USB timing switch

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Combat squirrel

Soldato
Joined
7 Aug 2004
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11,237
As title, I am after a device I can plug into a USB port that is an electronic timer - for example I can set it to switch the USB port on and off every hour for a certain amount of time.

Does such a thing exist? I have googled etc and not much luck.

Its for a USB fan I want to run for a few mins per hour, but switch it off at night - in a perfect world it would also be temperature sensitive - so it would run for a few mins per hour, AND if it got hot enough it would also come on ?
 
Surprisingly there are actually devices that do all of that - but they are like £300.

There is stuff like the "Thanko USB 24-Hour Timer Switch" and variants of that which can do the timer side.

If you have much electronics experience it wouldn't be that hard a project to knock up mind - 555 timer couple of opamps and a mosfet of some kind, etc.
 
If it's for USB 5v alone I'd DIY it. Even data shouldn't be an issue if it's hooked up to a machine that's always on. If using a USB power supply I'd buy a set of male/female ports/plugs.

Arduino clone, real time clock module and a handful of components would be a tenner, maybe a shade more. All easily* possible with standard libraries and a couple lines of code.

*If you're up for tinkering

Edit: can't vouch for the device or seller but there's this for £20

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-USB-7-D...id=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c1&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1
 
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Does it need to be attached to a USB host? May be easier to get a mains plug timer or similar and plug into that.

+1 for Arduino/MCU otherwise though. A Pi Zero could do it if you're keen on setting it up from a GUI or over a network.
 
Interested in what its actually cooling? :)

Would it be more important to you that its off at night or that it maintains a pre set temp?.

I would prefer it maintained a pre set temp but ofcourse I have no idea what ya using it for etc :).
 
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