I know your questions are two months old, and I can't answer your question about the USB/PC interface cables, but I can address your question about the AC power cord.
Please do not connect the power cord to the AC outlet before you plug it into the scanner.
When you are connecting an AC power cord to any electronic device, you should always connect the cord to the device before you plug the cord into the AC electrical outlet.
If you plug the cord into the AC outlet before you connect it to the device, you are likely to short-out the device. There is a live electric current going through the tip that you insert into the device. When you start to inset the tip, the current can arc between the cord and the device, thereby frying the device.
Also, the big box-like thing that is on the scanner's AC power cord is a voltage regulator. It "fills up" with electricity from the AC outlet in your wall, and then delivers a consistent, measured electrical current to the scanner. When you plug the cord into the scanner after you plug it into the AC outlet, the scanner receives an instant shot of electricity. You are preventing the voltage regulator in the cord from doing its job.
The same is true for any other devices you have whose power cords have a big, box-like thing on them: cell phone, MP3 player, laptop computer, etc. Those boxes built into the cords are voltage regulators.
I always use a surge protector that has an on/off switch when I'm plugging an electronic device into an AC outlet. First, I plug the surge protector into the AC outlet and make sure the surge protector's switch is in the OFF position. Then I plug the device's cord into the device, then into the surge protector, and then I turn ON the surge protector. This prevents arcing, and the device gets the measured flow of electricity that it needs.
When I'm plugging something into my vehicle's cigarette lighter, a DC power source, I follow the same routine - except without the surge protector. I plug the cord into the device first, and then I plug it into the cigarette lighter.
Also, I do this after I start my vehicle's engine. Plugging in something before you start the engine could cause an excessive or erratic electrical current to go into the device and fry it.
I wish I could have answered your first question, and I hope you get to read my reply because I don't want you to end up frying your scanner or anything else.
