8 Tips for Selecting an Industrial USB Hub for Your Next Project
4/29/2022
Why Industrial USB Hub?
Industrial USB hubs serve specific purposes in industrial settings due to their robust design and features tailored to withstand the unique challenges posed by industrial environments such as temperature variations, electrical noise, and physical stress.
Selecting the Right Industrial USB Hub for Your Next Project
Next, are a few helpful tips to help narrow your selection:
- Determining the Quantity and Type of USB Ports for Your Requirements
- USB Standards Compatibility for Peripheral Devices
- Powering the Hub: USB Bus or External Power Supply?
- Selecting the Appropriate Power Input Source for Your Hubs
- Environmental and Safety Considerations for Your Requirements
- Importance of Isolation for Surge Protection
- Tailoring Mounting Formats to Your Application
- High Retention USB Connector for High Vibration Environments
(1) Determining the Quantity and Type of USB Ports for Your Requirements
When evaluating a hub for your application, it is crucial to ascertain the number and type of USB ports that align with your needs. Consider the following factors:
- Port Quantity: Ensure that the hub provides a sufficient number of ports for your application demands.
- Port Types: Different hubs may offer a combination of USB-A, USB-B, or USB-C ports. Select the hub that best accommodates your connectivity requirements.
- Specialized Designs: Depending on your application, you might require features such as a screw lock design for enhanced stability or a design optimized for USB3 Vision applications.
(2) USB Standards Compatibility for Peripheral Devices
When evaluating our peripheral devices, it's essential to consider the USB standards they adhere to. Common standards include USB 2.0, USB 3.0/3.2. The choice among these standards depends on the data transfer speeds required by your connected devices.
(3) Powering the Hub: USB Bus or External Power Supply?
When considering the power source for your hub, you have the option of drawing power from the USB bus or utilizing an external power supply. It is crucial to assess your power requirements, especially if you intend to connect and power USB devices that demand higher power levels. Here are key considerations:
- USB Bus Power: Some hubs can draw power directly from the USB bus. Ensure that the hub's power output aligns with the requirements of your connected devices.
- External Power Supply: Alternatively, hubs may support external power supplies for increased power capabilities. Verify that the hub can provide sufficient power to each connected device.
Advantech offers USB 2.0 Hubs with a 500mA charging downstream port and USB 3.2 Gen1 Hubs with power outputs of 2.4A or 900mA. By choosing the appropriate power source and confirming compatibility, you can effectively meet the power needs of your connected devices.
(4) Selecting the Appropriate Power Input Source for Your Hubs
In an industrial environment, the range of interfaces for power connection is extensive. It is imperative to meticulously assess the specific type of interface required for your project, considering options such as terminal blocks or JACK interfaces for power.
Advantech offers a comprehensive selection, including industrial-grade 24Vdc power input with reverse polarity protection to safeguard against potential damage, ensuring the reliability and longevity of your investment, also with both 3-pin terminal blocks supporting for industrial users and power jack connector which is more popular and easier for user to find PSU in the market.
(5) Environmental and Safety Considerations for Your Requirements
When selecting USB hubs for industrial use, it is vital to consider environmental and safety aspects. Advantech's industrial USB hubs are meticulously designed to address these concerns, featuring:
- Isolation: Our hubs incorporate isolation mechanisms, ensuring protection and reliability in diverse industrial settings.
- ESD Protection: High Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) protection is integrated into our hubs, safeguarding your connected devices from potential electrical hazards.
- Temperature Range: Designed to operate in a wide temperature range (-40 to +80 °C), our hubs guarantee seamless performance in various environmental conditions, providing instant plug-and-play functionality.
- Certifications: Some of our industrial USB hubs even hold certifications such as UL or UL Class 1/Division 2, attesting to their compliance with rigorous safety standards.
(6) Importance of Isolation for Surge Protection
Consider isolation for surge, spike, and grounding protection to prevent potential PC damage. Advantech models offer from 2kV to 4kV isolation, ensuring reliable operation in challenging industrial environments.
(7) Tailoring Mounting Formats to Your Application
- Inline and Compact Designs: Ideal for field service applications, these designs optimize space and facilitate ease of use in dynamic environments.
- DIN-Rail Mountable Products: Suited for in-cabinet designs, providing secure and organized placement within industrial setups.
- Other mounting method such as desk mount or wall mount.
(8) High Retention USB Connector for High Vibration Environments
Manufacturers have responded with proprietary connectors and cables featuring a custom thumbscrew. While this attempts to address the issue, it adds cost and size. Worse yet, it requires the purchase of a custom USB cable that you will not find at a local store when you are stuck on a job site.
Advantech designs high-retention USB port connectors into most USB products. The high retention ports are 50% stronger than conventional ones, so they hold tight to standard USB cable connections.
- 50% stronger than standard USB ports
- 1.53 kgf (15 Newton/3.4 LBS) pull force üStay connected in high vibration environments
- Stay connected in high vibration environments
Discover More
Advantech industrial USB hubs are designed with isolation, high ESD protection, wide operating temperature ranges and high retention USB connectors for instant plug-and-play connectivity.
- Expand one USB port to 4 or 7 USB ports
- Isolation options between upstream and downstream ports
- Wide operating temperature range (-40 to +80 °C) options
- Hi-Speed and SuperSpeed options (USB 2.0, 3.2) • DIN rail, wall mount, and desk mount options
- Rugged metal cases
- High-retention ports for connections that will not come loose
- Designed and tested to meet heavy industrial EMC standards
Other Related Resource
For more information about Advantech's USB-to-serial solution offerings, please contact us at IIoT.marketing@advantech.com.tw
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