Making your own custom USB cables

[phill360]

Thanks for the guide Nub

This is what I made today

Show Image

Braided OFC USB cable

Fantastic looking able. Would love to know where to buy those usb terminals from

[SKD]

I get my connectors from aliexpress and this online shop in europe somewhere I can't remember the name of right now. But I order mine in 100+ quantities. If you only want a few then ebay would be better.

[mindsize]

Hey Nubbinator. I found this write-up very helpful. I think I have just about everything I need to start making my own cables but here is one question for you. What type of Flux do you (or anyone else) recommend?

And do you have any tips on soldering the small connectors?

Thanks

_Asher

[SKD]

Hey Nubbinator. I found this write-up very helpful. I think I have just about everything I need to start making my own cables but here is one question for you. What type of Flux do you (or anyone else) recommend?

And do you have any tips on soldering the small connectors?

Thanks

_Asher

Needle nose tweezers. Especially for working on the micro and mini usb connectors.

[XyberYogi]

Thank you for this. Very much appreciated!

[Pitrek]

Hi guys! Where do you buy Techflex sleeves?

Transparent one looks gorgeous on almost every paracord.

Thank you!

[Vladimir]

Hi guys! Where do you buy Techflex sleeves?

For me, wirecare.
https://www.wirecare.com/category/heatshrink-tubing/abrasion-rugged/3-1-dual-wall-adhesive-specialty

But I want to ask something else. How do I choose thickness?
I mean, i want to use a specific sleeve that only have 1/4" available. I guess that's about 22AWG. Do I use a cable a little thiner (like 23 AWG) or with the same thickness?

Same question for the heatshrink.

[SKD]

Hi guys! Where do you buy Techflex sleeves?

For me, wirecare.
https://www.wirecare.com/category/heatshrink-tubing/abrasion-rugged/3-1-dual-wall-adhesive-specialty

But I want to ask something else. How do I choose thickness?
I mean, i want to use a specific sleeve that only have 1/4" available. I guess that's about 22AWG. Do I use a cable a little thiner (like 23 AWG) or with the same thickness?

Same question for the heatshrink.

I use 3mm techflex, 24awg wire. 22awg will work but you'll find it more difficult to solder the wire to the connectors, especially mini/micro usb connectors.

[Pitrek]

Thank you for response.

Anybody does know where can I find micro-USB socket, but in metal casing?
(Like this mini-USB: http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mSLpMo6r6PV1Heujt340Ifg.jpg)

[SKD]

Thank you for response.

Anybody does know where can I find micro-USB socket, but in metal casing?
(Like this mini-USB: http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mSLpMo6r6PV1Heujt340Ifg.jpg)

Those ones don't seem to be easy to get hold of. I had trouble sourcing large quantities of them in the UK. If the connector size isn't an issue, you'd be better off using the larger plastic cased ones and they're available everywhere.

If you manage to find some let me know!

[kolec94]

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

[Pwner]

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

I get mine from Digikey, but you can probably find it on eBay cheaper.

I use 550 paracord for sleeving.

[superdoedoe]

Thanks for the info. I've got a cable parts on the way and the info ive found here was very helpful.

[kolec94]

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

I get mine from Digikey, but you can probably find it on eBay cheaper.

I use 550 paracord for sleeving.

are you using just regular 550 para-cord?
and I dont see the diameter of the cable it self on the digikey listing

[SKD]

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

I get mine from Digikey, but you can probably find it on eBay cheaper.

I use 550 paracord for sleeving.

are you using just regular 550 para-cord?
and I dont see the diameter of the cable it self on the digikey listing

The paracord majority of people use (including myself) for sleeving cables are commonly known as 550 type III paracord. These should be listed as 4mm diameter.

The cable in the digikey link is 3.81mm outer diamter, it is labed as 'Jacket Diameter'.

[Amthe]

What do you use to make the coiled cables? I'm struggling to find a 4-core cable that is thin enough for paracord.

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

I get mine from Digikey, but you can probably find it on eBay cheaper.

I use 550 paracord for sleeving.

are you using just regular 550 para-cord?
and I dont see the diameter of the cable it self on the digikey listing

The paracord majority of people use (including myself) for sleeving cables are commonly known as 550 type III paracord. These should be listed as 4mm diameter.

The cable in the digikey link is 3.81mm outer diamter, it is labed as 'Jacket Diameter'.

[Pwner]

What do you use to make the coiled cables? I'm struggling to find a 4-core cable that is thin enough for paracord.

what are you using for the cable itself do you have a way of getting unterminated usb cabling?
o and what size sleeving should i get?

I get mine from Digikey, but you can probably find it on eBay cheaper.

I use 550 paracord for sleeving.

are you using just regular 550 para-cord?
and I dont see the diameter of the cable it self on the digikey listing

The paracord majority of people use (including myself) for sleeving cables are commonly known as 550 type III paracord. These should be listed as 4mm diameter.

The cable in the digikey link is 3.81mm outer diamter, it is labed as 'Jacket Diameter'.

Strip the jacket off the cable and it'll fit in the Paracord just fine.

[br4n_d0n]

Have any of you dealt with these type of connectors? I cannot figure out how to keep the metal from sliding out of the housing without resorting to glue or something. Anyone have any ideas?

USB:



Micro USB:

[Delafinn]

Here is a 100" spool I have found:

http://www.l-com.com/usb-usb-rev-20-compliant-28-28awg-bulk-cable-100-ft-spool


Does anyone know if this works for USB- C cables? sorry, I'm late to this thread.

[vallemanden]

Hi All,

I just made my first USB for my DAC
i sounds great, but it only works for some short time, then the computer stops playing music, using jRiver om mac

kind regards
Vallemanden

[Lastiry]

Hello,
First time making a cable (USB A to C) and it doesn't work. When I connect the USB A in my PC and the C in my phone, it charge but I have an error message from Windows (does this type of cable only works with keyboard/mouse ? I haven't found anything and actually have not a custom keyboard).
I tried with several phones and ports on my PC, I resolder the cable twice and I don't know what it it.
Have someone an idee ? Have I done a mistake ?
Thanks in advance

[phil t]

Might be a bit late to the party, but this is the only place I could find the wiring for the mini B connector (the one with the kinked shape) http://i.imgur.com/RqPxH1ih.jpg
Unfortunately I think the diagram shown here has D+ and D- reversed. I was trying to make a custom USB cable to program an Arduino nano board and couldn't get it to work until I swapped the D- and D+ connections.
I believe D- should be on the top row of 2 pins, and D+ on the bottom row with 3 pins. So the bottom row should be GND,D+,Vcc.  This also seems more consistent with the micro plug.

[_rubik]

Might be a bit late to the party, but this is the only place I could find the wiring for the mini B connector (the one with the kinked shape) http://i.imgur.com/RqPxH1ih.jpg
Unfortunately I think the diagram shown here has D+ and D- reversed. I was trying to make a custom USB cable to program an Arduino nano board and couldn't get it to work until I swapped the D- and D+ connections.
I believe D- should be on the top row of 2 pins, and D+ on the bottom row with 3 pins. So the bottom row should be GND,D+,Vcc.  This also seems more consistent with the micro plug.

I just (two days ago) used this pinout diagram for my mini connector. Worked like a charm. Looks like the pinout you're looking at did swap D+/-

[phil t]

Thanks for confirming rubik, that's a nice clear diagram. Forgot to thank nubbinator for starting this useful topic. Can now make progress with my geeky project http://www.philizound.co.uk/plasma/plasma.html