Raspberry Pi Forums

So say I already have a USB external portable drive like the WD elements. I have a bunch of cables, couldn't I just splice in a 5v power brick(with higher amp rating) and a micro USB termination on the existing cable and achieve the same thing? Does the PiDrive cable do anything else that I am not aware of?

M

I think it is a passive cable indeed.

Does it matter that you have the 5v rails powering into the usb?