What are the positive and negative wires in a USB cable
Content
Inside the "universal serial bus" or USB, there are four wires, which are usually red, green, white, and black. Each of these wires has a corresponding signal or function. Identifying the positive and negative terminals is critical when working with them.
Although there are two positive and negative wires in total, each one has a different function.
In this article, we will dwell on these wires in more detail.
What does each of the four wires of a USB cable do?
One of the most widely used ports and communication protocols on devices is USB or Universal Serial Bus. The purpose of USB was to regulate the ports to which computer accessories such as printers and keyboards were connected. You can find port options on gadgets such as mobile phones, scanners, cameras, and game controllers that communicate with hosts. (1)
When you open the USB cable, you can see four different colors of USB wires: red and black for power, white and green for data, and so on. The positive wire carrying 5 volts is red; the negative wire, often called the ground wire, is black. There is a pinout diagram for each type of USB connection; these are the tiny metal strips inside the connector that are used to access each of these cables and their functions.
USB cable colors and what they mean
| Wire Color | indication |
| Red wire | The positive power cable supplies 5 volts DC. |
| Black wire | Ground or negative power wire. |
| White wire | Positive data wire. |
| Green wire | Negative data wire. |
Other USB cable wire color specifications
In some USB cords, you can find various combinations of wire colors, including orange, blue, white, and green.
The definition of positive or negative wires in this color scheme is different. In this case, you should check the table below:
| Wire Color | indication |
| Orange wire | The positive power cable supplies 5 volt DC power. |
| White wire | Ground or negative power wire. |
| Blue wire | Negative data wire. |
| Green wire | Positive data wire. |
Types of USB cables
There are various types of USB, and the protocol of a USB cable determines how fast it can transfer data. For example, a USB 2.0 port can transfer data at up to 480 Mbps, while a USB 3.1 Gen 2 port can transfer data at 10 Mbps. You can use the table below to understand the speed and features of each type of USB:
| USB type | Can it play videos? | Can it provide power? | Data transfer speed |
| USB 1.1 | No | No | 12 Mbps. |
| USB 2.0 | No | Yes | 480 Mbps. |
| USB 3.0 | Yes | Yes | 5 Gbps |
| USB 3.1 | Yes | Yes | 10 Gbps |
F.A.Q.
What makes USB-C different from regular USB?
Compared to USB-A, which can only handle up to 2.5W and 5V, USB-C can now comfortably handle 100W and 20V for larger devices. Pass-through charging - basically a USB hub that powers laptops and charges other devices at the same time - is one of those useful perks.
Do green and white lines matter?
The positive-negative wires are the most important cables. Knowing what color these electrical circuits are is critical as they are essential to powering your equipment.
Can the USB cable be split and connected?
You can make your own USB cables by cutting and splicing existing cables to the length and connector type you want. The only tools needed for this process are wire cutters and electrical tape, although a soldering iron and heat shrink tubing can be used to improve the quality of the cable. (2)
Take a look at some of our articles below.
- How to distinguish a negative wire from a positive one
- white wire positive or negative
- What is the blue wire on the ceiling fan
Recommendations
(1) computer accessories - https://www.newegg.com/Computer-Accessories/Category/ID-1
(2) USB — https://www.lifewire.com/universal-serial-bus-usb-2626039
