So, I have a bunch of unpowered external HDDs that I am trying to create backups of. My laptop has 2 USB Type-A ports and 1 USB Type-C port. All are "super speed" as far as data transfer rate is concerned, but I am assuming they are all unpowered. So, I purchased a powered USB hub from Amazon (ACASIS 10-port USB Type-A 3.1 hub, operates at 12V, 4A, 48W), both for the extra ports and for the mains power.
Thus far I am able to transfer small files and folders from external HDD to external HDD, and external HDD to laptop SSD. However, any time I attempt to transfer a particularly large file or folder (>10 GB) after about 30 seconds the transfer rate plummets to the single digits and I start hearing the dreaded "clicking" sound of an external HDD not getting enough power.
This seems to happen with multiple HDDs, so while I cannot rule out multiple HDD failure, Occam's razor would suggest otherwise. Somewhere in the chain, not enough power is getting through. Or that's my hypothesis. I am just not sure why that would be the case; is 12V, 4A, 48W not enough juice to facilitate large file/folder transfers? Should I get an even more powerful hub, or one that connects via USB Type-C instead?