We kept frying ports. So we built something to stop it

At blackdevice we spend a lot of time connecting experimental hardware to computers. New PCB revisions, prototypes fresh off the soldering station, boards that haven’t been fully validated yet. It’s part of the job, and it comes with a real, recurring risk: one short circuit, one overcurrent event, and a USB port is gone.

We looked for something that would sit permanently on the bench, inline between our machines and whatever we were testing. Something that would watch the connection for us and cut it the instant something went wrong. We didn’t find exactly what we needed. So we designed it ourselves.

That device is USBSafe. And today, we’re officially launching it as a product

What is USBSafe?

USBSafe is a compact inline USB port protector. It connects between your USB host: a computer, hub, or power supply, and any hardware you’re testing. It monitors the connection continuously and disconnects the moment it detects a fault: overcurrent, short circuit, voltage spike, or electrostatic discharge on the data lines.

It’s not a passive adapter. It’s an active protection circuit with three independent layers of defence, a configurable current limit switch, and a pair of LED indicators that tell you in real time whether the connection is healthy or a fault has been caught.

For a full breakdown of how it works, the components involved, and the technical specifications, head to our USBSafe project page.

Who is it for?

We built USBSafe for ourselves, which means we built it for anyone who works the way we do: connecting hardware that hasn’t been proven yet to machines they care about.

That includes hardware makers and hobbyists testing self-built circuits, embedded developers connecting new development boards, electronics students working on custom PCB projects, and anyone who has ever hesitated before plugging something experimental into their computer.

If that half-second pause before connecting sounds familiar, USBSafe is for you.

From internal tool to real product with Elecrow

USBSafe started as something we made for our own bench. Getting it to a point where we could offer it to others: manufactured consistently, at a reasonable cost, and shipped worldwide, required the right manufacturing partner.

A few months ago, we were contacted by Elecrow, a Shenzhen-based company specializing in electronics manufacturing, PCB assembly, 3D printing, and product fulfillment. They proposed a partnership: we design, they produce and handle logistics. It was exactly the kind of collaboration we needed to take USBSafe from an internal tool to a product anyone could buy.

Under this agreement, Elecrow manufactures the PCBs and 3D prints the enclosures, stores the inventory, and handles shipping. We handle design, engineering and documentation. It’s a clean split that lets us focus on what we do best.

We received the samples. We tested them. They work

Before announcing anything, we wanted to hold the product in our hands and put it through its paces. Elecrow produced the first batch and sent us samples, in the standard opaque black enclosure and with the translucent lid that lets the LED indicators shine through.

We tested them on the bench: overcurrent events, short circuits, the switch between HI and LO modes, LED response, reset behaviour after a fault. Everything performed as designed.

The translucent lid version, in particular, is noticeably better for day-to-day bench use. The LEDs are visible at a glance without having to look directly at the device, which is exactly what you want when it’s tucked into a cable setup.

We’re satisfied with the build quality and confident in the protection the circuit provides. That’s why we’re announcing the launch now.

Three versions available

USBSafe comes in three options, so you can choose what works best for your setup and workflow:

• PCB only: just the board, no enclosure. The right choice if you want to print your own case, integrate USBSafe into an existing setup, or simply keep costs down.
• Standard: PCB with a fully enclosed matte black 3D printed resin enclosure. Clean and compact for any bench setup.
• Translucent lid: PCB with an enclosure where one panel is printed in translucent resin, letting the LED status indicators shine through at a glance. Our recommendation if you plan to leave USBSafe permanently in your setup.

All three versions use the same PCB and offer identical protection.

Get your USBSafe on our Elecrow store

USBSafe is available now through our Elecrow store. All versions are in stock and ship worldwide.

Get your USBSafe on Elecrow

USBSafe is the first product we’re launching through this manufacturing partnership, and it won’t be the last. If you build hardware, or if you know someone who does, pass this along — it’s a small device that solves a real problem, and we think it belongs on every electronics bench.

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