Is is fine to use a powered USB hub on the USB3 port on the back of the L1KVM? Just asking, because some other KVM vendor actively warns about using any kind of powered hub (they claim it might damage their circuits during switching).
I’m using a Logitech webcam and 2 more (rather low power) USB devices on the port, but it seems like my unpowered hub fails from time to time (devices get unresponsive but stay connected and I can only fix this by re-plugging the hub). Not quite sure if it’s really a power issue or just a bad hub, but I wanted to give it a shot…
Hi, I don’t work for Level 1 Techs so please don’t take this as them saying yes you can or no you cant in the respect of warranty, only that I am doing it and it works well.
I have a 16 Port ACASIS USB 3 hub on my KVM, I upgraded it’s power supply from the one that it had which was only [email protected] amps as with 16 Ports loaded it could have been overwhelmed to a PSU which is 12v@20 amps. ( this is converted internally … 12v @ 20amps = 240Watts / 16 ports = 15 Watts per port / 5v = 3amps per port )
Unless you are using a PSU with it which is exceedingly bad quality ( i.e DONT cheap out ) I can’t see it creating an issue.
As it is now I am running all 31 ports on two units, 1 HUB cascaded off the other and the KVM does not seem to care…
Are these isolated from each other? well no… I shouldn’t think so but then again anything that you plug individually into the KVM that is self powered and it wont be electrically isolated anyway.
When you switch PCs if you have USB drives on your hub they will switch across also, be aware that each device that needs to be detected will add a delay when switched while Windows ( assuming that is what you are using ) recognizes all of the newly added USB devices.
I presently have running off the cascaded hubs a fingerprint reader, 14 USB 3 2.5 inch HDDs, 2 externally powered 3.5inch HDDs, A Bluray Reader/Writer, EPOS 300 Audio DAC, An EPSON Page Scanner and a bunch of USB memory sticks and charge ports for my Valve Index VR controller fills the rest.
Hi you can use a powered USB hub. I think the only problem you could really face is the USB hub depth exceeded error from MACs. If you have too many USBs sometimes a MAC will not be responsive to the USB ports. Other than that, you should be fine.
That might be concerning though? Your unpowered USB hub should be working from the USBs you’re describing.
Macs don’t like daisy chained hubs. You might need to plug the kvm directly into the Mac or via a thunderbolt upstream port only and not via a USB port on say a docking station.
you can use a powered USB hub. I think the only problem you could really face is the USB hub depth exceeded error from MACs. If you have too many USBs sometimes a MAC will not be responsive to the USB ports. Other than that, you should be fine.