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Perhaps I am missing something, but I am finding it virtually impossible to find Micro-USB type B receptacle to Micro-USB type B receptacle feedthrough adapters. As I understand it, this is effectively the same as Micro USB type AB.

The application is plastic enclosure, which needs USB to power a Raspberry Pi.

This is the only product I have found so far that meets these specifications.

Perhaps this confusion is a result of my misunderstanding the USB standard. In any case, I appreciate the help.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Might be hitting a snag because most panel mount adapters are going to come with wires already attached. example. \$\endgroup\$
    – Phil C
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 0:46

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These are non standard cables, as usb normally does not allow female connector on cable. You can find plenty of then as micro usb extension cables or "panel mount" extensions.

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Ah, but what would you be connecting to it on the inside?

As I understand, Raspberry Pi is powered via micro-B USB port, i.e. it acts as a "device" where USB is concerned. As such, you will be plugging USB-B cable into it, which has USB-A on the other side.

So, what you are looking for is USB-B to USB-A feed-through, which conforms to USB specification. Something like this. I am sure there should be micro-B versions too.

What you are missing is that per USB standard the cable is always directional: host side is A, device side is B.

The logic is simple: Your enclosure is a device when viewed from outside. So it has B receptacle. But the Pi inside the box is a device too, where box is concerned, so the Pi has B and box has an A for it.

Any adapters that conform to specification, including feed-trough, must not change the general agreement.

BTW, this is exactly the reason Pi has separate B for power even though it also has several A ports. Pi acts as "host" when you connect something like keyboard to it. Although I think it uses OTG chip connected to those, which is wrong, but that is another question altogether.

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  • \$\begingroup\$ Always? Yeah, not always. OTG and usb AB connectors. Now usb c reversible connectors. \$\endgroup\$
    – Passerby
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 2:44
  • \$\begingroup\$ As does the RPi micro usb. It's for power and host and peripheral. It's OTG and used pretty much like otg is expected to work. \$\endgroup\$
    – Passerby
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 2:47
  • \$\begingroup\$ All true. Except you forgetting that OP specifically mentioned the goal is delivering power to Pi. As such it does not matter whether Pi port is B or AB, it would only confuse matters. Of course AB-to-A feed-through would preserve the entire port functionality, but it still will be A on the inside, which was my point. \$\endgroup\$
    – Maple
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 3:15
  • \$\begingroup\$ @Passerby, it depends on which RPi is under question. Most common RPi-3B doesn't have OTG, while RPi Zero does. In any case one of u-B receptacles is used as a bold power jack, with no data signals nor ID. \$\endgroup\$
    – Ale..chenski
    Commented May 29, 2018 at 4:20
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Your issue has nothing to do with USB standard. RPi uses one of its micro-B receptacles just as a power jack. If you want your enclosure to have the u-B port extended using a feed-through connector, it won't really work, because you won't find any u-B to u-B cables.

All you need is a power jack of any type on your enclosure, not necessarily of USB type.

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