Things you always wanted to know the answer to [Vol. 2]

[m0isty]

Dyl said:

Two from me that I've found myself asking recently.


I recently bought a hard drive case, included with this was a USB connector. Why does the connector have a secondary cable coming from it as in the picture below?

I believe hard drives require more power than a single USB port can provide, so the Y lead is used to draw power from two sockets on the pc rather that needing a separate power supply.

[ChemicalChaos]

m0isty said:

Dyl said:

Two from me that I've found myself asking recently.


I recently bought a hard drive case, included with this was a USB connector. Why does the connector have a secondary cable coming from it as in the picture below?

I believe hard drives require more power than a single USB port can provide, so the Y lead is used to draw power from two sockets on the pc rather that needing a separate power supply.

This is the case. Also applies to the huge fan mat my laptop sits on.



Here's a question - we have automatic taps and dryers in mot public toilets, for hygiene reasons. Yet this is all undone by having a bloody pull-to-open door!
Why cant they open the other way?

[Dyl]

ChemicalChaos said:

m0isty said:

Dyl said:

Two from me that I've found myself asking recently.


I recently bought a hard drive case, included with this was a USB connector. Why does the connector have a secondary cable coming from it as in the picture below?

I believe hard drives require more power than a single USB port can provide, so the Y lead is used to draw power from two sockets on the pc rather that needing a separate power supply.

This is the case. Also applies to the huge fan mat my laptop sits on.

Cheers guys!

ChemicalChaos said:

Here's a question - we have automatic taps and dryers in mot public toilets, for hygiene reasons. Yet this is all undone by having a bloody pull-to-open door!
Why cant they open the other way?

Maybe as the likelihood of someone running to the toilet is greater than someone running from the toilet, reducing the chance of people running into a 'pull' door?

[torqueofthedevil]

Yes that is the reason with push / pull doors - to prevent people running into them.

I hate the problem - especially bad when out eating or working places with bad toilets - eg building sites. A good solution I found in a Yo Sushi restaurant was a plastic cover on the handle which automatically changed after you pulled the door open.

[Monkeythree]

Is it possible to pull nostril hairs without inducing a mad sneezing fit?

[Ayahuasca]

Why do USB ports provide rubbish power?

[MissChief]

Ayahuasca said:

Why do USB ports provide rubbish power?

It's part of the specifications:

USB 1.0 150mA 5V 0.75W
USB 2.0 500mA 5V 2.5W
USB 3.0 900mA 5V 4.5W

it's all in the published specs. Much more info here if you're interested/bored.

Regarding the hard disk with the Y connector, it's actually part of the USB specifications that if a device cannot be powered by a single port it should be self powered.

[Brother D]

Why is sienna miller called and frequently referenced as 'sienna 'grubby tits' miller'?

[Ayahuasca]

Why do football managers and coaching staff sit in giant Recaro rally style seats? Is it because of the massive cornering forces experienced in a stadium?

[ChemicalChaos]

Ayahuasca said:

Why do football managers and coaching staff sit in giant Recaro rally style seats? Is it because of the massive cornering forces experienced in a stadium?

Because its a damn sight more comfy than the plastic primary school seats the plebs get to sit on?

[menousername]

In a Will Smith I Am Legend style end of the world...would his SatNav continue to work?

Would satalites continue communicating with any devices seeking to communicate such as SatNavs? Or do they need human control?

[walm]

Probably work for a while but not long: http://www.gps.gov/systems/gps/control/

[deeen]

monthefish said:

...although the white stuff you see coming out of the kettle when that happens isn't actually steam.

What is it, then?

[Paul_M3]

deeen said:

monthefish said:

...although the white stuff you see coming out of the kettle when that happens isn't actually steam.

What is it, then?

It's basically water vapour....the steam condensing back to tiny water droplets.

'Proper' steam cannot be seen.
This is why steam leaks from pipes in a power station (for example) can be so dangerous. Superheated steam comes out of a crack in the pipe like a jet and is completely invisible. You could potentially walk straight into it, which wouldn't do you a lot of good!

[lord trumpton]

How many miles do buses cover before getting withdrawn from service?

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Ayahuasca said:

Why do football managers and coaching staff sit in giant Recaro rally style seats? Is it because of the massive cornering forces experienced in a stadium?

They don't unless the car company that sponsors the club uses them, like Audi at Chelsea.

[MissChief]

For the big clubs that often have the managers on camera I believe it's purely sponsorship.

[Ayahuasca]

Are there any 70s Top of the Pops shows that don't feature a sex offender?

[anonymous-user]

lord trumpton said:

How many miles do buses cover before getting withdrawn from service?

Some of London's Routemasters were well in to the millions before retirement.

[lord trumpton]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Ayahuasca said:

Why do football managers and coaching staff sit in giant Recaro rally style seats? Is it because of the massive cornering forces experienced in a stadium?

They don't unless the car company that sponsors the club uses them, like Audi at Chelsea.

And why do they wear those huge effing coats that makes them look like a chrysalis?