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External hd power question

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  • 07-03-2013 11:25am
    #1
    mordeith
    Registered Users Posts: 5,278 ✭✭✭


    This is probably a stupid question but if the power led on an external hd lights up does this mean there is enough power going to it to be operational? The reason I ask is I have an external 2.5" WD drive hooked up to my Pi but it won't detect it. I know that there is a likelihood that the Pi wouln't have enough juice to power the hd but when it's plugged in the power led on the hd lights up. I would have though that was an indicator that everything would be working correctly (maybe I'm just beingh naive).
    The Pi does detect USB sticks


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    #2
    FSL
    Registered Users Posts: 1,456 ✭✭✭FSL


    The led usually means there is power going to it but not necessarily enough to drive it.

    Like trying to start a car when the battery is almost flat.

    An external hard drive on a Pi needs an external power source.


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    #3
    mordeith
    Registered Users Posts: 5,278 ✭✭✭mordeith


    FSL wrote: »
    The led usually means there is power going to it but not necessarily enough to drive it.

    Like trying to start a car when the battery is almost flat.

    An external hard drive on a Pi needs an external power source.

    I was kind of thinking that alright. Thanks for the heads up.


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