Question About USB Hubs - Will They Damage Anything?

OK, I have a USB hard drive that has two USB plugs coming out of it, one for power and one for data. If I buy a USB hub to have both plugs go to one USB port, plus a mouse and maybe an iPod connected to the hub, will I break something having so much traffic and power at one USB port?

To be more specific, it's for a MacBook, and a Logiix LGX-78998 hub.

Thanks

As long as it's a powered USB hub, it should be fine.

cwa107 said:

As long as it's a powered USB hub, it should be fine.

Click to expand...

What's a powered USB hub?

MacBookMe! said:

What's a powered USB hub?

Click to expand...

A hub that has a power adapter to supply the devices attached to it.

USB normally takes its power from the computer. When you load up a USB port by having multiple hardware off it, it cannot supply enough power and the hardware will either not work or slow down.

Retail multiple USB hubs (I have one with 7 ports) safeguard the computer's USB slot by supplying power from a mains supply and one of those little black bricks plugs into the mains and the other end into a socket on the hub.

When that's plugged in, you can drive what you like. By the way if you're only driving something like a USB memory stick or a mouse etc etc, don't bother with the power supply.

Hope that helps

Moving to correct forum.