New, Switched, Powered Usb3.0 Hubs Fail After A Short Use Time.

I want to be able to turn access to a particular external 2.5" Hard Drive ON and OFF as needed. So several years ago, I invested in a 4-port powered switched USB hub from Ebay - which worked well for some time, and when that stopped (one socket at a time) I bought another - two this time; and each of those worked for a while, and then stopped. I am now at my 4th supply and that phenomenon persists. Currently, when the hub fails, I remove the ext HDD USB lead and then put it back, and the drive is seen again. How long that will last is anybody's guess. With the latest iteration, it took ONE month of use before it failed. I would like a permanent remedy - or short of that, a reasonable explanation for the apparently predictable failures. Can anyone help ?

 

You may need to look at your facility power. With that many devices failing, I would be suspicious.

Every home and every computer user should have access to a AC Outlet Tester to ensure your outlet is properly wired and grounded. I recommend one with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupt) indicator as it can be used to test bathroom and kitchen outlets (outlets near water) too. These testers can be found for your type and voltage outlet, foreign or domestic, (like this one for the UK) at most home improvement stores, or even the electrical department at Wal-Mart. Use it to test all the outlets in the home and if a fault is shown, have it fixed by a qualified electrician.

If your wall outlets are wired correctly, you may need to check the voltages to make sure they are not too high. It happened to me here when the "tap" on the transformer on the pole failed and all the homes on this street started receiving about 286VAC at our drops, which splits to 143VAC at our wall outlets. They should be no more than ~126VAC. I called the power company, explained I was an electronics technician and told them they would be buying new refrigerators and air conditioners for all the homes in the neighborhood if they did not come out NOW and fix it. That got their attention.

To my surprise, in less than 15 minutes, there was power company electrician at my house! It took him less than 1 minute at my meter to verify I was right and within another 20 minutes, another line tech was up the pole, killed power to the street, temporarily changed the taps, and brought us back on like at 125VAC. Still a little high but acceptable, for the time being. Within a few days, we got a new transformer and we are at a nice and steady 12VAC now.

All checks out good, you probably should consider putting all your gear on a "good" UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation). Understand their biggest advantage by far is not their battery backup power capability but rather their voltage regulation abilities. Remember, a surge and spike protector is little more than a fancy and expensive extension cord.

Also note that all surge and spike protectors wear out - and more quickly if receiving lots of high voltage anomalies they have to deal with.

PS - Your image is totally black.

 

I want to point out AGAIN that my recent effective remedy was to remove the HDD's USB lead from the hub's USB socket and to put it back. I think that points to a fault different from what you suggest.

 

You have a USB hub with a power switch, which you use to disconnect the hub to which the HDD is connected. Is that correct? Could you provide a link to the USB hub in question?

 

I do have that, but my mode of use is to switch the particular socket in the hub, AS WELL AS power to the entire hub.
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