Can USB devices overload your computer by drawing too much power?

RichWPX

Reputable
Dec 18, 2015
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So I recently had this portable battery for phones hooked up to my HP Pavillion:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UBDI7EC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A142BGUZC6UH73

Ran great no issues... that is until I hooked up this other battery at the same time.

http://www.amazon.com/Aukey-10000mAh-Portable-External-Supported/dp/B011U0AY22/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top?ie=UTF8

I also had an externally powered HDD, a USB only pocket drive, a mouse, and a keyboard that both light up hooked up. When I plugged in the black battery to my hub the lights on my other devices went out... that should have been a clue. But instead I plugged it in to the main port and it seemed to be working. I left and came back 30 mins later to find my laptop powered down. If I try to turn it on, an LED flashes three times and that's it. It seems completely broken, any ideas?
 
Solution
It sure can, specially those battery chargers, they draw too much power. Laptops even more than desktop computers.
The USB 1.x and 2.0 specifications provide a 5 V supply on a single wire to power connected USB devices.
A unit load is defined as 100 mA in USB 2.0, and 150 mA in USB 3.0. A device may draw a maximum of 5 unit loads (500 mA) from a port in USB 2.0; 6 (900 mA) in USB 3.0.
It sure can, specially those battery chargers, they draw too much power. Laptops even more than desktop computers.
The USB 1.x and 2.0 specifications provide a 5 V supply on a single wire to power connected USB devices.
A unit load is defined as 100 mA in USB 2.0, and 150 mA in USB 3.0. A device may draw a maximum of 5 unit loads (500 mA) from a port in USB 2.0; 6 (900 mA) in USB 3.0.
 
Solution