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Thread ID: 125530 2012-07-04 06:17:00 usb overcurrent error message on plasma tv shione83 (7126) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1285897 2012-07-04 12:48:00 Hard drives (even 2.5") ones take a fair bit of current to spin up initially.

Once spinning, they use less current but the startup current (for the motor) is high. This is why most 2.5" drives come with a double USB cable so you can run from two ports and get twice as much power.

A powered hub that can supply power to the HDD instead of relying on the TV's USB port power might be a good solution. Or use a 3.5" external HDD with its own power supply from the mains.
Agent_24 (57)
1285898 2012-07-04 23:12:00 ok.... no firmware update for the tv..it is only weeks old.
i rang panasonic this morning... was told that the the file system MUST be FAT32..... strange that... the portable drive that works is NTSF as is the one that wont work.
does anyone know how i can find out how much power the offending drive is drawing?
shione83 (7126)
1285899 2012-07-04 23:20:00 hmmm... replied to this and saw another reply now cant find either so excuse me for repeating myself...
there is no firmware update for the tv... it is only weeks old.
rang Panasonic this morning and was told that the file system on the ext drive MUST be FAT32...strange that... both the drives r NTSF...so why does 1 work but not the other? they didnt know either LOL
does anyone know how i can find out how much power the drives r drawing?

OH!! found them on page 2 ...oops sorry guys
shione83 (7126)
1285900 2012-07-05 00:00:00 I don't see the mystery, here. I think you should just believe what the TV is telling you. And it certainly isn't a software or format problem.

500 mA is not a lot of current. You need a powered hub or a 3.5" drive with its own mains power as others have said.
linw (53)
1285901 2012-07-05 00:04:00 Get a powered USB hub. mikebartnz (21)
1285902 2012-07-05 00:44:00 does anyone know how i can find out how much power the offending drive is drawing?

Just measured a WD Passport Essential 500GB @ 630mA peak. This was connected via USB3.
inphinity (7274)
1285903 2012-07-05 00:49:00 Just measured a WD Passport Essential 500GB @ 630mA peak. This was connected via USB3.

Yeah, it will be this at startup that causes the problem.

We don't know at exactly what level the TV decides there is an overcurrent problem. It might be a 501mA or it might be at 600mA.

Let's say it's 600mA - your drive that does work may be drawing 580mA on startup (within the 600mA limit) and the offending drive might draw 620mA and trip the overcurrent protection.


The filesystem (NTFS or FAT32) has nothing to do with how much power it will use.
Agent_24 (57)
1285904 2012-07-06 05:30:00 thanx for trying to help me guys :)
apparently we didnt spend enough on the tv so i returned passport drive and got an ac powered one...kind of defeated my purpose tho but hey
shione83 (7126)
1285905 2012-07-06 05:38:00 I have found that a lot of appliances such as TVs and games consoles have trouble with USB powered hard drives. Greven (91)
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