Don't use USB...???

[N2rock]

So I was at a vape meet Saturday and struck up a conversation with another guy there. He told me that he repairs computers for a living. And then told me to never ever use the USB for pass thru, and to avoid it for charging batteries as well. He said that when you do, you are passing power out the USB, and that the USB's and motherboards were never designed/intended to be used as a power supply. That best case scenario you burn out the USB port which is easily replaced. Worst case you burn out the motherboard due to the added amount of power flowing thru it. He said that occasionally charging batteries is ok. But using as a pass thru, or continuously using to charge batteries over and over will cause problems.

Can anyone confirm or deny this as being a potential problem?

 

[malyden]

I always recommend using a USB outlet adapter and not using the USB port on the computer due to the fact that sometimes it can cause computer issues. Also if you have an older computer with the USB 1.0 ports they will not work with the passthrough/battery chargers.

 

[mccawley]

Bull..... USB is specifically designed for powering devices.
Does your USB headphones, keyboards, mice, smart phone, etc... power themselves? Nope..... they pull power from the USB
And no passthrough pulls enough Amps to damage the USB wiring or circuit.

Not just an opinion
I work at Intel
I test USB
I vape Peanut Butter

Oh! unless you have a crappy computer and/or a really high Ohm atty.
normal passthrough(s) standard atty are perfectly fine.

 

[slumdog]

I have been in computer repair, amature..i was about 13 when i started tinkering with these things, since the apple IIe, professional since windows 98', and have seen alot of things come and go some say do some say don't....its personal preferance but i would say dont do it, why? usb ports are rated for less than 5volts which is what most PTs are too much power draw will burn out your port at best and fry your mb...motherbord sorry forum mix up....at worst......so if you use it do it sparingly and if you want more info you can take a look at this http://www.usb.org/developers/whitepapers/power_delivery_motherboards.pdf might help explain a little....

 

[slumdog]

I have been in computer repair, amature..i was about 13 when i started tinkering with these things, since the apple IIe, professional since windows 98', and have seen alot of things come and go some say do some say don't....its personal preference but i would say don't do it, why? usb ports are rated for less than 5volts which is what most PTs are too much power draw will burn out your port at best and fry your mb...motherbord sorry forum mix up....at worst......so if you use it do it sparingly and if you want more info you can take a look at this http://www.usb.org/developers/whitepapers/power_delivery_motherboards.pdf might help explain a little....

sorry i was reading the report and saw it might be hard to decipher for some, "alot of lingo" but it says if you have a 5v device you want to use you should have a protection circuit i/e battery in our case between the port and the power draw, "the atty" the switch is not sufficient because it contains no circuit for the transformation of lower voltage into higher but a battery, which is its own power source, does......so if your pt has a batt inline b4 the atty, like most mini models, yes use it all you want if not, like the indulgencev2, then no get a wall adapter..

 

[mccawley]

Our USB ports must meet the spec requirements of:
Voltage: 4.7 - 5.25
Amps: MAX 5 amp(s) 500mAh per port.

As long as your pass-through doesn't maintain an amp draw over 500mAh you should be fine.
If you are worried go down to the computer store and pick up a USB y-cable. Like you get with some external USB hard drives. Then you can draw up to 1000mAh or 1 Amp total.

 

[slumdog]

Our USB ports must meet the spec requirements of:
Voltage: 4.7 - 5.25
Amps: MAX 5 amp(s) 500mAh per port.

As long as your pass-through doesn't maintain an amp draw over 500mAh you should be fine.
If you are worried go down to the computer store and pick up a USB y-cable. Like you get with some external USB hard drives. Then you can draw up to 1000mAh or 1 Amp total.

didn't even think about a y cable, nice call..........

 

[banjo]

I have an Integrity 3.7v bottom feeder mod with a USB port & I have had no problems with my computer. I also have no problem charging my iPod, Garmin, or cell phone on my computer via USB & have done it for years

 

[N2rock]

Thanks for the info guys. Makes me feel better after hearing from you all

 

[ropetrick]

I thought I read somewhere that the tendency of the cables to short was the problem... and failures of workmanship are apparently rampant with passthroughs (though I haven't had any issues with the three I've bought).

I never use a passthrough connected to my laptop, but I charge batts all the time. I charge all manner of things. Short of an, err, short, I can't see what the problem would be.

 

[N2rock]

So guys with knowledge ;-)

Here are 3 PT's: 510 Manual Passthroughs Judging by what has been said in this thread, the "manual PT with inline battery" should be fine to use. And the other two might be risky to use, but would probably be ok with a LR atty/carto. Is that the general gist here?

 

[AttyPops]

The LR atty/carto would make that worse, not better. Lower resistance = higher amps (for the direct PTs). For the battery ones, use LR if you want.

There are, in general, two types of PTs.... battery and "Direct". The direct PT is what the modder's often build, are 5.0 v devices and draw like 1.5 amps or more (in my case). They can be purchased also, and are sold as 5 volt PTs. Now, I'm not getting into what it really delivers, that's a whole can of worms. However, if you have a 3.0 ohm atty at 5 volts you would want 1.666 amps with a direct PT.

The battery PTs are 3.2 - 3.4 (some may be 3.7?) volt devices with a battery charger charging from the usb port, usually no more than 400 ma draw. Look on the device... it should say.

Direct PT on my computer... no way in heck. Battery PT, s/b no problem with USB.

USB ports are NOT really easy to replace AFAIK. A "wall wart" is $10.00 or less and is cheap insurance. It also frees up a USB port. Ropetrick, the short point is a good/interesting one. PTs have a horrendous track record full of failures. All the more reason to use a wall wart. Not really required for battery PTs, but ... why tie up a USB port?

 

[lo thatch]

I started to have major problems when I did this....computer kept turning off and not starting normally. When I finally got it back to normal I stopped using the USB and have not had a problem since. No passthrough ever again for me.

 

[DuncanDisordely]

Bull..... USB is specifically designed for powering devices.
Does your USB headphones, keyboards, mice, smart phone, etc... power themselves? Nope..... they pull power from the USB
And no passthrough pulls enough Amps to damage the USB wiring or circuit.

Not just an opinion
I work at Intel
I test USB
I vape Peanut Butter

Oh! unless you have a crappy computer and/or a really high Ohm atty.
normal passthrough(s) standard atty are perfectly fine.

confirm, I run a computer repair company and have been in IT all my life.

Your problem sounds like you have an overloaded psu, if that small voltage increase causes it to power off then you need a better psu anyway.

And as for it not turning on with it plugged in, this happens with printers and other things, it's looking at the usb device to see if it can boot from it.

Happy vaping!

Duncan

 

[AttyPops]

Depends on what type they were using gang! See post #12

MadVapes 5 Volt 510 Manual USB Passthrough - high amps

Mega 510 Sit and Go USB Passthrough - low amps

lol. Ask em what they were using 1st, then suggest a remedy. Or just tell em to get a wall wart that will always work.

It appears that some of you may not be aware of the 5v PTs yet..........

 

[slumdog]

confirm, I run a computer repair company and have been in IT all my life.

Your problem sounds like you have an overloaded psu, if that small voltage increase causes it to power off then you need a better psu anyway.

And as for it not turning on with it plugged in, this happens with printers and other things, it's looking at the usb device to see if it can boot from it.

Happy vaping!

Duncan

As I said earlier you guys are right if you have a 2.0 usb and a computer atleast made in the last 5 to seven years then yes "it should be able to handel it, the computer is not the problem its the way the usb device is designed, with sub-standard materials which are not within the guidelines of the computer manufactuer with the wrong insulation or a short somewhere from sub-standard wires all runs up the amperage which can burn out your port at best, fry your mb at worst..........

 

[slumdog]

It appears that some of you may not be aware of the 5v PTs yet.......... thanks attypop thats what I was trying to say, with no protection circuit in them the amperage is way to high for a standard 2.0 usb.......

 

[N2rock]

the thread has gone completely over my head. I guess the short sweet answer for me is: don't use the USB and you'll be 100% safe LOL

 

[meems]

Hmm..no pass through but do usb charge on my, now in the shop having mother board replaced less than 2 year old computer...

 

[AttyPops]

Sorry n2rock. You're correct about wall-wart being 100% safe (works without a computer around too). Use one with a battery and you s/b be OK with USB tho...

slumdog... np. Wouldn't mess with someone with avatar teeth like that! Glad to help!

meems... BUMMER!!!!