external Hard Drive has two USB connectors

[johngood_____]

A while ago I bought a small portable external hard drive (the size of hard
drive they put in laptops) and an aluminium casing for it. It was at a
computer fair and i'm not able to go back and ask about it, but the lead
that was included has one end to go to the external hard drive and at the
other end *two* separate usb connectors to go to the computer. One of these
usb connectors is coloured red. Why would there be two usb connectors,
please? Should I use the red one? The neutral coloured one, or both?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

A while ago I bought a small portable external hard drive (the size of hard
drive they put in laptops) and an aluminium casing for it. It was at a
computer fair and i'm not able to go back and ask about it, but the lead
that was included has one end to go to the external hard drive and at the
other end *two* separate usb connectors to go to the computer. One of these
usb connectors is coloured red. Why would there be two usb connectors,
please? Should I use the red one? The neutral coloured one, or both?

The connector with the fatter cable has four connections:
Two for the USB signal, two for power. It must always
be plugged in.

The connector with the thinner cable has two connections:
for power. It is required for PCs/notebooks where a single
USB socket delivers marginal power. You can find out by
trial and error if you need it or not.

 

[RalfG]

I have a similar connection for my USB2 Hub (actually a second cable) which
functions as an auxiliary power connector. Individual USB ports only provide
500milli Amps each for USB powered devices. What the extra connector does is
take power from a second USB port on the computer in order to double the
power available in the hub to 1000mA. I can't say for certain but I suspect
that your double ended USB cable does the same thing for that external drive
enclosure.

 

[Xenomorph]

Like others have stated, it has 2 USB plugs because 1 USB plug does NOT
supply enough power.

The drive requires more power than what the USB standard allows, so it must
use 2 USB connections to get fully powered.

 

[Guest]

The cable used to connect to your PC is a Y splitter, a mini USB and two USB
for the PC side, it should work with only 1 USB connected, but for hard
drives which require more power you’ll need to plug in the second one. Make
sure you have enough USB ports to accommodate this device.

This link had infos:
http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=549

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Typically just use the neutral one. You may need 2 connections if the usb
port isn't supplying enough power to the external drive.

 

[dobey]

Ooohhhhhh, so that's what the tail was for. I wish they would include a note
with the product about this sort of thing.

I brought a 2.5 in external enclosure when my sisters laptop died, but there
was nothing indicating the other end had a special use. The second cable was
slightly thinner but it wasn't obvious through the insulation they used on
the cables.

Initially I though it was some kind of extention, or adapter. But it was a
plug and not a socket. I assumed the manufacturer had included this as some
kind of "feature"

I tried both initially and one didn't work but the other did. I guess that
would explain why there was power running through it, as when I was using
the correct end the other sparked against the back of the PC. Wrapped some
tape around it to prevent this.

Typically just use the neutral one. You may need 2 connections if the usb
port isn't supplying enough power to the external drive.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

A while ago I bought a small portable external hard drive (the size of
hard drive they put in laptops) and an aluminium casing for it. It was
at a computer fair and i'm not able to go back and ask about it, but the
lead that was included has one end to go to the external hard drive and at
the other end *two* separate usb connectors to go to the computer. One of
these usb connectors is coloured red. Why would there be two usb
connectors, please? Should I use the red one? The neutral coloured one,
or both?