(originally Posted this in the Xbox Section, but I figured it'd be easier to get replies here, If this is a problem. Move or delete it mods) *sigh* This has been consuming my whole day, what was supposed to be a simple splicing job has turned into a nightmare. I've googled and looked at every tutorial I could find. I cut off the end of the Xbox Break away cable that connects to the xbox taken all of the wires inside (Minus the Yellow) and then twisted them with their corresponding wires from a standard USB cable and then Soldered them together , wrapped each wire in Electrical tape and then wrapped tape over all of the wires together and when I plug it into my computer it short circuits the USB controller on my PC. If I have it plugged in while trying to boot the PC I get "USB DEVICE OVER CURRENT STATUS DETECTED" So I've been cutting more and more wire off of the USB connector and Break away cable re-doing this over and over trying to figure out what I've done wrong. If I simply plug the USB connector into the PC without it being soldered to the Breakaway cable Nothing happens as if you were to plug it in without connecting it to something. This has driven me INSANE, After many hours i've even attempted to open up an Xbox controller and solder the USB cable directly to the PCB where the normal cable goes. That just resulted in a short circuit too with some burning as well that produced smoke.(Edit: I've confirmed now that I killed the controller) OH:OH: Can anyone give me a helping hand, i'm about ready to give up on this and I REALLY don't want to.
(The mods forums probably would have been the best place for this, but I understand the frustration and wanting to get it answered quickly ;-)). Answer these to help us figure out where you're at: 1) Are you 100% sure the controller worked correctly as an XBOX controller before you started this? 2) Is it a first-party or third-party controller? If you have access to a multimeter, check the output from the pins and make sure you have your +5 & ground hooked up correctly. Like you said, this should have been 10-minute project, so I suspect there's a fault in the controller itself.
Well I did post it in the mods section first. If you read the first line of the post it says that. But yes i'm 100% this worked before hand, I was using that specific breakaway cable with my xbox. I've tried using multiple Controllers with the breakaway cable. None have worked and it still short circuits. The controller that Died I know is dead because after I plugged it in to the PC it started smoking and smelt like something was burning. I then tried to use it with an XBOX with original controller and none of the buttons work and the Rumble motors are stuck on full speed when plugged into the xbox on any port. So that leaves me with 3 good controllers. And I dont' have a multimeter (wish I did) Here is how much of the Breakaway cable I have left after many failed attempts. I have 2 others but I dont' want to cut them up. Needem for the xbox itself. The controller I was initially hooking to the breakaway cable The controller that I tried to hardwire the USB cable to (it's in the trash now,) I'm guessing now it might be the USB cable i was using(Just some old Random Gray one. Who knows, maybe the colors of the wires were done differently (It's one on the left now, cut again because I undid the splicing, the one on the right after shearing off the casing and shielding seems like a better choice..IDK lol)
(That's the XB forum under the Game Development section. There's a forum here specifically for hacks and mods: link ) I'm really not sure what to suggest. Just to be 100% sure about the wire colors, if you have a L.E.D. and a resistor, twist or solder a lead from each of them together and then put the other two on the red / black wires to ensure you're actually getting +5. Whoever made your USB cable could have disregarded the typical use of red / black for +5 and ground. Other than that, I'd just try it again. If the wires are correctly color coordinated, there may have been a short somehow the very first time you hooked it up. And don't throw the first controller away. :-(. Put it up in the free stuff thread as there's still lots of usable stuff there.
Oh *facepalm* my bad I don't know if I have any LED's laying around but i'll look and I'll try again tomorrow. And I don't know if anyone will want that controller after it's been in the trash haha. :---0 Thanks for the help Well I've given up. I did everything on a second USB cable to the same results. 2 Wasted USB cables and 1 Wasted Breakaway Cable +1 dead controller.
Unreal that it's failed twice. I was going to say that it's possible the wiring in the breakaway cable was mismatched somehow, but you also tried soldering directly to the controller, so that possibly eliminates that. Do you have the source you referenced for the pinout of the controller? The last thing I can think of is the over-current error isn't because you shorted something, but is because your USB controller is outputting at the low-end of the USB specification. Soldering directly to the controller meant you took out the minimal resistance the controller cable provided to keep its current draw just barely under the USB controller's maximum rating.
This has to be a wiring problem, did you check all connections and pinouts with a multimeter? Also, would it not be easier to just buy a ready made adaptor?:- http://cgi.ebay.com/XBOX-PC-USB-Controller-CABLE-Gamepad-Adapter-NEW-/360353023223
Unfortunately, I dont' own a multimeter so I can't check the connections properly. And I only decided to make one because it would've been free. I've been unemployed since 4 days before Christmas last year, and live at home. (Only 20 )
