B&B Electronics UHR304 Isolated USB Hub teardown

[Jeroen3]

After killing two of my desktop PC during development I wanted to be more careful with the remaining few. I considered rolling my own hub with 4 isolated downstream ports. But after a quick search for the parts I'd need, such as a few USB isolator IC's, a few 3W dc/dc converters and a USB hub ic with all the mechanical parts required to make it robust, it was going to be an expensive project.

I went looking for USB hubs, and the only one to be for sale in Europe without "call-us" price was the B&B Electronics UHR304. I couldn't find any info regarding what was inside, and I was afraid I'd buy an cheap USB hub in a fancy metal enclosure. But I wanted to save my precious USB 3.0 ports on my pc, so I bought one.

Since there are no teardown images to be found online to estimate the quality, here they are! (link below)

I was surprised by the amount of components inside, sure looks high quality. Some of the features are:

• Significant TVS diodes on the power supply inputs.
• Common mode filter on power input and USB downstream data.
• The screws connect to earth via 0 ohm resistors.
• Reverse polarity protection for the DC barrel.
• Analog Devices ADUM4160 USB 1.1 Isolator for the upstream port (no power).
• Texas Instruments LM22676 buck converter.
• National Semiconductor LM2937 LDO for the logic, I guess.
• Micrel MIC2026 power switchers with overload protection.
• ST USBLC6-2SC6 ESD protection on all USB ports.
• And last but not least, an SMSC (microchip) USB2514Bi USB Hub Controller protection on all USB ports.

I paid €130 on eBay for a new one, which is a lot for "just a USB Hub". But considering that if I made my own, which would cost over 300 and would have almost identical parts in it with a less fancy enclosure, I sure am happy to know that my USB ports now remain safe from all the accidents that happen downstream on my bench, that would normally fry a USB port.

I know the ADUM4160 is available in small USB Isolated sticks for €50, but these do not offer the full 2.5W of power delivery, which limits development to self-powered devices, unless I make a power insertion cable/board. They also don't mount on the desk as fancy as this does.

Teardown photos: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3a3odx672ieoklq/AABInv4sK-aqY6ADNYoZhOoFa?preview=USB+Hub+B%26B+Electronics+UHR304+(1).jpg
Link to the manufacturor: http://www.bb-elec.com/Products/USB-Connectivity/USB-2-0-Hubs/Industrial-Grade-USB-Hubs.aspx

Let this be a useful "review"-ish topic. Please share any other high-quality (isolated) USB hubs you know about.