Making USB Cables Behave

[brianpoundingnails]

I find that orientation of female USB ports on devices is random.

Also, we should straighten out some electrical/electronic terminology.

A jack, as in a device's USB port, is a receptacle. It is also called a female connector and is what’s commonly found on walls, laptops, phones, tv’s, etc. A plug, also called a male connector is usually found at one end of a cord, is the part we plug or insert into a receptacle. Technically, a household extension cord has a plug at one end and a jack, or receptacle, at the other - though most would call these ends male and female. When buying terminated cords online, we specify male or female ends. Online, jack and plug are terms not commonly used since they are often misused by the population - I’ve heard even a licenced, and intelligent, electrician call wall receptacles “plugs”. But then, I’ve also heard people talk about “unthawing” frozen stuff.

I do as Rick does. As Marv mentioned, USB 2.0 plugs have the USB symbol in bas relief (but sometimes in sunk relief, or intaglio) on the contact side of the connector. Thus, one always knows the orientation of the plug by sight or by feel. Using a visible mark eliminates all doubt. "Correc-Type” liquid works well for marking. On devices, the orientation of the jack (the female connector), is not marked, nor is it easily seen on say, an auxiliary monitor, or the side of a laptop on a cluttered desk.

So, on plugs, I mark the contact side. On devices’ jacks (females), I mark the non-contact side of the connector if visible (it rarely is). So, I plug mark to mark, or no mark to no mark. Saves a lot of time.

I'd listen to this guy.