W3bMa5t3r's USB Power Modules

W3bMa5t3r · 08-01-2007, 08:03 AM

With a growing number of USB devices in my car, and wanting a few of those to be powered at all times, or to be switched on when the car is on, I built two new modules. The main reason was for my GPS tracking phone with Mologogo (boost I455, stays in the car, on all the time), and powering my Samsung A900 when I'm in the car using it for data transfer via bluetooth, cuz it sucks some serious juice doing broadband speeds.

Anyways, hooked them up and things have been gravvvyyy

The modules supply 1.5A of power, USB specs are 500mA per port, so this should do fine.
They have DIP switches to set the powering setup, either Always On, or On With Vehicle.
Just wire up the constant +12vdc, switched +12vdc and ground (and USB cable to CarPC for the first module).

Great for those higher powered devices, charging cell phones, ipods, etc.
Each module supplies up to 1.5A (1500mA).
1500mA for the one port with data pass through, or 1500mA shared for the two port, no data pass through.

More info HERE

The first has one USB port, with data pass-through, the module supplied USB power is isolated from the CarPC.

The second has two USB ports, NO data pass-through.

More info HERE

Nola111 · 08-01-2007, 09:17 AM

Great idea. I could use something like this for my USB DVD drive. But my DVD drive draws 1A at 5V. Are you sure your module is 1.5mA? Don't most USB ports put out 500mA?

W3bMa5t3r · 08-01-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Nola111

Great idea. I could use something like this for my USB DVD drive. But my DVD drive draws 1A at 5V. Are you sure your module is 1.5mA? Don't most USB ports put out 500mA?

Sure am. Both modules will supply up to 1.5A total. And yes, the specs for USB ports is 500mA per port. I swear I wrote that above

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-01-2007, 09:38 AM

got these things made now huh steve. Good job! I'll be buyin one off ya once my new pc gets off the ground

W3bMa5t3r · 08-01-2007, 09:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

got these things made now huh steve. Good job! I'll be buyin one off ya once my new pc gets off the ground

Yeah, took me a while with the other million projects I've got going on lol. No worries just let me know. How's everything? Gonna be at the next meet?

Cheekz185 · 08-01-2007, 09:45 AM

HEY Steve this should be the thread to ask you this but I have used Boost Mobile on and off. I was just wondering how is the service for you? In my area there is never any service! It just sucks man! It really annoys me cuz i wish it had dam service. And i dont wanna spend another 20bucks (prepaid) to find out if the service got any better!... I would love to use the mologogo and boost but i cant cuz boost isnt good in my area!

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-01-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by W3bMa5t3r

Yeah, took me a while with the other million projects I've got going on lol. No worries just let me know. How's everything? Gonna be at the next meet?

i'll be there for sure. no computer tho.. i'm in the process of repainting my **** brown interior lol.

W3bMa5t3r · 08-01-2007, 09:56 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Cheekz185

HEY Steve this should be the thread to ask you this but I have used Boost Mobile on and off. I was just wondering how is the service for you? In my area there is never any service! It just sucks man! It really annoys me cuz i wish it had dam service. And i dont wanna spend another 20bucks (prepaid) to find out if the service got any better!... I would love to use the mologogo and boost but i cant cuz boost isnt good in my area!

Well to pull a quote from the W3bTracker GPS Tracking thread

Quote: Originally Posted by W3bTracker GPS Tracking

Just took my car out for a ride and tested out the software w/ my two different gps receivers (an older HI-204E and my new BU-355/5). Also had my (for tracking only) boost mobile phone going w/ Mologogo. W3bTracker actually kept on route, with better results than Mologogo.

Oh, and no one had asked about it, but I was running W3bTracker, went into hibernation and back out, it picked up where it left off and kept on tracking. Sweeeet

Hope that clarifies things

But yeah... mologogo/boost was quite shoddy for some reason.

@Sonic... Good sheeet. Yeah I did the same w/ my interior. SEM vinyl dye is my(maybe your) friend. See you there then.

Ruffy · 08-04-2007, 03:43 PM

awesome, just what I wanted.

Well really I want a 12 port usb hub powered with those features each port getting 500mA

Ruffy · 08-05-2007, 01:31 PM

question, what kindof battery drain have you seen with leaving a device always on. I'm considering leaving my gps puck powered constantly to prevent cold boots.

W3bMa5t3r · 08-05-2007, 02:48 PM

I haven't done any measurements on this yet, but I've had the I455 phone running 24/7 off the 2 port no data module. I've gone out to the car after 24 hours and had no noticeable affect on the battery, and I have a big motor to turn over. I'll be checking battery voltage levels later today and for the next 1-2 days as I'm letting the car sit (I'll prolly change the oil on Tuesday though, so I'll be cranking her back up then (well hopefully

)).

W3bMa5t3r · 08-07-2007, 07:13 AM

Ok, so the car has been sitting for 3 1/2 days with the cell phone running/charging off it. Just went out and checked the voltage on the car battery. It's sitting at 11.6vdc. So yeahhhh these modules are doing fine.

I'm not sure if a GPS puck would use more or less power as I know cell phones can suck some serious juice(cell battery) when using the gps module and uploading data, but it seems so far, that it should do fine on daily/almost daily drivers.

netman86 · 08-07-2007, 10:18 AM

my laptop is one of the few that leaves 5V powered on when its in suspend to ram.
The battery isnt one of the most powerful ones ever, my laptop pulling 22-25 WHR from it, I get anywhere from 2-3 hours.
as a test, I left the gps plugged in and running off the machine while the laptop was in suspend. (again, my laptop leaves USB powered up in suspend...)
The gps remained locked on for about 2 days before the laptop battery was shot.
They pull a noticeable amount of power, but I'd imagine a car battery has a heck of alot more go-juice than this laptop battery.
64 WHR battery, unfortunately Its reporting 41% wear now...during the test it was less than 20.

W3bMa5t3r · 08-07-2007, 10:28 AM

@ netman86 - Good info

Thanks

gokee2 · 08-08-2007, 12:35 PM

Hey Steve,
Here is my question: How are your great modules any different from say a regular USB Male to Female extension cable? I guess where I'm lost is that if you do connect say the data transfer module to your mobo USB and you run a USB powered HUB into your module you will have enough juice to power more than one "power" hungry device like an external DVD drive and say maybe an external HDD?