Ever wanted to take control of your USB devices more smartly? USB hubs with individually controllable ports can be expensive, often costing hundreds of dollars for four or more ports, such as the 4 Port Managed USB 3 Hub w/ 15KV ESD Surge Protection from USBgear. But with a little tinkering, you can modify a standard USB hub and wire it to a relay board for automated USB control at a fraction of the cost. Here’s a quick rundown of how you can do it!
Why Use a Relay-Controlled USB Hub?
A relay-controlled USB hub has several uses.
- Power cycling USB devices: Many USB devices, such as external hard drivers, development boards, debuggers, or serial cables, may need to be power cycled from time to time. With a relay-controlled hub, you can remotely restart devices without physically unplugging and plugging them back into the USB hub.
- Prevent power drain from unused devices: USB devices continue to draw power even when idle. By turning off unused devices, unnecessary power consumption is reduced, and the lifespan of equipment is increased.
- Manage USB devices for testing and development: Developers and testers often work with multiple devices that need to be connected or disconnected based on a setup
What You’ll Need
- A USB hub with on/off switches for each port, such as the SABRENT 16-Port USB 3.0 Data Hub and Charger with Individual Power Switches, 90W High-Power Output (HB-PU16) from Amazon
- A 20-channel relay board, such as the SainSmart 16-Channel 9-36V USB Relay Module from Amazon
The Process
- Carefully cut open the bottom to access the circuit board where the switches are located, and solder wires to each switch.
- Attach the wires to the ports on the relay boards.
Wiring example for a 4-port setup
- Connect both the relay board and the USB hub to the computer, and voila, each port on the USB hub can be managed remotely.
Conclusion
Connecting a USB hub to a relay board allows you to manage USB devices remotely in a cost-effective way. It opens up a world of possibilities for automation, power management, and testing. Whether for personal convenience or professional development, a relay-controlled USB hub is a great tool for smart USB management.
