Users like myself could remove the jumper, connect our 5V power supplies to the downstream side pin, power supply ground to Mega ground, and meet our need without hacking cables.
By default the Arduino would come with a jumper pre-installed between the pins.
Provide two header pins somewhere near the USB connector, inserted in series with the 5V trace on the PWB right after it comes off of the USB connector. As a result, I suggest a minor hardware change for future Arduinos. I suspect this is a common need for Arduino users. The solution works fine with no apparent problems. Leave the 5V wire coming FROM the PC open, and connect the 5V wire going TO the Mega to my 5V power supply The solution I used was to carefully cut a section of the jacket from the USB cable, then:
I would like to power my Mega with my own 5V switched power supply - and - update my sketch from the PC without unplugging/plugging the USB cable. Like others who have posted to this thread, my Mega is buried in a project box and hard to access.
