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I'm thinking of building myself a small media center using a RasPi, but 2 USB ports doesn't seem enough to me. So I will need a USB Hub. I still don't know exactly what devices will be plugged on it (right now I'm thinking a WiFi dongle, an IR receiver for a remote, and an external HDD), but just to be safe, the hub will be powered.

The thing is, I don't have a lot of wall plugs near my TV, and all of them are currently used. So I was wondering if it's possible to power the USB hub via USB, using a "Mains to dual USB" plug like this one or similar. They output 5v, and a maximum 2.1A intensity, which should be enough for both the RasPi and the Hub.

Any advice or help on this ?

Thanks a lot !

EDIT : Just adding more info :

  • The link I gave is an example of the type of product I want to use. I still haven't bought anything. When/if I buy it, it will be a higher-end product, with less risk for my RasPi
  • I wish to build a small, non-invasive solution, with the fewest cable. If this idea is viable, I will use heat-shrink tubing (or another cable management technique) on the 2 power cables (RasPi and hub), so they appear as one
3rgo
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I would recommend just getting a multi-way adapter. It makes one socket into 2 or more. The adapter would be able to power the Pi and the hub as long as your hub doesn't use more then 1400 mA.

Matthew
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Yes, you definitely can. A lot of people are doing this. Just note that some hubs don't work properly. E.g. because the power adapter doesn't provide steady enough voltage for the Pi to work properly. Also because some hub have power-feedback.

To prevent this, first check the list of hubs, known to work with the pi.

Gerben
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I found a nice little 4-port hub that works just fine with the Pi3B and relies on the Pi for power. With a 5V 2.5A mains power supply on the Rpi, it is rated to supply an aggregate of 1.4 Amps on the USB ports. That power can pass through this adapter. The other reason to use mains power is for peripherals that need it, as shown below.

This works with keyboard and mouse and flash drive as-is.

Here it is: 4-port USB Hub on Amazonenter image description here

The only trouble I have had is when I tried a Passport drive on it - it simply didn't work.

But it works for my 1TB laptop SSHD with a SATA USB adapter and external AC mains SATA power supply. The power supply came with the SATA adapter. This isnt the exact brand as mine but it looks the same: SATA to USB with power supplyenter image description here

I haven't had need to try more than one drive like this, but have no reason to think it wouldn't work.

SDsolar
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