No information available about Sabrent 4 port USB-A hub's safety after water exposure.
No information available about Sabrent 4 port USB-A hub's safety after water exposure.
I own a Dell XPS 15 9520. Recently, water splashed onto my desk. My laptop is linked to two external monitors through USB-C to displayport and HDMI to DVI cables. The USB-C end on my laptop... uses a Dell supplied 2-in-1 adapter that features an HDMI port and a USB-A port. That HDMI end is wired into an HDMI to DVI cable for my ASUS monitor. The USB-A end connects to the Sabrent USB-A 4 port hub, which has an HDMI port and a USB-A port. I plugged in the Sabrent hub to display my main 32-inch 4K monitor. The first USB-A port hosts a wireless mouse dongle. The second USB-A port is wired for my keyboard. I usually leave the third and fourth ports vacant. I keep one port with a cable, use another for Ethernet adapter for internet, and reserve the last USB-A slot occasionally for a flash drive. The Thunderbolt 4 port handles USB-C to displayport for my main monitor. The second Thunderbolt 4 port serves as my Dell charger. After the water spill, I turned off the laptop for a while. At first, everything seemed fine. I’m not sure if any water reached the Sabrent hub, especially the third and fourth ports, which were empty. The first two USB-A ports had the mouse dongle and keyboard plugged in—water probably didn’t reach them much. So far, all ports with the mouse and keyboard stayed safe. My concern is... what precautions should I take before inserting anything into the third or fourth USB-A port? That way, if I connect a cable or drive, it wouldn’t just harm the hub but also my laptop. Could this damage the 2-in-1 adapter or the main XPS? I’ve seen error messages in Device Manager earlier, showing USB issues. My Asus monitor has been acting odd—some buttons are stuck. Now the error message is gone. It said “bad USB” on the hub, but it’s not clear if that’s from the hub or my monitor. Could it be a problem with the monitor’s USB port? I’m worried about shorting anything and risking damage to both the hub and my laptop. What should I do next? Should I test a flash drive in the third or fourth port safely? Is it safe to plug something into those ports? Should I try using another laptop and a flash drive for testing? Do I need to use a hair dryer to dry the hub? The main goal is to avoid harming my Dell XPS 15 9520 system. Right now, I’m fine with just the first two USB-A ports without issues. But I want to expand usage to the third and fourth ports occasionally.
If it functions, it performs well. USB requires careful attention to its power delivery. I've experienced devices being damaged by direct connections, yet they still operate correctly. The error notifications seem similar to issues when the device ID isn't recognized properly, which is common during extensive testing.
The initial two ports function properly without any problems. My worry is linking a USB flash drive or other devices to the third or fourth port, especially if there’s any risk of water damage. Could this affect the Dell 20A 2 in 1 Adapter and also the Dell XPS laptop? Since the Sabrent 4-port USB hub is connected to the Dell 20A 2 in 1 Adapter, which in turn connects to the USB C port on my laptop, there’s a possibility of short circuits. Also, the Dell XPS might be vulnerable if water entered through these ports, especially since nothing was plugged into the first two ports that did have accessories like the wireless mouse and keyboard. While it’s true that people sometimes get electronics wet, I don’t see any major risk with this setup. My main concern is the third and fourth ports because water definitely entered during a spill on the table, whereas the first two ports had the mouse dongle and keyboard plugged in. Could the USB error appear with the ASUS external monitor, which seems to have many issues? It does have two USB ports for monitors, but I haven’t used them. The USB error you’re seeing might relate to a stuck button on my ASUS monitor, which is still unresolved. The water spill occurred last week, so I’m asking if anyone has advice about using the third and fourth port hub with the Sabrent 4-port setup. Should I try connecting a flash drive to each port individually to test? If it works, that would be fine. Otherwise, I’d avoid it until the ports are dry.
Check if there’s anything needed to verify the 3rd and 4th USB ports on the Sabrent 4-port hub. Placing it on a table with a ceiling fan above could be useful, but using a blowdryer might not be ideal. The issue with the first two ports seems resolved since they were previously used with other devices. Water should likely evaporate quickly in a hot, humid environment. Using a tissue or cotton swab to clean inside the ports is possible but risky—proceed with caution.
Usb can be surprisingly resilient. I once had a drive with obvious rust and grime on the port, yet it functioned perfectly for all my devices. Looking back, I might have needed to clean it, but the main idea is that even stubborn dirt won’t ruin it—just dried water should suffice.