Pi USB 3.2 Gen 1 HUB HAT V1.2

I Product Introduction

This USB 3.0 expansion board is specifically designed for Raspberry Pi. It allows you to easily connect more devices to your Raspberry Pi, enhancing your project capabilities. It features an onboard EEPROM chip and provides four USB 3.0 interfaces, enabling the connection of multiple peripherals and improving the connectivity and expandability of the Raspberry Pi. Moreover, it supports the high-speed transfer of USB 3.0, ensuring more stable and faster data transmission, perfectly solving the problem of insufficient USB ports on the Raspberry Pi itself. Whether you are using the Raspberry Pi for home entertainment, IoT projects, or personal development experiments, this expansion board provides additional USB ports, solves device connection problems, and enhances your Raspberry Pi experience. Simple installation, plug-and-play, powerful functionality, suitable for various needs, it is an essential expansion tool for every Raspberry Pi enthusiast.

II Product Features

  • Transparent Status LEDs: Onboard 1 power indicator and 4 USB expansion port indicators.
  • Onboard 4 USB 3.2 Gen1 expansion ports, compatible with USB 3.0 / 2.0 / 1.1 transmission.
  • Plug and play, no additional drivers required, compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and other systems.
  • Onboard external power Type-C interface, supports 5V external power input to ensure a more stable power supply for external devices.

Ⅲ Product Parameters

Model

Pi USB 3.2 Gen 1 HUB HAT

Supply Voltage

5V

USB Interface

USB 3.2 Gen 1

Speed

5 Gbps

Mounting Hole Diameter

3mm

Dimensions

85mm（L）×56mm（W）

Resources Overview

①Power Indicator

②AT24C32 Chip

③USB 3.2 Gen1 HUB Interface

④M3 Mounting Hole

⑤USB 3.2 Gen1 Expansion Port * 4

⑥PWR ONLY power connector

⑦USB Port Status Indicator

⑧Raspberry Pi 40-Pin Header

IV Usage

4.1 Description

4.1.1 Hardware Description

  1. Onboard external Type-C 5V DC power input interface ensures more stable power supply for external devices.
  2. Onboard 4-channel USB 3.0 ports, equipped with USB 3.0 port status indicators. When a device is properly mounted on a USB 3.0 port, the corresponding status indicator will light up.
  3. Onboard EEPROM chip supports communication with the Raspberry Pi via the I2C interface.

4.1.2 Precautions

  1. Observe whether the corresponding indicator light is on when a USB device is connected to determine if the USB device connection status is normal.
  2. The Raspberry Pi's USB interface needs to be connected to the board's USB HUB interface; if high-power devices such as mobile hard drives are connected, it is necessary to additionally power the board externally by connecting a 5V power supply.

4.2 Testing

4.2.1 Usage on Raspberry Pi System

Connect the Raspberry Pi's USB port to the board's USB HUB interface using a USB 3.0 cable or a USB 3.0 adapter board.

Open the Raspberry Pi terminal.

Check the solid-state drive directory:

lsblk
Navigate to the solid-state drive directory to be tested: 
cd /media/pi/xxx (where xxx is the drive name)

Clear memory cache:

sudo sh -c "sync && echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches"

Test write speed:

Test read speed:

sudo dd if=./testfile of=/dev/null bs=1M count=1024 iflag=direct

Clean up the test file:

sudo rm ./testfile
Install I2C tools: 
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install i2c-tools
Enable I2C0 on the Raspberry Pi: 
sudo nano /boot/config.txt
Add dtparam=i2c_arm=on at the end of the file.

Save and exit the editor.

Reboot the Raspberry Pi:

sudo reboot
Scan for the EEPROM chip's I2C address using the command: 
sudo i2cdetect -y 0
The normally detected chip address is 0x51.

4.2.2 Usage on a Computer

Use a bidirectional USB 3.0 male-to-male cable to connect the board's USB HUB interface to the computer, thereby expanding to 4 USB 3.0 ports.

Example: Copying files from the computer's solid-state drive to a USB 3.0 portable solid-state drive.

4.2.3 Precautions

  1. If the read/write speed of the solid-state drive does not reach USB 3.0 speeds, check that your computer's port, data cable, and solid-state drive all support the USB 3.0 standard.
  2. Observe whether the corresponding indicator light is on when a USB device is connected to determine if the USB device connection status is normal.
  3. The device's USB interface needs to be connected to the board's USB HUB interface; if high-power devices such as mobile hard drives are connected, it is necessary to additionally power the board externally by connecting a 5V power supply.

5. Appendix

5.1 Product Precautions and Maintenance

5.1.1 Precautions

  • Do not plug or unplug the module while powered on!
  • Follow all warnings and guidance information marked on the product.
  • Keep this product dry. If accidentally splashed or immersed by any liquid, power off immediately and allow it to dry thoroughly.
  • Pay attention to ventilation and heat dissipation in the product's usage environment to avoid damage to components caused by high temperatures.
  • Do not use or store this product in dusty or dirty environments.
  • Do not use this product in alternating hot and cold environments to avoid condensation damaging the components on the product.
  • Do not handle this product roughly. Dropping, hitting, or severe shaking may damage the circuits and components.
  • Do not use organic solvents or corrosive liquids to clean this product.
  • Do not attempt to repair or disassemble this company's product by yourself. If the product malfunctions, please contact our company for repair in a timely manner. Unauthorized repairs may damage the product, and any damage caused thereby will not be covered under warranty.