USB hub which can power hard drives?

[deepakvrao]

Something under 100 dollars, and not those 200-300 dollar hubs. Anything like this available?

This Aukey - can it power 2 portable hard drives if the charger is connected?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Q1SKZR/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

 

[objektør]

Something under 100 dollars, and not those 200-300 dollar hubs. Anything like this available?

This Aukey - can it power 2 portable hard drives if the charger is connected?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Q1SKZR/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

I've been using a similar Aukey hub for the rMB with 30W PD.
It powers 2 external HDD when connected to the charger. I even use an extension cable from the rMB to the hub so it works more like a dock and I can use the rMB on my lap without the HDD's being in the way. Quite pleased.

 

[deepakvrao]

I've been using a similar Aukey hub for the rMB with 30W PD.
It powers 2 external HDD when connected to the charger. I even use an extension cable from the rMB to the hub so it works more like a dock and I can use the rMB on my lap without the HDD's being in the way. Quite pleased.

Thanks. Any link to what you are using?

 

[objektør]

Thanks. Any link to what you are using?

It is exactly the same as in your link but I've had it for more than two years and before the MBP was released so it mentioned only the rMB in the discription. If I remember correctly I paid ca $25.

 

[Mike Boreham]

Something under 100 dollars, and not those 200-300 dollar hubs. Anything like this available?

This Aukey - can it power 2 portable hard drives if the charger is connected?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072Q1SKZR/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Have you seen this thread on the same subject:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/two-external-usb-drives.2020631/#post-24845918

Bottom line: many will "power" two attached drives or devices, but it depends what you want to with them. e.g. Read from either is usually OK but transferring data between them is flaky. Depends on hubs and drives. This where the big powered docking stations by Caldigit and OWC score.

 

[objektør]

Have you seen this thread on the same subject:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/two-external-usb-drives.2020631/#post-24845918

Bottom line: many will "power" two attached drives or devices, but it depends what you want to with them. e.g. Read from either is usually OK but transferring data between them is flaky. Depends on hubs and drives. This where the big powered docking stations by Caldigit and OWC score.

Maybe so. I have done that once or twice with no issue but I doubted if it had USB-3 speeds. Maybe caused by my extension cable.
I normally use it for my Time Machine back-up in the background and don't notice the speed. It is not fast, that I know.
But it works with other things connected at the same time. Charging phone, usb sticks, eye-tv dongle etc

 

[Mike Boreham]

I think if you were just transferring the odd file you probably wouldn't notice, but transferring large amounts of data tens of GB between drives, it would stop start grind to a halt etc.....or maybe the Aukey works better than the three similar I tried.

 

[objektør]

I think if you were just transferring the odd file you probably wouldn't notice, but transferring large amounts of data tens of GB between drives, it would stop start grind to a halt etc.....or maybe the Aukey works better than the three similar I tried.

Yes, I only transferred some 'odd files'. Not more than 10-15GB. Movies and documents. If you are interested I could try with a 50GB movie folder.

 

[deepakvrao]

I've been using a similar Aukey hub for the rMB with 30W PD.
It powers 2 external HDD when connected to the charger. I even use an extension cable from the rMB to the hub so it works more like a dock and I can use the rMB on my lap without the HDD's being in the way. Quite pleased.

Thanks. Sounds good. Do you connect the extension cable from the rMB to the cable of the hub? Why not plug the hub into the charger and use the charger cable to connect the USB C from the hub to the rMB? USB C works both ways right?

 

[objektør]

Thanks. Sounds good. Do you connect the extension cable from the rMB to the cable of the hub? Why not plug the hub into the charger and use the charger cable to connect the USB C from the hub to the rMB? USB C works both ways right?

I think I've tried that but it didn't work. The power went both ways but not the data.
I found a usb-c female-female adapter which I connected to the Aukey hub (for it to become female) and than used a quality usb-c to usb-c charge/data cable. As I said: it works for my use but I am not so sure about the speed. I didn't bother because I use it for TM backups in the background. All other stuff works while backupping.

 

[Kekinash]

Using this one with a Seagate 2TB external HD USB3, works fine, only use the original MacBook charger to bypass the power. It runs very hot, but the company says is due to heat dispersion, so don't worry about it. Using it several timas a day, for Time Machines backups and file transfers (some as big as 20gb) with no problems so far.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076WX4FP8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[deepakvrao]

Got the Hootoo hub, and works fine with 2 2tb USB hard drives attached WHEN CONNECTED to the charger. This includes transferring large amounts of data.

Not tried without the charger, as I am worried about the drives getting damaged. One without the charger works if course.

Only thing is that when you use it with the USB drives, the charging wattage drops to 24 watts.