DS Forums

 
 

KDL-40W705C general usb question (applies to any TV with a usb connection really)


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 17-03-2016, 12:02
scampi1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 40

Just a few basic questions as this will be a first time purchase of a TV with USB

it has 2 USB ports so one will be for programme recording, but...

1) Would the other port charge a phone, or small power bank for example? if so what would be the typical charge rate from a TV? And Is there any detrimental reason why it would not be advisable?

2) Do people use a better quality extension cables on USB outputs for their hard drive than the ones that come with them? I am guessing 0.5m would be the best size to keep the hard drive close ish to the TV. I'll be getting a 2tb as that's the maximum it supports iirc.

(I might occasionally want to get to it but I will probably hide the hard drive behind the TV by attaching a small home made mount to the wall mount as it is light with a few zip ties or something.

What solutions do other people use?

I don't really want to put it on a stand under the TV as it will look messy.
scampi1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 17-03-2016, 13:32
Stig
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,386
The power output from USB sockets varies a lot. The original specification was 5V and 500mA, but many devices support 1.5A. The reason that your TV might have two sockets is that you may require a 'double header' cable with 2 plugs to power one hard disk.

The TV may not be designed to draw a lot of power from USB over a long period of time, so using it as a charger may not be a good idea.
Stig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 14:10
Nigel Goodwin
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
The power output from USB sockets varies a lot. The original specification was 5V and 500mA, but many devices support 1.5A. The reason that your TV might have two sockets is that you may require a 'double header' cable with 2 plugs to power one hard disk.
No, it has two so you can still use one for thumb drives, if you've already got an HDD connected to the recording one.

As far as power goes, you need an external HDD with an external PSU - the TV isn't intended to power an external HDD.
Nigel Goodwin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 14:16
scampi1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 40
No, it has two so you can still use one for thumb drives, if you've already got an HDD connected to the recording one.

As far as power goes, you need an external HDD with an external PSU - the TV isn't intended to power an external HDD.

Useful to know, thanks (doesn't make installing one easier though with regards to keeping everything hidden!)

Might not bother as it's only to record programmes (unless I delve into the manual and see if there's other uses), not a big loss because I don't have the need for it currently, always the option to do it later
scampi1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 14:24
Stig
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,386
No, it has two so you can still use one for thumb drives, if you've already got an HDD connected to the recording one.
So, I've been imagining it when I see external hard drives with a double headed USB cable for this purpose?
Stig is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 15:13
scampi1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 40
So, I've been imagining it when I see external hard drives with a double headed USB cable for this purpose?

After doing a little bit of digging the safer consensus / option is to get a HDD with an external power supply, many TVs will not like the load you are putting on it attempting to use a HDD without one and therefore simply cannot supply adequate power to operate it.

Piggybacking a USB sounds like a cheap cop out way of asking the HDD to work and then you're also using another port (The TV only has 2) and I'm not feeling confident that's an adequate solution.

A double headed USB would only serve to potentially let two items squabble over the amount of power the TV can provide, again, not sounding adequate/reliable unless the TV is powerful enough to support it and / or the connected devices are low(er) power.

So it's probably not a question of you imagining it, it's probably possible with some, but not in a majority as such. More of a lucky find if you can call it that.

This sort of explains why also it's unlikely to be suitable to use it to charge a phone etc.

It would be somewhat interesting to see what manufacturers say about what mah output their USB gives from their TVs in general, but I've not got the time or desire to do it because at the end of the day the more delving I do, TVs generally speaking were not designed to charge things with, it were more curiosity - not going to strain my new purchase for the sake of wanting to charge something off it
scampi1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 16:41
Nigel Goodwin
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: North Derbyshire
Posts: 41,794
So, I've been imagining it when I see external hard drives with a double headed USB cable for this purpose?
There are load's of things sold that are totally inappropriate for the suggested purpose - such as HDMI to SCART cables

However, in the double headed USB case it's most likely intended for connecting to a PC, and NOT a TV.
Nigel Goodwin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17-03-2016, 16:50
anthony david
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,470
The record o/p from Sony TVs will power a hard drive such as the WD My Passport Ultra without any problems, however with only one tuner and a clunky operating system it's no substitute for a PVR. The USB ports on their 3D TVs will charge their 3D glasses but that's about all. USB chargers are cheap and available at any large supermarket, don't risk damaging the TV.
anthony david is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-2016, 00:38
evil c
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Wirral Peninsula
Posts: 4,777
Hi,

I have a 320GB portable hard drive connected to my TV's USB HDD socket just using the lead supplied and have had no problems in 5 years of using it. The drive stands next to the TV and new visitors always ask what it is, and then are surprised when I tell them.

Formatted, my 320GB drive has 298GB usable space. My usage varies, but at the moment it's 69GB, and that leaves 229GB free, or 26 hrs 6 mins for HD recordings/52 hrs 13 mins for SD recordings.

I don't do that much recording but nearly every night at least once I use the pause live TV function of the drive, with a max pause time of 90 mins. It's worth having the hard drive for that alone. I don't need a PVR.

I use another USB socket with various thumb drives for viewing pics, and there's a further USB that I don't need or use.
evil c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 18-03-2016, 01:43
brillopad
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: St Ives, Cornwall
Posts: 3,177
The record o/p from Sony TVs will power a hard drive such as the WD My Passport Ultra without any problems, however with only one tuner and a clunky operating system it's no substitute for a PVR. The USB ports on their 3D TVs will charge their 3D glasses but that's about all. USB chargers are cheap and available at any large supermarket, don't risk damaging the TV.
That's what I do - bit of a waste for recording though only having one tuner - I do use it for pausing live video (rarely).
brillopad is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 16:47.