Standalone USB Device Charger feature

[rayrrr]

Thanks for the cool project! Can this device also act as a standalone USB Device Charger when powered via 12-20V but not connected to a host computer via USB?

In other words, can I charge my phone with it?

If so, let's document that in the Usage Instructions in the wiki.

Otherwise, consider this a feature request.

[dilshan]

@rayrrr With current firmware this hub need to connect with host computer to activate it's 4 ports. If you are interested to use this as a USB device charger you need to modify "USB sense" section of the firmware.

As you suggested I'll add this feature request to my next firmware update.

[dgags]

To turn this into a charging only device, it looks like you can change line 35 in "usb2-power-hub/firmware/main.c"
from: usbFlag = PORTC & 0x20;
to: usbFlag = 0x20;

If I have this right, it should basically just say that the USB host is always connected without bothering to really look if it connected to a computer. I admit that this does not elegantly solve the problem in a way that allows you to selectively turn this feature on and off. I would expect a hardwired switch that the PIC could query is one such way.

I hope this helps anyone wanting to turn this into a high current multi-port usb charging device.

[dilshan]

@dgags good suggestion!
Yes, assigning 0x20 to the usbFlag, disable the USB sense feature from the firmware. I did not include this in firmware because this may change the scope of the project (from USB hub to USB charger).