USB y-cable (not the power one)

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JohnnyS5
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:39 pm

USB y-cable (not the power one)

Post by JohnnyS5 »

Hey guys,

Ummm, longtime lurker here (mostly in the GBA/GC sections). I have a wii with a USB drive, and a cheap external hard drive casing. Is there anything to stop me from using one of these (http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSea ... =EG1914-ND" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;) to rig it up so that my harddrive can be switched from comp to wii without plugging and unplugging. I.e. a 4P2T switch hooked up to three male USB connectors (HD -> comp/wii), so I would only have to click it to add content :)

I realize there may be other ('better') ways of doing it, but I'm hoping that this forum has like minded people that would rather do it their way than the 'right' way.

Cheers,
Aguiluz
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Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2007 7:58 pm
Location: Ontario, Canada
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Re: USB y-cable (not the power one)

Post by Aguiluz »

You know what? This is a very great idea! This is a 4-pole double-throw switch. USB lines have 4 wires, two power and two data.

Put the usb lead that goes into the hard disk at the center and the lead that goes into the PC and Wii on the two sides so that throwing the switch alternates between Wii and PC.

As long as the hard disk has a power adaptor and does not draw power from the USB line, you would be OK. (It may not be good for the hard drive to get switched off and on in a very quick time)
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JohnnyS5
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:39 pm

Re: USB y-cable (not the power one)

Post by JohnnyS5 »

Yeah, I have a seperate power supply for the HD.
Just hooked it up, and it works like a charm!
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