We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Kinect® Power Adapter?

By Jeremy Laukkonen
Updated: Feb 21, 2024
Views: 8,895
References
Share

A Kinect® power adapter is a device that is required in order to use a Kinect® motion sensor with one of the original Xbox 360™ consoles. These adapters consist of a wall plug, male universal serial bus (USB) connector and female Kinect® jack. The motor and infrared (IR) laser components within a Kinect® motion sensing device require more voltage than is typically available over USB, which is why a power adapter is necessary. It is also possible to splice a 12 volt power source into a USB cable to create a homemade Kinect® power adapter. The redesigned Xbox 360™ comes with a special powered jack on the back side that is specifically designed for use with the Kinect®, so an adapter is unnecessary for these consoles.

The Kinect® is a peripheral device for Xbox 360™ consoles that is capable of sensing motion and accepting voice commands. These devices contain a few components that require 12 volts direct current (DC) to operate, such as an IR laser and motor. Rather than having a dedicated wall plug to supply power, the Kinect® is capable of drawing 12v DC from the redesigned Xbox 360™ console over the same cable it uses to communicate. To accomplish this, a modified USB port was included in the console redesign. Since this modified port is capable of supplying the normal USB voltage in addition to a higher 12 volts, an adapter is required to use the Kinect with the original Xbox 360™ system.

There are three main components in each Kinect® power adapter. The first is a modified USB receptacle, which the Kinect® plugs into. These jacks are identical to the modified ports that the redesigned Xbox 360™ consoles have. Two different cables are connected to the jack, one of which terminates in a traditional USB plug. The other cable connects to a wall plug that contains a transformer capable of converting the alternating current (AC) into 12v DC.

When a Kinect® power adapter is connected up, the wall plug provides 12v DC directly to the Kinect®, while the USB cable allows the device to communicate with an Xbox 360™. The voltage from the wall plug does not interact with the traditional USB connection and should not feed back into the console. With this in mind, it is possible to create a Kinect® power adapter from a USB cable and a 12v DC power source. These two components can be spliced directly into the Kinect® cable, or a more traditional adapter can be created with the addition of a stripped down USB receptacle.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wise-geek.com/what-is-a-kinect-power-adapter.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.