Not enough power? - Page 2

zoranb · #9 October 13th, 2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElDiabloConCaca

Some external, USB-powered hard drives require a special, Y-shaped USB connector that connects to two USB ports simultaneously.

Search around on the internet for a USB cable that connects to two USB ports at the same time. Sometimes called a "split USB cable" or "dual USB cable" or "Dual Y-shaped USB adaptor."

my HD has two power outlets to USB so i wont be needing the split cable, my issue are the Power Books USB ports, that they dont have enough power to power it! Or at least i think they cant!

VirtualTracy · #10 October 13th, 2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoranb

my HD has two power outlets to USB

I found the following with regards to the above:

Quote:

Not all computers, including not all Macs, send the same amount of power to the USB ports. As a result, some bus powered USB drives will NOT function properly when using just one USB port on some computers. You either need to use a external power brick or use a second USB port by way of either a Y type USB cable or a second USB cable that goes from a power port on the drive to a USB port. Just about every bus powered USB drive I have ever encountered either came with a Y type USB cable or a second USB cable that goes from a power port on the USB drive to a second USB port on the computer. Does your drive has such a cable and if so, have you tried it?

Quote:

Your HD's are not bus powered. The secondary USB port on the drives are for daisy chaining multiple drives together, not powering them (unless a drive is bus powered). What you need are power supplies to hook to your drives if you are going to use them with your powerbook.

Kees Buijs · #11 October 13th, 2008, 12:03 PM

A laptop normally does not provide to much power as it decreases UP time by a large percentage. Is the drive a laptop drive (2.5") or a regular (3.5" drive). The latter is certainly not ment to be powered from the computer itself, but from a external power supply.

Good luck, Kees

zoranb · #12 October 13th, 2008, 01:43 PM

Well my drive is a laptop drive, and yes there is another cable that goes from power port 2 usb. So to make it work i must have both cables connected to usb ports. On the other hand on my dual G5, the drive works with only one usb port!

Kees Buijs · #13 October 14th, 2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zoranb

Well my drive is a laptop drive, and yes there is another cable that goes from power port 2 usb. So to make it work i must have both cables connected to usb ports. On the other hand on my dual G5, the drive works with only one usb port!

On a desktop system POWER is not (a big) issue as the power supply can be (relatively) huge.

Good luck, Kees