Tiny USB hub with y-cable draws and distributes twice the power

Posted by Rob Beschizza, April 25, 2008 6:20 AM | permalink

Now here's a simple and useful concept: a USB hub sold with a Y-cable. This makes it possible to run power-hungry gadgets that usually don't play well with unpowered hubs—think optical drives, scanners and 2.5" SATA drives—without mains power.

Product Page [Brando via Gizmodo]

posted in:

Favorite this! ( 2 )

Older Order a doll of your Mii Wii

Newer Sky Factory SkyCeilings: modular and custom drop-in virtual skylights (and spacelights!)

Discussion

Take a look at this

#1 posted by royaltrux

, April 25, 2008 7:33 AM

What does the Y-cable form factor have to do with power? After someone answers, I assume that I will have an AHA! moment, but right now I don't understand how a USB hub without a transformer can be considered to be 'powered'.

Take a look at this

#2 posted by royaltrux

, April 25, 2008 7:39 AM

(Oh, is it because it plugs in to TWO of the computer's USB ports?)

Take a look at this

#3 posted by Rob Beschizza

, April 25, 2008 7:47 AM

Yep! It can draw more juice. 2.5 SATA drives typically need them to run: it's luck of the draw whether your motherboard/USB controller will supply extra current on demand.

Hubs, however, typically come with a standard cable, preventing the use of Y-cable devices "down the line."

USB 3, expected this year, should fix these problems by upping the power per device to 1.5A from 500mA.

Take a look at this

#4 posted by royaltrux

, April 25, 2008 8:00 AM

"USB 3, expected this year, should fix these problems by upping the power per device to 1.5A from 500mA."

Yay, I hate powered hubs and wall-warts for larger external drives.

Take a look at this

#5 posted by cstankaitis , April 25, 2008 10:43 AM

Maybe I am missing the point here I just don't see the benifit of wasting two USB ports on your computer to get 3 ports... 1 extra port doesn't seem to be that good of a gain.. ya the mini-usb is nice for camera, phone/what-not but looking at the image above the length of the cable would me having to crawl around behind my computer on the floor to plug in my phone.

I just don't get it... I don't understand why you guys think this is such a good thing, ya I know one less power plug == good I have to agree with the USB3.0 comments... that's a far better and more exciting solution. at least power wise.