USB was developed in the early 1990’s as a means of connecting computer peripherals together in a unified and simple way.
USB 2.0 provides for a industry recognised maximum cable length of 5 meters for devices running at Hi Speed (480 Mbit/s). This is because data has to be sent and received within a specified time limit but all devices and cables on the USB network cause delays. The longer the cable, the bigger the delay, so 5m is a safe maximum length to avoid loss of data. OE Electrics supplies cables for USB 2.0 at either 1.8m or 5m, which are designed to go straight into the back of a PC. The connecting lead from the device to our unit should be kept as short as possible to minimise any signal losses.
The USB 3.0 (sometimes referred to as Superspeed USB) standard does not directly specify a maximum cable length, requiring only that all cables meet an electrical specification: for copper cabling with AWG 26 wires the maximum practical length is 3 meters (9.8 ft). OE Electrics supplies cables for USB 3.0 at either 1.8m or 3m, which are designed to go straight into the back of a PC. The connecting lead from the device to our unit should be kept as short as possible to minimise any signal losses.
There are various signal boosters on the market that allow you to extend the typical range, most of which are in-line and take their power from the 5V provided by USB. Some manufacturers claim cable runs of over 50m, although in our experience, we would not recommend over 10m. Please call or email us if you require anything over 5m and we will advise accordingly.
Due to USB 2.0 being so universally popular, a crucial pillar of the USB 3.0 specification addresses how the Superspeed 3.0 standard must remain compatible with the millions of existing USB computers and devices in the marketplace. Essentially, all USB 2.0 devices will work on USB 3.0 hardware, and (nearly) all USB 3.0 devices will work on USB 2.0 hardware. Also, as part of the requirement, all USB 3.0 ports include the necessary pins to process USB 2.0 signals, and all of the receptacles are physically compatible with their earlier counterparts.
OE Electrics has developed our own USB TUF (Twin USB Fast charger) which detects which device is plugged into it and automatically selects the optimum charging conditions in order to provide the maximum current for fast charging. Essentially, each device from different manufacturers speaks a different language. Unlike most USB chargers on the market, our USB TUF is multi-lingual and is able to ‘talk’ to each device in its own language. This can, however be affected by either using the wrong charging cable, or one that is too long. The safest solution is to always use the cable that came with the device, or failing that, a high-quality branded replacement of no more than 1.5m. It should be noted that it is irrelevant whether USB 2.0 or 3.0 is used for charging, as only the power connections are used, which is 5V across all standards.
Customer Support
Tel: USA 1(844)-927-0600
sales@oeelectrics.com
