HDD "clicks" on boot and turns off and then turns on again

[Roadeo]

I use a RP3B as a seedbox. I had a 2TB WD external HDD lying around so i used it to store all my torrents. I have it set to auto mount on boot to a specific directory. Everything works fine except for the problem I stated above.

When I power on the Pi the HDD starts spinning up. Then after maybe 5 seconds, it suddenly kills power to the HDD resulting in a very frightening little "click" noise. Then after a second, the Pi restores power to the drive and things work smoothly from there.

I check SMART data every so often and nothing seems to indicate drive failure up until now. My raw read error rate increments every two weeks or so. I tried with a different drive and the same thing happens.

Can someone help me figure this out? Searching online returns nothing similar to this problem.

Any help is appreciated!

[thagrol]

What are you using to power the Pi and what else do you have connected to it?

HDDs draw most current when spinning up. It's possible your PSU can't supply enough current for both the 3B and the HDD to start siultaneously.

Adding a self powered USB hub between the 3B and the HDD may help.

[Roadeo]

I use a 5V 2A power supply. The HDD is powered off the USB port. I have nothing else connected to the Pi.

It's possible your PSU can't supply enough current for both the 3B and the HDD to start siultaneously.

So is there any way to make the Pi supply power to the HDD after a certain time on boot. Would that solve the problem?

Thanks!

[LTolledo]

even a RPi3B with a 2.4A PSU will struggle to supply power to a HDD... as even the red LED will flash at boot-up, and the HDD does not appear as /dev/sda

why did I know that? I tried that before and I failed....
as @thagrol suggested... and as I have tried as well.... using a powered USB hub may be the solution to your problem

...your move...

[bensimmo]

The WD blue HD (I must assume 2.5"here) use just under 0.5A in use from when I looked a year or so back.
Add a bit more for the usb/sata interface board etc.

I think the 3B was close to 1A at start. So as above, it'll probably be power supplied to it. Though technically it should be fine.
Might be worth looking for the delay options, I've not used them though.

[HawaiianPi]

even a RPi3B with a 2.4A PSU will struggle to supply power to a HDD...

That depends on the HDD. Some work fine, others do not.

I've run my Pi3B with USB powered HDD from a 2.4A power source without trouble. But I also have a couple of surprisingly power hungry models that won't work when powered from the Pi's USB.

[thagrol]

One more thing: if it is a power issue using a "Y" cable won't help. The pi doesn't put a per port limit on current avaiable to USB devices.

[jbudd]

Western Digital used to make PiDrive hard disks for Pis, they came with a peculiar version of a Y cable. The power supply output went to the hard disk first, and branched off from there to the Pi, so getting around the Pi's USB power output limit.
Perhaps a DIY version of this would help.

Picture - from left: USB3 to hard drive, 5V in, USB3 (data), 5V out

cable-wd-pidrive.jpg (31.96 KiB) Viewed 246 times

[thagrol]

Western Digital used to make PiDrive hard disks for Pis, they came with a peculiar version of a Y cable. The power supply output went to the hard disk first, and branched off from there to the Pi, so getting around the Pi's USB power output limit.
Perhaps a DIY version of this would help.

Good luck getting hold of one of those. WD have discontinued their Pi products.

If it is a PSU problem that cable won't help. If your PSU can't supply enough current changing the cable won't magically provide more.

If your PSU can supply enough current and the problem is the limit that the Pi can pass on to devices using that cable may help.

[jbudd]

Yes WD have discontinued the pidrive products, that's why I suggested a DIY version.

It offers two possible advantages: the hard disk can be spinning before the pi is even plugged in to the power and it gets around the pi's usb power limits.

I guess the full size usb plug to the pi only has the data wires connected (would that work?)