X5: hardware question & feature request

[drwowe]

Question for the hardware engineering gurus:

Is it physically possible for the X5 to charge the battery through the side USB port when it's in slave mode?

If yes, that would be an awesome feature.  No more dragging around the sub-pack.  (it can't be done in the stock firmware as far as I know).  By itself, it would be enough reason to dual boot, even if I never used RockBox for anything else. 

If not, well I would like to know once and for all.

[poisonalchemist]

I'm not a guru, and I barely understand what you're saying but that is an interesting idea. Good question. There is a section for feature requests (no that they'll get around to them in the feature freeze) so you might want to look for or stick this in there.

[RaeNye]

I happened to open my X5L and saw that there's a red wire connecting the subpack USB +5V pin to the PCB but the USB-OTG has none.

It means that:
1. no USB-OTG charging is possible 
2. you might be able to mod your X5 to have USB-OTG charging , but that could fry your unit.

R.

[drwowe]

Thanks RaeNye.  It's not the answer I was hoping for but I'm still glad to know.

About that modding.  hmm...  Although maybe it would be easier to just drill into the side and install another barrell plug.

[stoffi]

I don't think it would be a good idea to mod the X5.

there is a reason for tat +5V not being connected. remember, what you plug in there, ie. my Canon EOS 20D, also has something connected to its +5V, and differences in voltages an stuff can create unwanted currents that may overload some current rails, and break the X5...

[Mad Big Sausage]

I don't own an x5 (I've got a h300) but I bought my gf one not too long ago.
I was being nice and transferring over a good deal of my stuff to her player before I presented the present to her.
Anyway, I used the USB OTG for a hefty portion of the transfer as I was moving around and had a bday deadline to meet. I noticed that the x5 drew a hell of a lot of power from my player (which was the host). It depleted my 2200mA battery without much of a dent in her stock battery.

The point of this little anicdote is that if you can't use the port for charging you might be able to use it to connect an external battery source that the player can run off....?