Not enough power to USB devices >> Possible Solution?

Tuckie · 10-17-2005, 06:33 PM

Right now I have one usb wire running up from the back of my car, to the front. There, I have an unpowered usb hub which goes to my screen a spot for a thumbdrive, and a slimline dvd drive. There is not enough power for the drive and the screen at the same time. Rather than running a 5v line to the hub, could I splice the black and red wires heading to the hub, and wire it to directly to the 5v line from the psu, completely bypassing power from the motherboard? I would probably just hack up an old usb extension cable, or even use an internal header, making the job even easier.

Does anyone see anything wrong w. this?

thanatos106 · 10-17-2005, 06:43 PM

If you going to take power from the PSU, why no just run a 5v to the hub?? (if you do it you way you going to wire every single usb)

I understand what you want but I think that you can be more practical than that and just power up the hub form the PSU.... just my .02

Thanatos.

Tuckie · 10-17-2005, 06:47 PM

Sorry if I explained poorly. There would be no need to run power to every device in the hub. All I would be doing is feeding the hub a 5v supply with more amps, Essentially using the wires already in the usb wire for the new 5v run.

thanatos106 · 10-17-2005, 06:51 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Tuckie

Sorry if I explained poorly. There would be no need to run power to every device in the hub. All I would be doing is feeding the hub a 5v supply with more amps, Essentially using the wires already in the usb wire for the new 5v run.

Ok let me see if I get this right..... non power USB taking data +- from MOBO and power +- from PSU right?

Thanatos.

Peoples · 10-17-2005, 06:55 PM

just a suggestion. I installed the 5v point of load carnetix for power usb devices. This also serves the purpose of not draining my battery throughout the night, because this turns all usb devices off, and you wont get that trickle charge.

thanatos106 · 10-17-2005, 06:58 PM

I use my mean well SD-25 to power my hub and slim load dvd drive so that was my next sugestion to tuckie (a independent device to power the hub)

Thanatos.

thanatos106 · 10-17-2005, 07:00 PM

@peoples: is the carnetix 5v point of load standalone??

Thanatos.

Edit:

Nevermind I got the answer

Tuckie · 10-30-2005, 01:25 PM

Alright guys, this is my idea....
http://tuckie.net/images/usb.jpg

I plan on plugging this into the motherboard, the power supply, and have the usb extension plug into the female usb port.

This will then go to the hub, which powers a touchscreen; a dvd slimdrive; and the occasional thumbdrive.

Does anyone see any problems with this?

Peoples · 10-30-2005, 01:32 PM

i wouldnt be suprised if it wasnt enough to power it
...
how the hell is that gonna power a touchscreen.....let alone a dvd slimdrive

Tuckie · 10-30-2005, 01:34 PM

It doesn't power the entire touchscreen, just the usb touch interface, i have a zenarc 700tsv this works fine through the hub without any power modification. Its getting the 12 volts from a completely different source. The drive has no problem being powered if I plug it directly into the back of the motherboard, but acts up when going through the hub. So I am trying to provide the hub with more amperage

Jahntassa · 10-30-2005, 03:21 PM

I think the amperage draw from the usb hub is regulated as part of the way the hub works. Even if you do run the 5v line down the USB line to the hub, the hub will still 'think' it's in 'bus-powered' mode and automatically limit itself to 100mA. You really need to have 5v going seperately into the unit's power input, and either switch it to 'self-powered' mode, or some hubs will automatically determine which mode to run in.

Just because you're supplying more power down the USB cable doesn't mean the hub will switch itself to self-power mode. It has no idea where the 5v is coming from on the USB cable itself, and can't automatically know it can use more amperage through it.

Tuckie · 10-30-2005, 04:29 PM

I'll probably have to crack open the hub either way, it has a really small barrel jack, so I would probably just wire my own connector. I think I will try the modified connector to see if it works, but if it does indeed limit the amps through the hub, would it be worth it to just add two jumpers to make it appear that the 5v is comming from the barrel jack, when in actuality its comming from the usb wire?

Jahntassa · 10-30-2005, 06:22 PM

That would probably work!

If you don't mind ripping open and modifying the hub..and as you've already modified the cable feeding it...jumpering it so you feed 5v to both the USB port and the barrel jack would work.

I think you still need to feed 5v into the USB port on the hub.. don't know for sure, but wouldn't hurt. As long as you also feed 5v to the power plug on the hub, it should work.

Sham-Mobile · 10-31-2005, 12:26 PM

I'm currently using the Carnetix 5v POL to power my USB hub, and a seperate one to power a slim slot load DVD drive/CDRW. Hub needs max of 3.8 amps (7 port Belkin hub), and the DVD drive needs 2amps. Almost done wiring it all up, just need to get wires cleaned up, and install it, should be done in a week.

Also, emailing Carnetix works too, I had an email going back and forth with a guy named Mike there, and he aswered all my emails back within about 4 hours. Gave me complete answers, and helped solve my unsureness.

Peoples · 11-01-2005, 10:20 PM

damn....i was hoping i could power my hub & my cd-drive with 1 POL. Have you tried this?

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