How to Power Nearly Anything Off a USB Port
by Jayceetoo in Circuits > USB
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How to Power Nearly Anything Off a USB Port
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Hi , this is my first instructable so go easy on me :)
So i am going to show you how to power nearly anything off a USB port
This is for the USB competition
USB runs at 5v. The max current you can draw is 500ma. Therefore the max load is 5v x 0.5A=2.5. Watts. (W=VxI) If you try and draw more than 500mA, you may overload the port which will cause it to break
UPDATED PICTURES :)
Just a WARNING to look what your circuit needs if it needs a higher Voltage/current this can break your ports make sure you have got the correct details of the circuit WARNING
So i am going to show you how to power nearly anything off a USB port
This is for the USB competition
USB runs at 5v. The max current you can draw is 500ma. Therefore the max load is 5v x 0.5A=2.5. Watts. (W=VxI) If you try and draw more than 500mA, you may overload the port which will cause it to break
UPDATED PICTURES :)
Just a WARNING to look what your circuit needs if it needs a higher Voltage/current this can break your ports make sure you have got the correct details of the circuit WARNING
How Many Volts ?
![USB-port_300.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FGC/PQMP/G9XBM8H0/FGCPQMPG9XBM8H0.jpg&filename=USB-port_300.jpg)
So to power something off a USB port it has to be under 5 volts as thats how much a USB port gives out so you can check this by ;
Looking at what battery is being used
4 x aaa = OK
4 x aa = OK
USB runs at 5v. The max current you can draw is 500ma. Therefore the max load is 5v x 0.5A=2.5. Watts. (W=VxI) If you try and draw more than 500mA, you may overload the port which will cause it to break
Just a warning to look what your circuit needs if it needs higher this can break your ports
Or looking at a the transformer and see how many votls go in to the circuit ( if your 5 or under your ok )
and you can power of the Port :)
Most electronics nowadays are under 10 V and most of them Under 5V which is good for USB
Looking at what battery is being used
4 x aaa = OK
4 x aa = OK
USB runs at 5v. The max current you can draw is 500ma. Therefore the max load is 5v x 0.5A=2.5. Watts. (W=VxI) If you try and draw more than 500mA, you may overload the port which will cause it to break
Just a warning to look what your circuit needs if it needs higher this can break your ports
Or looking at a the transformer and see how many votls go in to the circuit ( if your 5 or under your ok )
and you can power of the Port :)
Most electronics nowadays are under 10 V and most of them Under 5V which is good for USB
Get Your Cable
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Okay so your going to need to get any USB cable this can be a printer cable or a MP3 player cable , your going to be cutting it up so don't pick a cable that you need :P
I chose this :
I chose this :
Cutting
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So you have your wire , now you will want to cut it to the length you want it , you only need the Male end so the other bit can be discarded
Stripping the Wire
![DSC03921.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHI/654K/GA0O5KLI/FHI654KGA0O5KLI.jpg&filename=DSC03921.JPG)
Okay you will want to strip the wire to reveal the wire underneath once you have done this there should be 4 wires , you only need the red and black ones as they are the power the green and white are data so they can go :)
Soldering and Finish
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So you will now want to solder the red wire ( positive ) and the Black Wire ( negative ) to the power in to your circuit or appliance as shown below you can also put heat shrink on the wires to make it neater :
So The Red is Positive ; +V
And the Black Negative ; 0V or -V
So The Red is Positive ; +V
And the Black Negative ; 0V or -V
Testing
![DSC03923.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F87/6PLA/GA0O5KLU/F876PLAGA0O5KLU.jpg&filename=DSC03923.JPG)
Now you've done that you should be able to test it , just plug the cable into a USB port on a computer or laptop of choice , and see :)
Thanks for viewing my instructable
Thanks for viewing my instructable