usb question

[greg]

Just an easy question, can you power FPP via onboard USB?

[pixelpuppy]

FPP is software that normally runs on a Rapspberry Pi or Beagle Board as well as a few other things

What hardware are you running it on?

[greg]

Sorry should have been a bit more specific on hardware Pi 3b+

[pixelpuppy]

The Pi 3B+ has 4 USB type-A host ports for connecting common USB accessories like network adapters, flash drives, keyboard, mouse, etc.   These ports can not be used to power the Pi.

It also has 1 micro-USB port which is used to provide power to the Pi and does not have USB data capabilities (it is power-in only)

[greg]

Yeah, just wondering if I can power for the F4 it would be more convenient as the pi is located in the enclosure as the F4,  Power only as I am using the SD card for storage and ethernet connection to connect to controller

[pixelpuppy]

Oh I think I get it now.  You are asking if you can use the USB port  ON THE F4 CONTROLLER to power the Pi? (using a USB-A to micro-USB cable I assume).

I think you'll need to ask @dpitts (David Pitts) who designed the F4 controller.  It will depend on how much current the onboard USB port can source.   It may be different depending on whether you are using 12v or 5v to power the board since 12v will need to go through the onboard regulator to step it down to 5v and the regulator has to supply power to the board and the USB port when using 12v power input.

[k6ccc]

Oh I think I get it now.  You are asking if you can use the USB port  ON THE F4 CONTROLLER to power the Pi? (using a USB-A to micro-USB cable I assume).

Don't do it!  From the F4v3 manual page 24:

WARNING : Do NOT use the USB port as a power source for any
devices except an audio output device. Using the USB port to power
other devices may damage the controller or the device.