Can you split a USB 3.0 into 3.0 and 2.0?

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ac2ev
 
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Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2013 5:13 pm

Can you split a USB 3.0 into 3.0 and 2.0?

Post by ac2ev »

I have project that uses a USB 3.0 port on a Raspberry Pi 4. The USB 3.0 is wired to an Argon ONE M.2 board. This provides a SSD. The project doesn't use the Argon case, just the SSD board.

Because I'm having to make a custom cable for this project I was wondering if I could utilize both the USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 pins at the same time? Assuming I don't max out the power requirements and the Argon board isn't using the USB 2.0 pins only the 3.0.

In this case the USB 2.0 power requirements are minimal (RP2040 KeyBoar)

Previously I've de-soldered and wired the existing 2.0 port. The blue data lines go to a USB 2.0 splitter, which then returns to the D+ and D- pads to reenable the port connection, along with power.

USB 2.0 splitter solution
https://photos.app.goo.gl/PFee8R22UF4AYVUo8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/j3vH8854vNwKpiHc8


USB 3.0 possibility
https://photos.app.goo.gl/EiVSiVG7LWiS9Hxq6

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adafruit_support_mike
 
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Re: Can you split a USB 3.0 into 3.0 and 2.0?

Post by adafruit_support_mike »

USB only allows you to connect one device to a port. If you want to connect multiple devices, you need a USB hub.

USB-3 hosts can talk to USB-2 devices, so you can have connections to both. Hubs typically have four downstream connections.

You can't have connections to multiple devices through a single cable though. The USB enumeration and memory allocation processes require different channels for each device.

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