I never would have thought of that. I use two or three USB devices at any one time on my new desktop or my laptop. I bought the new desktop when the old one started crapping out and scaring me with the possible loss of thousands of dollars worth of programs and work. Most all are now running on the new desktop with the old one as backup, plus a portable hard drive for a third backup. About that same time the hard drive on my circa 2005 Toshiba Satellite fully gave up the ghost, with the loss of some data and one or two programs that weren't fully backed up. Fortunately that loss wasn't too bad, but between the new computer and the replacement of the hard drive and upgrade to the laptop I spent around $1,200 (about the cost for a new mount for my telescope - damnit). I'm wondering if I could have been causing problems with too many USB-connected devices. I'll certainly take your advice, Kurt. Thanks. Kim -----Original Message----- From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Canopus56 Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2010 8:51 PM To: Utah Astronomy List Serv Subject: [Utah-astronomy] Another fried electronics story and powered USBbuffers In followup to Kim's story about a fried scope board, I would like to convey a recent experience regarding astronomy cameras and other gear powered through a USB port on a laptop. The short version of the lesson learned and related in this message is that it is a good idea to have a separately powered USB mini-hub and to use that as a buffer between your laptop and astronomy gear. Last year, I might have scoffed at that notion because a powered USB mini-hub is one more piece of gear to haul around and hook up in a hobby that is already overloaded with gear. Based on my experience related below, know I feel it is a basic safe computing practice. Since 2006, I have used a Compaq Presario 6400 laptop as my primary computer, including for powering astronomy cameras (Meade DSI Pro). It has served me extraordinarily well - having been in a virtually continuous "on" state since 2006 and suffering me carrying it around in softcase on a daily basis. Last winter I also started working with other USB interfaces and devices: computer control of a ham radio receiver in support of radio astronomy, external 500mb portable drives, a cooling platform that was USB powered and a new DMK31 astrocamera. In the middle of experimenting with these new USB powered or effecting devices, my USB ports shorted out. The laptop worked fine but no USB ports worked. For a modern laptop that is close to having no laptop. Not wanting to upgrade this Windows XP laptop and repurchase and reinstall all of my astronomy software under Windows 7, I purchased a new motherboard and had it installed at a local computer store. The "certifed" new motherboard has a short in CD-DVD player burner pins but the USB ports now work. Because of the product development cycle for software and laptops, I am deferring buying back in until December or January and continue to limp along with the old Presario. The laptop tech's experience was that using alot of USB powered devices generally results in motherboard short-outs. He said that he always uses a separately powered USB min-hub - so if the power hungry USB powered plug-in device shorts out or justs tries to draw too much power - the mini-hub gets fried and not your laptop's motherboard. Live and learn. Clear Skies - Kurt _______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com