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RPI4 won't boot with powered USB hub

14

I have an RPI4 running a Plex server, Pihole, etc etc.

Power kept dropping while running certain tasks involving the attached HDD, so I started using a powered USB3 hub - problem solved.

But now the Pi won't boot with the powered USB hub attached. I have to unplug it, wait for boot, then plug it back in.

What am I missing?

2 Answers

4

You have to make sure that you are getting consistent 5V from the USB hub, and at the very least 1 Amp in current... most usb hubs will only regulate to 500 mA which sounds like what you were getting due to the power drops. Did you see a lightning bolt on the screen when working on the Pi either on commandline mode or Desktop? If you did, you got your answer :)

3

I found the exact same issue in a Reddit post and the solution seems to be a frustrating one - find a more expensive powered USB hub. Oh well.


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RPI4 won't boot with powered USB hub

14

I have an RPI4 running a Plex server, Pihole, etc etc.

Power kept dropping while running certain tasks involving the attached HDD, so I started using a powered USB3 hub - problem solved.

But now the Pi won't boot with the powered USB hub attached. I have to unplug it, wait for boot, then plug it back in.

What am I missing?


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9

You have to make sure that you are getting consistent 5V from the USB hub, and at the very least 1 Amp in current... most usb hubs will only regulate to 500 mA which sounds like what you were getting due to the power drops. Did you see a lightning bolt on the screen when working on the Pi either on commandline mode or Desktop? If you did, you got your answer :)

edit

I'll see if I can find out what the hub is doing with power, as I suspect you're correct - however I haven't once seen the lightning bolt! - lukenm Jul 17, 2019 at 9:12

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