USB question

[derfthebarbarian]

So i have an idea for a multi system, its still an idea in the making and i have just general electrical knowledge, but decent soldering skills.

I wont bore anyone with the details yet, but at the moment, i was wondering if its possible to

1) desolder the usb ports from a PS2 mainboard
2) solder wires in the spots where the usb pinds were
3) then, using an xbox mainboard with a modchip installed, solder wires from the mainboard to the usb port
4) then solder the other wires from the PS2 mainboard to the usb pins also and have a set of usb ports that are shared by both systems, of course, not to be used at the same time, but when either system is on

it sounds rational to me, but maybe it wont work for some strange reason, so if there is one, lemme know please

thanx

[timmeh87]

Hooking the 5v lines together may power the "off" system backwards and overload the "on" system's USB bus.

But otherwise no.

[APHawkes]

An xbox doesn't supply power over the controller ports when the system is off. So, you're safe in that direction. I'm not sure about the PS2 though, as I don't own one.

[gannon]

I'd recommend making the 5V USB lines on their own power supply that is on whenever the unit is, then isolate the data lines for each system using something like a 4066 (think that's the part, quad bilateral switch). That *might* work I think.

[Mister X]

This seems like a lot of effort to go through, just to wreck two otherwise functional game systems.

See, the details are exactly what are required in order to make any sense of this.

[bicostp]

Hooking the 5v lines together may power the "off" system backwards and overload the "on" system's USB bus.

But otherwise no.

You should be able to compensate for the power feedback with a couple diodes.

[derfthebarbarian]

@ mister x

if you had read the beginning, you'd have seen the word "multisystem", ya know, a bunch of consoles in one box.... and to minimize on space, im looking for options, hence the shared USB port

aren't 99% of the people here taking perfectly good consoles and ripping them apart for just about the same reason?

if you must know, im going for a ps2/xbox/gamecube/dreamcast multiconsole and i already have ideas lined up, but work and just my life in general will make this project proceed at a crawl.

but anyways, thanks for the feedback guys.

from prior modding experiences with the PS2, i'm pretty sure there is little to no power running through the usb port, even when the rear switch is on, because i once had a fan mod that was wired to the 5v line on the usb port, and it only powered on when i actually started the system up.

guess i need to bust out a voltmeter unless someone does before me...

[Mister X]

So if you're just using multiple systems, it may be much better to simply use a usb-capable KVM switch, or more pain-in-the-assedly, use a simple toggle switch to cut the +5VDC line to/from the system that won't be used, so you won't have stuff connected in a fire-hazard situation.

[derfthebarbarian]

thanks