VGA-to-USB Adapter Spawns New Power-only USB Port

This guy went through some troubles to add a power-only USB port to his netbook by modding a nifty adapter that borrows electricity from a VGA port. This adapter is going to come in handy when your existing USB devices have occupied all the ports on a notebook, and one of your power hungry device (e.g. USB hard drive) needs extra power. To assemble the so-called VGA to USB adapter, you will need a male-to-male VGA gender changer and a female plug from any old USB extension cable. The important procedure is to connect the RED 5V wire to the PIN 9 on the gender changer; afterward, hook up the BLACK to PIN 10 (GND). After soldering, rest of the steps are simply to fill the connector with EPOXY to avoid breaking the connector accidentally.

Filed under USB Gadgets