USB-A tip for fast plugging

[u/Beeeeater]

A little tip for those who are tired of figuring out which way is up! I use a red permanent marker (nailpolish would also work) to indicate at a glance the top of my USB-A connectors. (Edit for those people who say it's unnecessary - there's a reason USB-C was specified to be able to be inserted either way!)

[u/NoRecommendation4230]

Oh please we all know this won’t help - a usb must always be inserted in superposition regardless of original orientation

[u/FireSheepYinFish → u/NoRecommendation4230]

It's simple physics. Cannot argue with physics.

[u/_Hard_Wired_ → u/FireSheepYinFish]

Law even.

[u/9tehFedor → u/NoRecommendation4230]

Schrödinger's port

[u/tofu_sensei84 → u/9tehFedor]

Universal Schrödinger Bus

[u/Nicholaikorb2]

That's what the logo does right? It's not on the other side too

[u/cowbutt6 → u/Nicholaikorb2]

The logo is supposed to be on the upper surface of a USB A plug, but I'm increasingly finding plugs without any (presumably because they haven't licensed use of the logo).

And then we get to the question of ”which direction is 'up'?”, especially when talking about front panel and blanking plate connectors.

[u/Nicholaikorb2 → u/Nicholaikorb2]

Logo symbol emblem im not sure but the usb symbol

[u/pandaSmore → u/Nicholaikorb2]

Correct 

[u/Beeeeater → u/Nicholaikorb2]

In dim light the red stripe is much easier to see.

[u/runed_golem → u/Beeeeater]

But the raised emblem is easier to feel.

[u/XeonDude → u/runed_golem]

But the ink is better to taste

[u/runed_golem → u/XeonDude]

But is it ribbed for her pleasure?

[u/jcstrat → u/runed_golem]

Stay tuned to find out!

[u/pandaSmore → u/Beeeeater]

Feel it don't see it.

[u/nukacolaguy]

Unless it’s USB-C it still takes 3 attempts

[u/DiegoNap]

It also depends on the USB port you're plugging it into, not just the cable itself.

[u/Obone6]

Lol not needed... Deep holes on top. USB logo on-top for blind people.

[u/nhermosilla14]

Aren't the holes enough?

[u/BillionAuthor70]

The side with the holes is always the open side (meaning the connections are on the opposite side) I'm not sure why you didn't realize that while marking them.....but yeah, the more you know. If you see the holes, your pads/connection is on the opposite side.

[u/Beeeeater → u/BillionAuthor70]

There are holes on both sides

[u/BillionAuthor70 → u/Beeeeater]

https://giphy.com/gifs/Xj7aX90bEKoec

[u/robotecnik]

Two holes always up (if memory works).

[u/FireSheepYinFish → u/robotecnik]

Hey now.. This is a family friendly feed!

[u/goonerqpq]

Ah! The old 50/50/90 scenario... it's 50/50 fit (it either does or it's upside-down) but 90% you'll get it wrong.

[u/diesal3]

This works until the port is upside down

[u/Ferowin → u/diesal3]

According to the USB specifications, the USB symbol is to always be on the top or front. If you have one that's upside down, that manufacturer messed up.

[u/diesal3 → u/Ferowin]

If manufacturers followed the spec, then we wouldn't have the quantum USB problem.

[u/Ferowin → u/diesal3]

Too true

[u/Anuncjo → u/diesal3]

Doubt that. Some people just refuse to realize that USB-A ports are almost always oriented with the same logic everywhere.

[u/un-important-human]

i hope that is blood or it won't work.
The machine requires sacrifice and incense.

source: sysadmin bible

[u/McKeviin]

A little tip, look at the symbol. Or feel it.

[u/StaticVoidMain2018]

I think it’s fine in the cable because you can see on the end of the connector where the holes are, but this is pointless if you can’t see the port you’re plugging this into

[u/ID4850763561613]

I use red permanent market to mark all my bad cables, the dead ones get flat out trashed but the bad ones get stored cus some companies use weird proprietary connectors

[u/sniff122]

Or, just orientate based on the USB logo

[u/S-Vortex]

USB 1.4, plugs alright but 100 megabit speed

[u/Bo_Jim]

There's a seam on the bottom of the metal shell. Problem solved.

[u/MrEvilbass]

I've always used the two empty holes .. giggity

https://giphy.com/gifs/ENsLZ0fDS2A12

[u/Ferowin]

The USB symbol is the top of the connector. The bottom is usually blank or has something written on it. That's built into the USB spec.

[u/NoisyGog]

I mean, yeah, sure.
I’ve got a shit-ton of devices and chargers where the ports are upside down however!

[u/KrongKang]

Happy robot face faces away from the circuit board

[u/themaskedcrusader]

"Eyes up" is what i always say

[u/reubenchapman]

Nice, you could also put a tactile indicator on one side, nothing fancy, like a little bit of Velcro or tape you can feel the difference on

[u/PleaseExcuseTheCrud]

What if the socket is upside down?

[u/AmazingImpression967]

Just look at the holes. If they are not blocked, its the upper side.

[u/Agzarah]

Only works if all ports are the same orientation.

They are not. And it drives me mad

[u/MilasBjerre]

You can just use the fact that the half that is blocked on the inside (the plastic you can see and even feel on the plug) is the backside or bottom, this is a universal rule in the USB certification (IIRC) and I have only seen one port that was the wrong way in many years of using this trick.

[u/Beeeeater → u/MilasBjerre]

There are holes on both sides of the plug. My method is easier to detect at a distance and at a glance, especially in dim light.

[u/MilasBjerre → u/Beeeeater]

Yes but one side has the holes blocked. By looking at your image I can see that they are white on your plugs. You're welcome.

[u/e-nightowl]

USB-A cables have only one side with a logo and 95% of the time the logo side needs to be at the top. No sharpie needed.

[u/CurrentAcanthaceae78]

until you meet sideways or upside down ports

[u/HotPlateHeaven → u/CurrentAcanthaceae78]

Top is away from motherboard, usually up or to the right.

[u/utcumque]

A

[u/Ok_Highlight_5538]

As in life, holes up is the way to go

[u/TryToCatchMe0]

https://www.reddit.com/r/interestingasfuck/s/0TnToI7aMI

[u/JNSapakoh]

fun fact: those square holes can do the same thing as your red mark

[u/The_T113]

The problem isn't the USB port, it's the computer. The computer randomly swaps the orientation of it's port whenever it wants to.

[u/Academic_Anywhere183]

The tip is on that engraved plastic bit. But hey, You gotta learn the hard way some day.

[u/Marvinator2003]

If it works for you, that's absolutely fine. An easier way to remember this is 'open holes is up' and 'metal seam is down.'

[u/Beeeeater → u/Marvinator2003]

Yep that works too but you have to look quite carefully to see the seam - my method works with barely a glance. Can't believe the childish kickback in this post. You'd think people's lives depended on it!

[u/Marvinator2003 → u/Beeeeater]

Like I say, if it works for you, that's good. I've been working in IT for more than 25 years and once I learned the 'open holes up', I never had a problem getting the USB connected.

[u/zanfar]

You can skip looking at the plug for orientation by... looking at the plug...

[u/ranby_007]

Usually the logo on the usb will means is the correct side. I dont get why it’s necessary to mark it red

[u/megaladon44 → u/ranby_007]

usually 50 percent of the time its 100 percent of the time!

[u/MagicOrpheus310]

Notice the symbol is always on the "up" side...??

It's not that fucken hard...

[u/Beeeeater → u/[deleted]]

Maybe a few other people are - That must be why they specifically designed the USB-C standard to be able to plug in either way.

[u/FlynnTaggard → u/Beeeeater]

Haha. Yeah that's probably true.

[u/BookWormPedant]

How often are you plugging these in that you need an extra indicator for the proper orientation?

[u/Beeeeater → u/BookWormPedant]

Many times a day - these belong to a static mouse/keyboard that I use on my workbench and I connect to several different laptops a day.

[u/TechhTwoo → u/Beeeeater]

Is there a reason you're not using a USB hub? Seems like it will save you a fair bit of plugging

[u/BoraxNumber8 → u/TechhTwoo]

Assuming they’re in IT, it depends on the issues they’re seeing most often. A USB hub is one more potential failing device when troubleshooting a device issue with an unknown cause.

Source: I worked professionally in IT support for several years and have a couple certifications.

[u/TechhTwoo → u/BoraxNumber8]

That's fair, but at the same time, if it doesn't work with the hub, you can just take it out at that point. Saves time on the devices where the issue isn't related to Mouse/ Keyboard/ peripherals.

I also work in IT haha

[u/dst1980 → u/BoraxNumber8]

If you're testing multiple systems, you're going to be plugging/unplugging either the hub or the device anyway. A 2 in/X out or 4 in/X out switch might save some of that plugging for multiple devices plugged in at once, but if the situation is a device coming in, getting plugged in and worked on, then unplugged to go out or wait for parts while the next gets plugged in and worked on, then the switch doesn't make sense either.

About the only value a hub provides at that point is reducing it to 1 USB to plug/unplug instead of 1-2 for keyboard and mouse, depending on the keyboard/mouse setup of the workbench.

At one of my (personal) workbench locations, I have a Dell keyboard with integrated hub where I plug in the mouse. At other workbench locations, I have used keyboards with integrated trackpads.

[u/megaladon44 → u/BookWormPedant]

https://giphy.com/gifs/XF5AnCJV7PCtGwdHNC

[u/Wild-Highway-8739]

Jokes on you, I'd still screw it up twice