Nerd File 16

Q: How to do a simple USB Breakout Box

A: We have done it like this

  Computer interfacing via Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, in either 12Mbps (Version 1.1) or more recent
480Mbps (Version 2.0) has become such an indispensable connection method that it’s hard to believe
USB has only been in use for short period of time.
    Apart from "smart" data connections for digital cameras, flash RAM dongles, WiFi adapters,
modems and mice, etc, the availability of a regulated 5V DC supply at relatively generous currents has
also lead to such devices as mobile phone chargers, coffee cup warmers, cooling fans and inspection lights.
    These devices ignore the USB data lines (middle pins 2 and 3) and just use the low
voltage DC part at (outer) pins 1 and 4.
     The PC’s USB port can supply up to 500mA at 5V DC ( downstream ports on USB devices are generally
limited to 100mA maximum).

Computers electronics
and other cool stuff
people talk about

4 pin USB A or USB B and mini-USB plug connector at the Board pin outs

4 pin USB A or USB B and mini-USB jack connector on the lead pin outs

The USB standard uses "A" and "B" connectors to avoid confusion:
"A" connectors head "upstream" toward the computer.
"B" connectors head "downstream" and connect to individual devices.

Do your USB devices misbehave or suddenly stop working? An easy way to find out if
your PC's USB ports can meet the demand with help of this USB Breakout box.

A Little theory...

Types of USB connections

Pin	Wire Color	Function
1	Red	V BUS (+5V)
2	White	Data -
3	Green	Data +
4	Black	Ground ( 0V)

GND

USB cable profile

Aluminum shield

Copper braid (65%)

PVC Jacket

Twisted data pair

How to do the USB breakout box

We will need    one USB lead
                     5 RCA sockets (2xred,1xgreen,1xblack and 1xwhite)
                     One plastic box approximately 60 x 40 x 20 mm or similar)

                     (Basic tools as wire cuter ,soldering gun,knife and drill)

The process is very simple .First we drill 5 holes into the plastic box and fit the five RCA sockets.
Another two holes to feed the USB wires into the box.
Cut the USB lead in half and strip the four wires on both ends to make them ready for soldering.
Solder the wires to the RCA sockets.The color of each wire must match the corresponding color
of the RCA socket. Label the RCA sockets.

The ready USB breakout box:

And how to use it ?

1/ Connecting a multimeter between the TWO RED terminals we can test the electrical
  current to check if we not overloading the USB port when connecting devices to it.

2/ Connecting the multimeter between Black(GND) and red terminal we can test the
   Voltage present in line A or B.

3/ Connecting a oscilloscope to white and green terminals we can monitor the data
  flow between the PC and connected device.