Sparkfun Cerberus Cable: Worst idea ever?

[jmole]

Yep.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11515

[c4757p]

Perhaps, but entertaining nonetheless...

[Noize]

If it has auto rotational docking, they will be onto a winner!

https://twitter.com/neiltyson/status/284357662391541760

[Len]

Definitely not the worst idea ever. There are far worse.

[c4757p]

Definitely not the worst idea ever. There are far worse.

Yeah, but that's someone intentionally being an ass. The Sparkfun people actually thought that cable was a good idea

[mikeselectricstuff]

Sparkfun do now have a version with a built-  in hub https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12016

I also like this one
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11579

[Bored@Work]

I also like this one
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11579

Yes, it is always interesting to see how the kids are willing to risk to damage their $$$ computer just because it is cool to power every piece of crap from its USB port.

[c4757p]

"My SparkFun Hydra Power Cable only gives me 2.5A.... how do I increase the current? I think I need a lower resistance cable. Maybe if I freeze it?"

The comment sections on that web site are hilarious and/or pathetic... I don't care and I don't want to care, it works for me and I don't care why it might not always, I don't want to learn, I just want to make my blinky LED Arduino bullshit and derrrrrp.... Just about sums up the entire thing...

[Stonent]

Cool! I've always wanted something I could flog users with!

[madshaman]

Ugh, thing is probably full of attenuation and reflections, but at least they state up front that it's not appropriate fir high speed.

Is there a need?  I've never been in the scenario described unless it was because I forgot to pack a cable in the first place.

[Dave]

It's hilarious because you need to avoid stubs when routing USB differential pairs on a PCB, yet here you have not just one, but two stubs of 10cm. Brilliant!

[ju1ce]

Is there a need?  I've never been in the scenario described unless it was because I forgot to pack a cable in the first place.

Yes there is. Even my narrow collection of dev boards has all three different connectors represented and I don't want to store three cables on my desk.

I can see how the original Cerberus was a bit... flawed, but could someone please explain what's so terrible about the new version with the hub (besides possible output current problems)?

[amyk]

I also like this one
https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11579

I'm disappointed that this one doesn't also break out the data lines in a pair of alligator clips...

[Eliminateur]

it's a good idea but like you people noted, it's flawed, it should include a USB unpowered hub inside the plastic stub so that it can be suitable for HS applications

[Zbig]

Besides the obvious flaws already pointed out by others, how on Earth are two redundant pieces of cable, each with a plug on its end, dangling around your device, getting in the way ANY more convenient that just having two more proper cables ready to use in your drawer or backpack?

[mianchen]

I saw those in the SEG market in Shenzhen earlier this year, sparkfun just rebrand them or "inspired" by the idea

[alm]

it's a good idea but like you people noted, it's flawed, it should include a USB unpowered hub inside the plastic stub so that it can be suitable for HS applications

You can get that for an extra $3:

Sparkfun do now have a version with a built-  in hub https://www.sparkfun.com/products/12016

[neggles]

I never understood everyone harping on SparkFun for making this cable.

Yes, it doesn't work with everything. Yes, it goes against the USB standards. (The non-hub version, anyway - which you can actually kinda-sorta fix by capping the unused ends with bus-terminating sockets)

But who cares? It works for power, which is what it's going to be used for 95% of the time anyway - and putting an unpowered hub in it limits power output per port which kind of ruins the point. (imo, the hub version should have 2 USB A male sockets to allow for additional power, but oh well.)

And if you're the special kind of person who's going to try to plug two things into it at the same time, you deserve all you get...

I'm disappointed that this one doesn't also break out the data lines in a pair of alligator clips...

I don't know about you, but I know most people who are just starting to get into electronics (i.e. I BOUGHT AN ARDUINO EXPERIMENTER KIT NOW WHAT) probably don't have a bench power supply of any kind.

A computer provides a relatively stable 5v/0.5-3a (depending on USB version and port configuration) supply with overvoltage and overcurrent protection, what's wrong with a cable that breaks that out into something more useful? I'm sure I'm not the only one here who's chopped a USB cable up to tap the power wires out to spade/banana/alligator connections.

[Bored@Work]

I never understood everyone harping on SparkFun for making this cable.

Yes, it doesn't work with everything. Yes, it goes against the USB standards. (The non-hub version, anyway - which you can actually kinda-sorta fix by capping the unused ends with bus-terminating sockets)

It fixes a non-problem, or let's say a problem fixed a long time ago, by:

a) A handful of adapters.
b) A handful of cables.

If you are so unorganized and confused to find the right cable or adapter for a job in your mess, chances are you won't find that special cable when you need it. Further, if you are so mentally messed up that you think you need that cable chances are you will at some point connect multiple devices to the cable.

SparkFun is very big at playing the community card. "We are all in this together", etc. bla bla bla. As such they have created a moral obligation for themselves to not lead their gullible community and fanboys  down the wrong road. That cable is the wrong road.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I think the hub version is genuinely useful  - ideal to keep in a laptop bag. The problem with multiple cables is they get seperated/lost etc. Especially the ones you don't use often so don't notice til it's too late.
A single, very obvious colour one is a useful, and better alternative. Also many laptops have limited numbers of ports so this helps with that as well.
The non-hub one was probably a bad idea.