrel connector, but there's no way to tell what's + or - so making a wire seems out. Unless somebody is pretty sure which one would be which. Any help guys?

2k1Toaster

the whole reason for a powered hub is to not draw power from the USB bus. With 2 USB plugs it pretty much defeats the purpose. You need to use the barrel connector. It should have an ac adapter. Look at the adapter and it should say 12v @ 1.5A or something as well as a picture of a solid circle with a circle around it, and one of them will be labeled as + or -. The solid circle is the middle of the barrel and the outer circle is the barrel outside.

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blackcobra487

That's exactly what I would want to do, but I bought this thing for cheap at a second hand computer store and it didn't have the ac adapter. I feel like I'm going to have to chance it.

2k1Toaster

There is no chance it here. It is pure math.

If you want to power say 4 ports at 500mA each, then you need 2A. Now each USB port can supply 500mA max, 100mA at startup. So if you plugged in your 2 ports, you will get 1A which means everyport is underpowered for bus powered devices.

As they say "the cheap comes out expensive". Go buy a real hub with a brick you can hack up for $20 new.

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nolimitssaila

or if it's that cheap, just go ahead and hack up that hub. what's the harm in messing it up?