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VGA to USB power!

intro
 

introVGA to USB power!

*INSTRUCTABLE PULLED* WILL REPOST*
*AWAITING REVISION UPDATES*
*PATENTED*

The new pics will NOT be up until around Sept when the MOLDs are completed.
I was expecting them to be done a while ago, but the machine shop that makes them has been BOMBED with orders for their other product.

This INSTRUCTABLE came into being because of the new craze of NETBOOKS.

These small laptops have only 3 or less USB ports which is fine for some people, but for others that want to use an external Mouse, Keyboard, or just want to charge your MP3 player, cellphone or even to power a power hungry peripheral like a USB hub or external slimline DVD Burner.

This also works on Desktop systems as well!

Also, why take up a much-needed USB port for your USB novelty item? (drink warmer/cooler, lights, fans, etc...)
VGA to USB power!
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74 comments
1-50 of 74
Apr 27, 2009. 11:37 AMPhysic.Dude says:
Do you think you could explain your experience of patenting and developing your “product”. I’m a young inventor who likes to build stuff but some things I made I would like or would have liked patented and sold.
Apr 17, 2009. 4:16 PMLabot2001 says:
FYI, you didn't need to pull this. Instructables allows you to protect your work with a Creative Commons license.
Mar 17, 2009. 11:36 AMdcork says:
I built something like this, using a ground and +5V from pin 9. The voltage before hooking anything up is +5.01V, but while pulling 120mA from it, goes to +4.60V to + +4.70V ... is this safe?
Mar 17, 2009. 3:25 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
What device are you connecting?
Mar 17, 2009. 12:09 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
As long as the device you are connecting is in spec of 5V you will be fine.
I tested the adapter by plugging in 3 devices at the same time (Dell AXIM X51V, Creative Labs ZEN MP3 Player, and a MIO GPS)
It charged all 3 devices.

Just keep your power demands reasonable and only use for ONE device.
Mar 17, 2009. 12:16 PMdcork says:
By "in spec of 5V" you mean it should be a 5V device, yes? It is so I am okay there.

What I really wanted to know is, is that safe for the laptop to have the voltage there only 4.6V?
Mar 17, 2009. 1:13 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Yes.
Some laptops only push out 3V.

USB ports USUALLY range between 3-5 Volts.
Mar 17, 2009. 1:28 PMdcork says:
Well, with nothing connected, the VGA pushes 5V. With a device connected, it pushes only 4.6V? So this is safe?

Doesn't that mean that the device is drawing more than the VGA port's +5V line can handle, causing a voltage drop?
Mar 15, 2009. 5:57 PMmkfly says:
(removed by author or community request)
Mar 15, 2009. 6:17 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Negative.

If an instructable warrants being patented for a possible mass produced product.
It would be idiotic to an astronomical level to allow just anyone to build the product.

T
Mar 17, 2009. 10:33 AMmkfly says:
"If an instructable warrants being patented for a possible mass produced product" ... then it's NOT an Instructable anymore! It's just an advertisement.

Mar 17, 2009. 11:19 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
It "WAS" an Instructable, now its a product.

Don't like it?
Move along...
Dec 18, 2008. 6:58 PMkraM says:
it would probly be super getto if i tryed but im wondering how long it would take to make something like this, got to find some parts though. nice work even though all i get to see is a pic of the finished product.
Nov 26, 2008. 8:48 AMkraulin says:
how many milliamps does it provide?
Nov 26, 2008. 10:08 AMkraulin says:
I did some looking and that external burner only works on 3 models of laptops made by Lenovo. So, from that maybe we can assume it's more than 500mA?
Dec 7, 2008. 5:39 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
??
That burner works with every PC/Laptop that has a USB port.

Hooked to a PC or laptop, it averages around 100MAH draw while burning a DVD.
Nov 26, 2008. 9:29 AMalex-sharetskiy says:
that's what i'd like to know!
Nov 30, 2008. 3:30 PMggiihh1 says:
How would you make one that plugs into the usb 2.0 port an has a female port attached? same thing with a male instead of female usb connector?
Dec 1, 2008. 6:50 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Why would you want to?
This is for POWER only, either to power a device or to provide supplemental power in the case of using a USB "Y" adapter.
Dec 2, 2008. 2:18 PMggiihh1 says:
Let me rephrase my question, How would I attach a male usb to a female vga so I could plug a monitor into the usb port?
Dec 2, 2008. 2:46 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
You wouldn't...
They make a USB to VGA adapter that will allow you to use a second monitor, but they are large and I haven't seen one that worked really well.
Dec 3, 2008. 1:31 PMggiihh1 says:
hmm... so all my parts laying around wouldn't cut it?
Dec 4, 2008. 12:14 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Nope...
Dec 2, 2008. 3:45 PM_Ko0LaiD_ says:
How would i blow out my graphics card without it being noticed that it was tampered with so i can get a new, better one.
Dec 2, 2008. 4:29 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Ummm.... You wouldn't.
How you kill your notebook is up to you.

Be creative, and make sure you take pictures!!!

Sheesh.....
Dec 2, 2008. 6:40 PM_Ko0LaiD_ says:
My laptop weighs to much to be a notebook, but, my graphics card sucks, and messes up when i play games. also, my laptop has a ATI Radeon 3850, but crap for ram.
Nov 30, 2008. 2:31 PMFatBoiCindy says:
will this work for adding another moniter to a desktop useing usb?
Dec 1, 2008. 5:24 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
No, POWER only.
Nov 26, 2008. 6:30 PMmattameo213 says:
WHERE DID YOU GET A BACKTRACK LAPTOP??????

*Mad Respect*
Nov 26, 2008. 10:03 PMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Got the skin for the lid specially made from a local company.
Nov 27, 2008. 5:35 AMmattameo213 says:
Is it running Backtrack?

Is that an Acer Aspire One?
Nov 27, 2008. 9:56 AMSolifluktion says:
No, it's an Asus EEE 900/901.
Nov 27, 2008. 10:42 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
No.. It's an Asus EEEPC 1000H
Nov 27, 2008. 12:22 PMmattameo213 says:
Awesome.
I have an eee 701.
What OS do you have?
Nov 28, 2008. 3:05 PMJoe Martin says:
If you read the comments, He's triple booting xp, ubuntu and bt

Joe

P.s Lolz @solifluktion

Nov 29, 2008. 5:29 AMSolifluktion says:
I've never seen the 1000H before I just looked at the Display and decided that it has to be the 900 because it's definately not the 701 ;)
Looks pretty small for 10

Nov 29, 2008. 7:26 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
It looks even weirder when I have my WiFi Sniffing goodies attached.

I modded a pigtail into the left hinge, and I either connect my CANTENNA to it or to my ALFA high power USB Adapter 500mW.

Or I just add an Antenna to the external connector that goes to my internal card, and run the USB WiFi at the same time... I'll have to post pics sometime.
Nov 24, 2008. 10:08 AMcamintmier says:
Note: On some older VGA connections, pin 9 isn't connected at all, so this might not work on your old 486.

See http://pinouts.ru/Video/VGA15_pinout.shtml for more info.

It might be easier to just use an externally powered usb hub.

Nov 29, 2008. 4:03 AMlllalllo says:
It will not work on black and white cards. (the pins are used on color cards to detect the monitor)
Nov 24, 2008. 10:14 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
Not looking to use this on an old 486.

In order to use a powered USB hub, you would either have to carry your power adapter with you or mod your USB hub. Instead of a DC jack, use a USB connector.
Nov 26, 2008. 10:13 AMarienh4 says:
Lol, so you'd power the power of a USB hub with USB power. It'd kinda defeat the purpose though. One USB port provides 5V, so you'd need about 3 ports to power this thing plus the data port makes 4, if you're talking 4 port hub that kinda defeats the purpose.
Nov 26, 2008. 4:36 PMcamintmier says:
You could use a 6v lantern battery connected to a 6v to 5v stepdown circuit to power an external usb hub. Most lantern batteries I've come across run anywhere from 11000mAh to upwards of 26000mAh, so they definitely put out more than the 500mA needed for 1 usb port. Connect the usb hub (powered by the lantern battery) to the usb port, and you have 4 new ports to connect up to 2A worth of stuff.

As far as grabbing power from the VGA port, now that I think about it, I'd be too worried that my device would draw more power than the video card circuit could handle.
Nov 26, 2008. 10:36 AMRetroTechno says:
You get points for originality on this one! Nice work too.

My only beef with this is that you do not provide instructions on how to check the work without one of those USB dongle things. Perhaps a method using a voltmeter?

Also I would think that the amount of current coming available for the VGA port would not be as high as the USB standard dictates. This might cause some problems on some applications. I would think that this would also vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Nov 26, 2008. 10:53 PMbomberman3 says:
I got curious and decided to stick a paperclip from pins 9 to 10 and test it with a voltmeter, but as soon as the paperclip was in, the computer shut down. So ya, don't put a paperclip in it.
Nov 28, 2008. 4:29 PMRetroTechno says:
So you're saying the "paperclip-as-a-space-heater" application doesn't work on this port. That's good to know. :-)

Seriously, I was thinking some instructions to check the wiring on the USB jack in step 10 other than using that LED dongle thingy.
Nov 28, 2008. 7:08 AMzomfibame says:
haaaa haaaaaa! yahh, I'm guessing paper-clips jammed in computer ports could potentially cause problems; although I do have to say, I might have done the same thing myself if I hadn't seen your comment.
Nov 29, 2008. 7:22 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
There was a VGA hack to change screen resolution that had to do with a paperclip, but I'm positive it wasn't 5V and GND ;)
Nov 26, 2008. 11:33 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
I should probably add that as a pic or a note..... I didn't expect this to get so popular so quickly.
Nov 26, 2008. 11:13 AMgmgfarrand (author) says:
As long as you are being realistic in your power demands from the port, 500mah and under, you will be fine. :)
I could not find any specs anywhere about current through the VGA port.
Hell, several of the electronic repair companies I called didn't even know that there was POWER supplied to the VGA port.....
Nov 26, 2008. 4:49 PMRetroTechno says:
My point exactly. It may be there, but don't put too much demand on it!
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