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Author Topic: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?  (Read 6267 times)

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MYX

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Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« on: August 10, 2006, 09:37:12 am »
I have a couple 6 ft. USB cable for my GGG 49 ways that are about 4 ft. too long. I do not see a reason why cutting 4 ft out of the middle would be a bad thing as long as it was soldered and heatshrinked properly back together. But then again, I know that there are all sorts of tollerances for stuff, so I did not know if this was out of bounds or not.

Any ideas?
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NightGod

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2006, 01:29:53 pm »
I can't see there being a problem as long as you are going shorter-it's extra length that USB doesn't like.
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MYX

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2006, 01:34:49 pm »
True.
I am not sure about sheilding n such.
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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2006, 01:39:52 pm »
I have done both shorten and lengthen USB cables with no problems.  Although to be fair the added length was only a couple of feet and the application was pretty low demand.  Here is a decent step by step tutorial that I used when I need to hack up a camera cable about a year ago.  
http://www.fixup.net/tips/usb/index.htm

Since then I have done the typical XBox to PC usb hack and some other stuff and have been very happy.  Besides unless I am mistaken about the GGG 49's usb interface, the worst that happens is you get a couple more cables if you mess it up.

Happy splicing  :cheers:
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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2006, 02:19:51 pm »
Just be forewarned that USB cables tend to be quite small. I wouldn't attempt it unless the cable is exceptionally fat or you are fairly experienced.
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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2006, 02:43:14 pm »
I spliced a VGA cable to another VGA cable because of a bad connector and had no problems.  Those wires inside are thin, and some have braided shieding and teflon insulator over them.  It was tedious, and ugly, but it worked, I can see no video degradation on the monitor after I got it working again. 

USB cables I would think would be more forgiving.  Good luck.
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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2006, 03:27:29 pm »
Hi,

We do this from time to time at work, when users want their USB printer cables a little longer than the shipped 1m or 2m (for shortening we just cable tie them!!).

Haven't had any problems reported back yet.
My wife doesn't understand !!

krick

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2006, 11:02:30 pm »
Why not just buy a shorter USB cable?

They're not really that expensive as long as you don't do anything stupid like trying to buy them at "Best Buy".

http://froogle.google.com/froogle?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&c2coff=1&q=2ft%20usb%20cable

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2006, 11:07:04 pm »
(for shortening we just cable tie them!!)

Nice to see that *somebody* isn't overengineering the solution ...  :cheers:

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NightGod

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2006, 11:08:42 pm »
To be clear, the maximum spec length on a USB 2.0 cable is 15 feet. You can make it longer by using powered repeaters.
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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2006, 05:31:58 am »
Why not just buy a shorter USB cable?

They're not really that expensive as long as you don't do anything stupid like trying to buy them at "Best Buy".

Amen.  Check www.pcmicrostore.com   they always seem to have USB cables for a few bucks and free shipping.

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2006, 10:10:37 am »
I had checked frys but they wanted 6.99 for a 1 ft. They also had a 3 ft for the same cost. I need 2ft. I checked Target, wallymart, radioschwag and they only had like 6 and 8 ft. I am looking at that site now. Thank you.
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Sizzler

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2006, 11:47:22 am »
I had checked frys but they wanted 6.99 for a 1 ft. They also had a 3 ft for the same cost. I need 2ft. I checked Target, wallymart, radioschwag and they only had like 6 and 8 ft. I am looking at that site now. Thank you.

I scanned through it and I'm not sure they've got exactly what you need with free shipping.  ANother option would be to check places like Big Lots and the dollar store.   You might have a hard time finding 2ft cables for uber cheap. 

Good luck

krick

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Re: Can I cut and splice a USB cable?
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2006, 03:22:58 pm »
You might have a hard time finding 2ft cables for uber cheap. 
Good luck

Yeah, at this point I have put out so much money for this thing, every dollar hurts now. So seing that I would be needing 3 cables ($18) I would rather take a couple hours and just solder. Gots the skilz ya know.
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