CD Burning with a Pi

[W. H. Heydt]

Haven't seen much about this, but it can be done. Here's the setup I used:

Software: k3b
Hardware: Asus SDRW-08D2S-U plus 4-port powered hub.

The CD burner comes with a cable that connects to two USB ports. Since the data plate has a line "Rating 5V 2.0A", I used a hub with a 2.5A power supply. I doubt it actually draws 2A, but it could easily draw 1A from the two USB connections.

Since the monitor, keyboard and mouse for the Pi I did this with are connected through an Iogear 4-port HDMI/USB KVM switch, the only thing connected the USB hub was the CD burner.

[FTrevorGowen]

Although I haven't (yet) managed to burn a CD via a Pi + external USB CD writer I have made some measurements of "voltage droop" etc. due the current drawn by one device. These tests were not done (yet) using a Pi given the behaviour I discovered:
CD/DVD writer: http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... vices.html (An ex-Medion laptop device which I normally use directly with my Acer netbook)
Hub: http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... rtHub.html (A Hama "Kidney-shaped" 4-port hub, that can be powered, but no PSU was supplied, and does not "back power").
Two PSUs:
1) http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... plies.html (The "TCB 2 x 500 mA device)
2) http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... 85V2A.html (A "5V 2A" PSU that has an "off-load" voltage of 5.6V)
Summary of "voltage droop" :

Code: Select all

Acer+Hama+DVD A+H+TCB+DVD A+H+iLuv+DVD
4.92          5.11        5.53
~4.25        ~4.35        ~5.08*
                          *DVD Mounted!

The first voltage is without a CD inserted, the second is the observed "lowest" voltage post-insertion. The DVD was a Linux magazine "cover disc" IIRC. It only mounted when the iLuv PSU was used. More detail of the Hama Hub's "current loading" behaviour with various PSU's and both the Acer and a Pi can be found here: http://www.cpmspectrepi.webspace.virgin ... st_Results
Trev.