05-06-2016, 08:10 AM
(05-05-2016, 07:29 AM)montero65 Wrote: Quick update here. I got my powered USB hub yesterday (same one that skybadiver did) and plugged it in. I tried also setting it up like skybadiver, so the Pine and HDD are both powered via the hub. Unfortunately, couldn't handle running both, as when I tried to access my HDD, board would die. Possibly is the USB cable I was running to the Pine, I don't know. So for now, I'm back to having to use 2 power supplies, one for Pine, one for the hub. But this way does work and I can use my HDD.
I did find that I could buy a different power supply for the hub from the same company (Sabrent). The hub comes with a 5V, 2.5A wall wart, but they also sell one at 4A. This would probably be enough, along with a shorter 20AWG USB cable for the Pine, to power both with no issues. I'll hold off for now though. Having already bought a $10 PSU for the Pine, and then the $17 powered hub, I don't want to buy another PSU at $13. It's just starting to add up for my "cheap" computer. Maybe in the future, but for now, i can deal with having 2 power supplies.
I messed around with the pine yesterday and tried it with other cables I had. With several of my other mini hdmi cables acting as power supplies from the hub, the board kept shutting down. Those cables were shorter than the cable that actually works for me as a power supply from the hub. My working cable is 3 feet long, but the cables that did not work were about 6inches to 12 inches. The length of the cable might play a role for others but I think that the resistance of a particular cable plays a bigger part. I suggest trying other hdmi cables you might have lying around and you might get lucky despite the length. I just pick the right on the first try which is why I thought the hub would work for everyone's needs.
