USB cable quality - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 03:19:35 pm
content: Does the quality of a USB cable make any difference?I'm particularly thinking of the cable with a PICkit 3. I've been recommended to buy aqualitycable to replace the one that came with it: this should alleviate some of the connection problems.If so, who is a good manufacturer?

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 04:09:12 pm
content: It depends, i have seen very crap cables supplied with things, like 100mAh to 200mAh max supported current and they are like 20cm. They should at least support 500mAh to 2.5A.For a fast debug or upload any cable will do, but for permanent use consider to buy a good quality and robust cable, they are not expensive...I only have one USB cable per type, i use them for everything, charge, upload, repairs, etc and they never failed me or broke, i like to buy quality cables that last long and are under my needs (Able of good current, near none resistivity). I use microUSB cable everyday brought some years ago and still like new! So quality matters if you hard use.If you go aliexpress there are good brands like ugreen, Vention and Anker, you will see a price difference on that stores compared to generic ones.Also ignore gold plated connector marketing, there are non plated cables much more superior to the plated sugar (Maybe just painted) A thicker cable with low resistance point to point is much more important

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 04:39:02 pm
content: There is a difference, very cheap cables tend to have thin wires that cannot supply much current. There are also hugely overpriced fancy USB cables that are no better than modestly priced decent quality ones though.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 04:45:04 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on July 21, 2018, 04:39:02 pmditto. I had some cheapy dealextreme cables unable to deliver more than 1A.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 05:47:04 pm
content: If it's a genuine (original) PICkit 3, the included cable is pretty good quality.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 05:56:44 pm
content: The one that came with a *genuine* PICkit 3 should be fine if you either have an externally powered target or are only programming a PIC with its /MCLR pulled low when not programming to keep it in reset. However if your host USB port has a low Vbus voltage and you are debugging a power-hungry 5V target with the PICkit 3 supplying the power,you may run into issues. Pop the PICkit 3 case open and check the 5V USB Vbus at the mini-B connector using a DSO with a differential probe or two probes and waveform arithmatic to use them differentially. If it drops significantly below 5V during debugging or programming, a powered hub, hacked to boost its Vbus to 5.3V will do *far* more good than the most expensive USB cable on the market.

author: shteii01
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 06:18:38 pm
content: Are we talking real PICkit 3 or Chinese copies?Quote from: PerranOak on July 21, 2018, 03:19:35 pm

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 06:25:34 pm
content: Quote from: PerranOak on July 21, 2018, 03:19:35 pmYes, there is a wide variety of USB (and other) cables out there.QuoteYou can buy USB cables with some "brand name" attached, but the likelihood of finding some direct-connection between a "brand name" and a particular design/factory/distributor seems quite remote given the ubiquitous and generic nature of USB cables. If I HAD to buy a "brand name" USB cable, I would look at Hosa or Monoprice. Any "higher" brands are likely to have cables from whichever generic, interchangable Chinese factory selected by their bean-counter for that stock-cycle.Quote"Connection problems" seem much more likely to be a factor of theconnectorsrather than the "wire". Quite possibly the connector on the PICkit and/or on the computer.Is there actually a problem with the 5V power from USB? What is the voltage in the PICkit? Are you powering the gadget from the PICkit?

author: Nauris
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2018, 07:45:50 pm
content: I have bought Molex ones from digikey. They have worked ok and they at least have spec sheet that looks like it is drawn by actual engineer not by any marketing guy.

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2018, 08:30:53 pm
content: Right! So, to summarise:a USB cable should support at least 2.5A.Good makes are: ugreen, Veniton and Anker; also Hosa and Monoprice; including Molex.It’s better to have a thick cable than a gold plated one.The original PICkit 3 cable is good quality. I don’t understand how the MCLR can be kept in reset when not programming? Do you mean with a pull-down resistor?Yes, I measured the voltage on the USB port of my PC and it is 4.85V – usually it’s ok but sometimes I get an error. How do you hack a powered hub?My PICkit 3 is a genuine Microchip product and I am powering the project from the PICkit 3 when programming. Yes, as per above, the voltage on my PC USB is a little low but usually this is not a problem, I think.To select a good USB cable is it best to go via Digikey, RS Components, Element14, etc. so that you can view the specs? Presumably, it’s better to have the shortest one that you can live with?PSWhat exactly are the connectors called? I looked at a site and couldn't tell what the right connectors are named as. For the PICkit 3 replacements is it USB type A to micro USB type A or is it mini?

author: Discotech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2018, 07:42:02 pm
content: Quote from: PerranOak on July 23, 2018, 08:30:53 pmUgreen fan here

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2018, 08:09:03 pm
content: OK, excellent. Do they cover all the bases noted above in respect of connectivity reliability and current capability?

author: sn4k3
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 25, 2018, 02:58:17 pm
content: Quote from: PerranOak on July 24, 2018, 08:09:03 pmSee here:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ugreen-USB-2-0-Male-A-to-Mini-USB-B-5-Pin-Sync-Data-Charger-Cable/32393576557.htmlThat cables are good and will provide the current you need.Data lines are also thicker than normal

author: PerranOak
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 04:17:29 pm
content: Cheers thanks.

author: maukka
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2018, 06:35:20 pm
content: Dodge reviewhas resistance tables forMicro USB,LightningandType-C