Help - Power a USB Card reader

[s18000rpm]

Hi Guys, need help with powering a usb card reader.

I've done a PC table mod, i used a internal card reader as speaker stand.




When i connected it by extending thru ribbon cable (original=1feet, now= 3feet), the PC is unable to detect USB pen drives, & card readers, it shows "USB device unrecognized"



Only XBOX 360 controller works, SD cards fail to connect.


So i understand this is "power supply to card reader" issue, but i want to know how to solve this problem.

Can i connect the 5v header from other (front panel usb port) motherboard USB header to the card reader's?

Is it safe to do so, or would i be blowing the whole m/b?



here's the card reader's image

(edit: imageshack auto rotated the above pic some reason :-\ )

any way to power it externally?

 

[Rusting In Peace]

Why do you think this is a power issue rather than a data issue?

 

[ace700]

Have you tried to installing the drivers from the disk you gotten when you purchase from the store or try to get the drivers from the manufactor website?

 

[s18000rpm]

this is a generic card reader & i'm using windows 7 (sp1).

this used to work very good when i had it installed in the cabinet.

could the culprit be the new cable itself?

the shopkeeper had only one type of ribbon cable.

how to diagnose?

should i invest on a multi meter?

 

[das_stig]

Have one of these and if I remember rightly, its has its own cable to connect to motherboard usb header for data and power comes from FDD molex?

So, if this is the right model, your right, your not getting enough juice.

 

[s18000rpm]

ya, its the similar model, it can be seen on 3rd pic (top right corner =header)

btw i'm not using a direct connection between the reader & pc.

i split (cut) the original cable in half & joined the new cable in between, coz i couldnt find those plastic connectors

so how can i supply more power?

quoting from 1st post-
Can i connect the 5v header from other (front panel usb port) motherboard USB header to the card reader's?

Is it safe to do so, or would i be blowing the whole m/b?

 

[s18000rpm]

bump

 

[soest009]

If you know the pin assignments and you filter out the power part and redirect that to a different source like an alternate usb port, then basically it shouldn't cause any problems.
Just be 100% sure you got the wires right and not end up crossing two power sources or blowing up your usb controller or card reader.
So get some schematics first.

 

[s18000rpm]

This is in motherboard manual.

so, can i use the second USB headers' +5v (only one) & connect it to the card readers respective wire?

 

[soest009]

that should be possible yeah, just be sure you get the right pin on the reader as well.
As far as the ground connection, imo it's safer also getting that from the header and well.
When fabricating thing this re-route be sure not to short circuit anything!!

 

[soest009]

BTW, what you can also do if you have a external 5v power adapter to hook that one up to your reader.
Again be sure to get the right pin's

 

[s18000rpm]

I have a USB power adapter

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml


from these pics --

Should i connect the #1 in "A" to 5v header on card reader (1st pin)

then #4 (A) to ground (8th) pin on card reader)

did i understand this right?

 

[soest009]

Yup, seeing those schematics that should be right.

 

[s18000rpm]

didnt work

still shows error

tried to connect both 5v header on reader (one by one)

funny thing is, it lit the usb adapter led light,
so i dont know what happened there, usb adapter was supposed to give power to reader, but it went otther way around?

 

[soest009]

Both 5v header ?
Those readers only rely on a single 5v line if i am not mistaken...

 

[soest009]

btw why not just pickup a cheap external reader instead?

 

[s18000rpm]

thats what i'm gonna do now

I thought something like this workaround could have worked for me

http://www.techenclave.com/networking/how-power-airtel-bsnl-modem-laptop-142661-4.html#post1368780
its a tutorial on how to power a wifi modem thru usb

"Maybe the mobo is not supplying enough current to the USB ports. You may try using two USB ports in parallel.
a little more explanation about parallel"


get another usb cable like u have already got, join black wire of one usb cable to the blackwire of other usb cable and do the same for red wire .
connect these wire as u have connected in ur pic and try
remember this way voltage(V) remains same but the current increases(A)

 

[soest009]

Ah that explains.
Well seeing that at least you tried but for some reason it isn't working, the easiest way to just pickup an external one rather then make a mistake and blow sh*t up

 

[delluser1]

i split (cut) the original cable in half & joined the new cable in between, coz i couldnt find those plastic connectors

Mods are neat, sometimes it's just easier to spend a few bucks
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=250&products_id=27542

 

[s18000rpm]

that cable is 2ft long, i need 4ft & also i'm in india

these things are not available here


anyways, are there any external card readers with audio (mic/out) available?

 

[soest009]

hmm not that i can recall

 

[s18000rpm]

Thanks guys, all of you.

dont know which anwser to pick as "best answer"


btw, how to get this thread "solved" status?

 

[Rusting In Peace]

Choosing the best answer sets the thread as solved.

There are external card readers that have audio connectors but they aren't 3.5 size; they're 5.25 which is a bit of a pain for you if you want it to be part of your desk.

Here's an example.

 

[soest009]

Choosing the best answer sets the thread as solved.

There are external card readers that have audio connectors but they aren't 3.5 size; they're 5.25 which is a bit of a pain for you if you want it to be part of your desk.

Here's an example.

"The allinone is installed in 5 1/4 device bay"

 

[Rusting In Peace]

Yeah I was giving an example of one of these 5.25 drive bays?