USB power hack, adding usb ports to a DX052 mixer

This is another usb power hack. It demonstrates how to attach a couple usb ports on a DX052 mixer board for powering your ipod(s) or any USB device. I bought this mixer recently and love using it.

Step 1: Equipment

The following equipment can be bought at just about any radioshack or electronics store.

Electronics:

• Soldering Iron
• 2 10K resistors
• LM7805 +5V voltage regulator

Other equipment:

• 2 port USB connector with pci bracket (taken from a computer case)
• drill and bits that can cut through metal
• rotozip

Comments

[klaviatury]

Its cute and all, seems like a bad placement for the ports tho. Nice to see new life to these old devices, I can remember when DJs actually did work for a living now anyone is a DJ with Virtual DJ applications.

[brndmg]

Thats a great idea. How would you control the amperage in such a circuit. I am looking to power my ancient digital camera (epson photopc 800) with a 3.5 V/ 2.5 A usb adaptor, but I don't know how to drop the voltage from the usb 5 V to 2.5 V and increase the amperage from 500mA to 2.5A.

[jarv34]

What you probably want to read about are DC to DC converters
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_to_DC_converter

Assuming you are doing this from a computer's usb port typically it can only supply about 100mA I.. unfortunately you will not be able to draw 2.5A without an external source. Your best bet is to tap into your computers power supply directly although this may defeat the purpose of what you were trying to do.

[brndmg]

Thanks for the help jarv.

[westfw]

Nice idea. There have been lots of hacks using power from a computer's USB ports but this is the first I've seen to add (power-only) USB ports to another device for the purpose of providing power...

[Myself]

I guess adding a lighter socket to a rechargeable 12-volt spotlight doesn't qualify, does it? ;) I tellya what though, walking through town with a CB radio in my backpack was a lot of fun, at age 15 or so....