Whether it be a webcam to connect you to loved ones, or a scanner to make digital versions of your physical documents. 

There are many ways for you and a computer to interact with each other. 

But, a computer is limited by how many USB ports it has, which can limit you to how many devices you can connect to it at any given time. 

USB Hubs are devices that extend the number of USB ports of a computer. 

But, can a USB Hub damage a computer?

No, a USB hub will not damage a computer. Power is only delivered from the computer USB port to the USB hub and not the other way round. There are no problems with the computer USB port being subjected to voltage or current from the USB Hub.  You might however, have issues with the amount of power being delivered to multiple devices on a USB hub from a singular computer USB port. 

A deeper look at whether a USB hub can damage a computer

Knowing a bit more about the USB Hub and how it is constructed will help shed some light on the question at hand.

So, let’s take a closer look at the USB Hub. 

The USB Hub

A USB hub comes in a number of sizes that offer a range of ports from 2,4 and 7.

The most common being the 4 ports. 

As well as coming in a range of ports, USB hubs can either be Powered or Unpowered.

An unpowered USB hub is a passive device. 

This means that it does not have its own power source. It receives power from the host (in this instance a computer) through the USB standard.

It then uses power received from the computer to power other peripheral devices that get plugged into it.The power is divided up depending on the size of the USB hub and how many devices are connected. 

Unpowered USB hubs are great from smaller devices like a mouse, keyboard, etc, that do not require a lot of power.

A powered USB hub on the other has its own power supply which it uses to power peripheral devices that get connected to it. 

This type of USB hub is great for higher power devices like printers, and scanners which require more power to operate. 

Main concern of connecting a USB Hub to a computer

The main concern when connecting a USB Hub to a computer is whether it will damage the USB ports of the computer or other internal parts of the computer like the motherboard.

This could be due to voltage or current being sent back from the USB Hub to the port. 

When it comes to unpowered USB hubs, there are no issues with them damaging the computer as the hub is powered by the computer.

The power comes from the computer itself so there will be no issues of Backfeeding (voltage or current being fed back to the computer). 

When it comes to powered USB hubs however, there might be a bit more of an issue. 

This is due to the USB hub having its own power supply which gets connected to the mains. 

Problems may arise if the power adapter of the USB hub fails (maybe due to a short circuit) which can cause power to bleed into the computer.

But, good quality USB hubs are designed with fail safes in the form of protection circuits which are created specifically for these scenarios. 

The protection circuits will include things like a Fuse, which are designed to fail when Overvoltage or Overcurrents occur. 

This helps protect the USB hub as well as the computer. 

Issues with using cheap USB hubs with a computer

The scenario where you might run into a USB Hub damaging a computer is if it is a cheap quality one. 

This is due to the way they are constructed. 

They are manufactured with cheaper parts to help increase profit margins. But, with sacrificing the quality of parts comes a greater drawback being the efficiency and effectiveness of the end product. 

One stand out drawback is the lack of a protection circuit. 

Due to poor design, many cheaper hub’s +5v pins for upstream and downstream data transfer are connected together as well as being directly connected to the +5V of the wall adapter. 

This is where a USB hub could potentially damage your computer. 

Also, bad workmanship in the form of poor soldering can contribute to a higher chance of short circuits occurring which can again potentially harm your computer. 

Other issues with cheap USB hubs are they don’t last very long, are usually never recognised by the computer and affect the overall transfer speeds. 

The only way to combat this is to invest in reputable brands who produce good quality USB hubs such as, Plugable, Anker, Rosewill, D-Link to name a few.  

Other factors to consider when using a USB hub with a computer

So, if you really want to protect your computer from potential damage against a USB hub, invest in a good quality hub.

But, there are some other factors to take into consideration when using a USB with a computer. 

Power distribution

Peripheral devices come in all shapes and sizes each having their own power requirements. 

For example, a printer will require more power compared to a mouse. 

So before acquiring a USB hub, you will need to know what sort of peripheral devices you will be using as power is distributed evenly in a hub.

Also, as we saw earlier, an unpowered USB hub does not have its own power supply but is powered from the computer’s USB port which means it  is limited to how much power it can deliver.

Connecting multiple power hungry devices on an unpowered USB hub is going to overload the computer. 

A better option is to use a powered USB hub. 

Also, using a powered USB hub with devices that do not require much power is overkill. 

You will need to look at what devices you will be connecting and choose the appropriate type of USB Hub. 

Transfer speeds

There are many different Transfer Speeds available for USB cables, connectors, ports and USB Hubs.

Transfer speed is how much data is able to be transfered.

Earlier versions (USB 1.0) had transfer speeds of 1.5 Mbps (Megabits per second). This version is the lowest of the transfer speeds available for USB devices. 

Below are the other cable transfer speeds (with the last one being the latest);

• USB 1.1 / Full-speed (12 Mbps)
• USB 2.0 / Hi-Speed (480 Mbps)
• USB 3.0 / Super-speed (5 Gbps)
• USB 3.1 / Super-speed (10 Gbps)

When connecting a USB hub into a computer you will need to make sure that they are both the same versions otherwise you will be restricted to the speed of the lowest version. 

For example, if you connect a USB hub which is version 1.1, to a computer which is version 3.1, the maximum transfer speed will be limited to version 1.1 (12Mbps). 

Since you cannot really change the USB port of the computer, you will need to match the USB transfer of the hub to the computer port.

Plugging and unplugging

The last factor to take into consideration is plugging and unplugging the USB from the computer. 

There are two parts to this. 

The first being how you plug and unplug the hub into the USB port of the computer physically. 

To ensure you do not damage the structural integrity of the computer’s USB port, make sure to plug and unplug the USB hub safely. 

Do not jam it in, or wiggle the USB cable once inserted which can physically damage the computer USB port. 

Place it in and remove it gently. (I know this might sound silly, but you can cause physical damage if not done right).

Also, you might have experienced the frustration of not plugging the USB cable the right way around into a USB port. 

So, before doing so, check to see if the USB cable of the hub is orientated the right way.

The second part is removing the USB hub using the ‘safely remove hardware’ function on a computer. 

What this function does is instruct the operating to wait for all processes accessing a file to finish first before dismounting a USB device. 

Say if you have a Hard Drive connected to the USB hub, and you unplug it without using the ‘safely remove hardware’ function, you run the risk of causing writing errors and data loss in the hard drive. 

So, before unplugging a USB hub (or and other USB devices), use the ‘safely remove hardware’ first before doing so. 

Will using more than one USB hub damage a computer?

No, using multiple USB hubs will not damage a computer. 

The same principles discussed above for one USB hub apply to using multiple hubs.

As before, you are more likely to run into issues with cheap quality powered hubs that do not have the necessary protection circuits to protect your computer from back feeding (of voltage and current). 

Also, using more than one hub means you will be using more devices which will place more strain on the computer’s USB port if the hub is not powered. 

Can a USB hub damage a laptop?

No, a USB hub will not damage a laptop.

The USB ports on a laptop are the same as that on a computer. It uses the same USB protocol from connection and communication. 

USB hubs are not designed for a specific host, so they can be used with many other host devices such as a laptop. 

Again, if you want to avoid damage to your laptop, stay away from cheaper powered USB hubs.

The post Can a USB Hub damage a computer? appeared first on Electronic Guidebook.

The biggest one being that you can customise it to fit your needs which will also help you save money as you will only be buying components that you need.

If you haven’t built a computer before, it might seem like a daunting task and you might have a million questions, like what tools you might need to build it.

Be rest assured building a computer does not require a bachelor’s degree or fancy tools.

But, do you need a soldering iron to build a computer?

No, you do not need a soldering iron when you are going to build a computer. Computer parts are designed to snap into place without the need of a soldering iron. A tool that will come in handy when you are going to build a computer will be a screwdriver, as certain parts will need to be screwed in. 

Why you do not need a soldering iron to build a computer

Let’s take a look closer at the process of what is involved in building a computer which will help you understand why a soldering iron is not needed. 

Maybe you are creating the ultimate gaming computer, or maybe you just need to build a computer with the basics so you can save money.

Whatever your reason, the process of building one is the same. 

Main components of a computer

Before you start assembling a computer you are going to need the components that make up the anatomy of a computer.

Below are the common components that you will need to build a computer;

• Case
• Power supply
• Motherboard 
• CPU (Central processing unit)
• RAM
• Graphics card
• Hard Drive
• Display and Peripherals (Computer screen, Mouse, Keyboard etc)
• Operating system

Each of the parts mentioned above are pieces of a puzzle that make up the entirety of the computer. Omitting either one of them from the build will end in your computer not working or not functioning as it should.

Also these components come in a variety of specifications which plays a role in the performance of the computer.

So, why don’t you need a soldering iron for these components to build the computer?

The great news for you, me and everyone else on their journey of building a computer is that the individual components of a computer come assembled for us. 

The main component of the computer is the Motherboard. This is the main board where all other components get placed.

The beauty is in how the motherboard as well as the other components are designed so that no soldering iron is needed.

To better understand this, let’s take a closer look at the motherboard and one of the components that gets placed onto the motherboard.

Below is what a motherboard looks like.

In the picture you can see arrows pointing at many different slots/sockets in the motherboard. 

The slots come empty when you unpack the motherboard. 

What are these slots for? 

As you saw earlier, there are many components that make a computer. The motherboard is the main board that all the other components (RAM, Graphics card, power supply etc) get connected to. 

So, the slots are designed specifically for each component.

Now let’s take a closer look at one of those components, in this case a RAM chip as seen below.

You can see the RAM chip is created so that it can slot into one of the designated slots of the motherboard. They have circuitry at the ends which when connected to a slot become part of the motherboard circuitry.

The components are placed into the socket by applying a force (a gentle one of course), and snap together like LEGO.  

This is why you do not require a soldering iron when you build a computer. 

What tools will you need to build a computer if no soldering iron is needed

But, surely building a computer isn’t just snapping things together and will require some tools, right?

Yes, you will need some certain tools.

The tools, along with other materials that will come in handy in the build of a computer include;

• Screwdriver
• Cable Cutter or Scissors
• Cable ties

Screwdriver – No matter what the build, a screwdriver will most likely be needed, as there will be screws involved. Building a computer is no different. There are many instances when screws are used to secure things in place, like the motherboard to the mounting holes on the case. So, have a screwdriver as part of your arsenal.

Cable tie – There are a lot of wires involved in the build of a computer. Things can get messy fast. Trust me! While not entirely necessary, cable ties will save you a lot of stress by managing those wires and making things tidy. I strongly suggest them. 

Cable cutter / Scissors – All these parts are going to come in some sort of protective packaging that always seems to be easy to pry open with your hands but prove otherwise. Scissors will give you the ability to slice through the packaging with ease. 

Also, if you are using cable ties, cutting the excess with scissors is near impossible. A pair of cable cutters will be a much better option for the job. 

When you might need a soldering iron when you build a computer

While a soldering iron is not needed, there might be possible scenarios where you might need it to lend a helping hand. 

Life throws curve balls at us now and then and sometimes things do not always go as planned. 

It is very rare, but sometimes wires do break, or come loose from their connections. 

Having a soldering iron will be beneficial to fixing these issues as re-soldering will be needed. 

But, to reiterate, it is very rare for this to happen, so have no fear, you do not have to go and invest in an expensive soldering iron to rectify this issue.

If you do come across something that is broken, or come loose from its connection and do have a soldering iron, contact the manufacturer and let them know that there is an issue. 

They will either send you replacement parts or will have their technicians rectify the problem for you.

However, if you do have a soldering iron, and are skilled enough to sort the issue out by yourself, do so.

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