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What Are BUS POWERED USB Devices?
USB was designed to allow many peripherals to be connected using a standard
interface port, and to improve the plug-and-play features of PCs by allowing
these devices to be connected and disconnected without rebooting the
computer! Another convenient feature includes providing power (also known as
Bus Power) to low-consumption devices without the need for an external power
supply. So Bus Powered means the device is powered by the USB Port, and not
an external power adaptor.
Bus Powered devices offer a lot of flexibility, particularly when used on
laptops and other portable devices. However, you need to determine when “bus
power” is best.
When is Bus Power best?
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You have a desktop with ample USB ports, or
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You have a laptop and you need to take your
Bus Powered devices with you, or
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You only use the device intermittently and
want the simplicity of no external power adaptors, or
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You want to keep desktop clutter to a
minimum, and want to eliminate power cables.
The best example of a USB Bus Power devices
are: USB Thumb Drives, or Passport style USB Hard Drives.
Rules for best results with Bus Powered
Devices:
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Use a good quality USB Cable two feet or
less in length.
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Be sure to directly connect the device to
your computer, instead of through a hub or other device - unless the USB
Hub has its own power.
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Make sure your laptop battery is fully
charged.
Generally speaking, you do not want many
Bus Power devices connected at once, especially on portable devices or
laptops running on batteries. So consider unplugging unneeded devices if
necessary.
Some devices can be powered both by an external adaptor or by Bus Power. As
a general rule, you should use the external adaptor to power the device,
except when you need to use it and external power is not available. However,
higher-consumption devices, such as external optical media burners, and
large hard drives, may work best with external power.
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