Im adding a new EB8 to my current apex. Can I use a 15' plain USB male to male A type cable?
Apex help!
- Thread starter rock_lobster
- Start date
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ksfulk
Working back towards clean
USB cables are not the same as the Aquabus cables - Apex makes that pretty clear in their instructions and on their website. Be careful using something thats not recommended on your aquarium controller. BRS sells long aquabus cables 
USB cables to a powered device like an EB4 or EB8 will fry your head unit. Get an aquabus cable for that. I read somewhere that USB cables would be fine for unpowered modules like the WXM or PM2. Having said that, it's still not worth the risk to me IMO so I run all aquabus cables for everything.
OP
OP
okay thanks I will be running to an EB8 so I guess Ill go for extra expense.
OP
OP
There are several cables for sale on ebay that say aquabus that are cheaper. http://www.ebay.com/itm/15ft-USB-Aq...537884?hash=item1a03a8b59c:g:8xsAAOSwcdBWS66y
Are these compatible?
Are these compatible?
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ngvu1
Valuable Member
ngvu1
Valuable Member
Yes you can use that cable just fine. However, Monoprice has that cable for about $2 free shipping and they are shipping from US so it will be shipped fast.
Btw, aquabus IS A to A male to male USB cable.
Btw, aquabus IS A to A male to male USB cable.
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ngvu1
Valuable Member
Also if you buy the eb8 new it comes with the cable. If you buy it used, the seller should give you the cable.....
OP
OP
I need a 15 foot cable.
Any USB male to male should work for you. The issue comes in when using really long USB cables, as some include an inline repeater to help the signal across the line. USB lines with a repeater are not recommended to be used with any Apex components.
I order all my cables from Monoprice as well.
I order all my cables from Monoprice as well.
Marc.The.Shark
Active Member
here's what I have, 15ft. Been using with no issues whatsoever. $6 bucks
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MAZY6A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003MAZY6A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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slief
Active Member
Yes you can as long as it's USB 2.0 and not powered. The only thing special about the AquaBus cable is the fact that it's a Male USB-A to Male USB-A. Some use USB extension cables but I am not a fan of the extra connections as there is risk of the connection being compromised over the long term. My suggestion would be source a cable in the length you need.
This one would work fine. I have a 50' cable in my system as well as a couple that are shorter as well. I've been using them for years without a single solitary issue.
https://www.amazon.com/InstallerParts-15Ft--Male-Cable-Black/dp/B01DQ6R63S/
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OP
OP
Thanks for the response, so I believe the consensus is that I do not need to spend 30$ on a neptune branded USB cable.
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slief
Active Member
I stick by what I said. A standard USB-A Male to USB-A Male will work fine as long as it's USB 2 and not a powered USB cable which would only apply to excessively long cables.
