Can you power the external DVD drive using a 10,000 mAh USB charger?

Question

Can the Surface Pro 3 be used to watch DVD's without AC power, such as on a flight, or camping? Could the Y-cable from the DVD player be plugged into something like a SHARKK® 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger  and get enough power that way?

Answer 1

Finally got all the pieces I needed to try this. I'm using a LG GP65 DVD writer, connecting with a USB y-connector. Running the DVD with the software supplied with the DVD unit (Cyberlink Media suite). The drive works fine with the SP3 connected to either the power brick or to a portable charger. So it can be used in a portable fashion - as long as your SP3 battery and external charger last. Fully charged, the SP3 has no problem lasting for a couple flights (or movies). Smaller portable chargers (2,500 mAh) might get you through a movie, but the larger ones (10,000 mAh and up) seem to hold up very well. Testing longevity now. :)

Answer 2

Thanks for the reply, Barb.

However, the product for which you supplied the link still needs to hook up to a 12V power supply (vehicle power port), which you won't have on flights.

Ah, ok. I don't honestly know if a power supply like the SHARKK will handle this task. If your SP3 is running on battery power, you are eventually going to need AC power to recharge the battery.

Answer 3

On Thu, 18 Dec 2014 00:37:58 +0000, ElWick_101 wrote:

>>Can the Surface Pro 3 be used to watch DVD's without AC power, such as on a flight, or camping? Could the Y-cable from the DVD player be plugged into something like a SHARKK® 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger  and get enough power that way?

http://www.wagan.com/index.php/products/power-inverters/smart-ac-flight-series/2395-5-smart-ac-flight150-usb.html

has one that claims to do what you need.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Barb

Windows Entertainment and Connected Home MVP

My Blog - http://digitalmediaphile.com/

Please mark as answered if this answers your question

Answer 4

Thanks for the reply, Barb.

However, the product for which you supplied the link still needs to hook up to a 12V power supply (vehicle power port), which you won't have on flights.

Answer 5

Can you recommend a USB driven DVD player writer that will work with the SP3?  

I can get my LG SP60NB50 to read DVDs but not write DVDs.

I suspect it is a power issue, even with the DVD player/ writer connected directly to the SP3 and not the docking station.  

DVD player/ writer does not work from a powered hub or powered SP3 docking station.

Is there a DVD writer/ reader device that will solve this problem for me?

I retired my desktop in favor of the SP3 and have no alternative to burning DVDs other than an external DVD reader/ writer.

Suggestions, please.