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USB Hub - Understanding The Risks

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  • 26-12-2020 4:40pm
    #1
    pinkfloydian
    Registered Users Posts: 362 ✭✭


    I'm thinking of getting a mains powered USB charging hub because there are so many gadgets in the house that are taking up wall plugs for charging (with their own charging cable). These would include apple & Android phones, iPads, ear buds, vapes etc.

    My question is this. Is it possible that I could destroy any of the above items by plugging it into a USB charging hub? I don't mean by a failure of the hub, but rather I'm trying to understand if e.g. an item requires a certain level of power, but the hub delivers a different (higher) level of power and destroys it.

    If I'm in the wrong forum, please tell me where I should post to.

    T


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    #2
    sdanseo
    Registered Users Posts: 9,233 ✭✭✭sdanseo


    Most devices have some overvoltage protection and won't charge at a higher rate that they are capable of even if more power is being delivered. My Micro-USB charged headphones for example will accept charge from the cable coming from the PC but won't even light up if plugged in from the wall, as it's too powerful. They protect themselves and shut off.

    Possible to destroy them? sure, if they have no self-protection at all. But very unlikely. Mostly going to happen with cheap Chinese crap, not apple stuff, although I suppose be congnisant that Apple will void your warranty if you charge with anything other than an accessory that's labelled "mad for iPhone" etc. How they'd find that out is beyond me though.

    You can check reasonably easily how much power each of the USB outlets on the hub will deliver. It's not unusual now for chargers to output 15W on a USB-A socket and much more via USB-C.


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