# Operation without batteries **URL:** \ **Category:** uConsole\ **Created:** [June 27, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762 "2024-06-27T18:54:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jimla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@jimla](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jimla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 6:54pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/1 "2024-06-27T18:54:21Z")
The batteries I ordered have not been received. Can I test the uConsole without installing batteries using a power supply connected to the USB-C port? Thanks, Jim ---
**Author:** ![Caljank](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/caljank/32/9263_2.png) [@Caljank](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Caljank)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/2 "2024-06-27T18:59:39Z")
That ought to work. If I remember correctly, the power routes through the main board before it goes to the charge controller on the battery pack. ---
**Author:** ![jimla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@jimla](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jimla)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2024, 11:52pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/3 "2024-06-27T23:52:49Z")
Thank you for your reply. I attempted power up without batteries from a USB-C power supply but the screen was blank. Hope I did not damage the uConsole. Will try again after I receive the batteries. ---
**Author:** ![Rex](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/rex/32/16852_2.png) [@Rex](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/4 "2024-06-28T00:41:36Z")
It should work without batteries, what image are you using? ---
**Author:** ![jimla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@jimla](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jimla)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/5 "2024-06-28T00:57:42Z")
I am using the image on the SD card shipped with the uConsole. I will try SSH access. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Rex](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/rex/32/16852_2.png) [@Rex](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Rex)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/6 "2024-06-28T01:00:12Z")
try it again, A green light will come on in the power button. if it does come on but won’t boot try to reflash the sd. ---
**Author:** ![mikeschnier](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/mikeschnier/32/9697_2.png) [@mikeschnier](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/mikeschnier)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2024, 1:08am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/7 "2024-06-28T01:08:33Z")
Just FYI, the first boot takes a couple minutes. ---
**Author:** ![jimla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@jimla](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/jimla)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2024, 12:19am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/8 "2024-06-29T00:19:54Z")
Thanks Rex for your hint about the power button. I held down the power button until the green light came on. The uConsole booted and I configured the user. However the trackball does not function. This might be an assembly problem. I am impressed with the high resolution display. ---
**Author:** ![Snoozer94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Snoozer94](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Snoozer94)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/9 "2024-06-30T16:59:54Z")
The best thing to do if any components arent working is to disassemble the uconsole and reassemble again, i had an issue with the keyboard (wasnt fitted in properly first time) and after doing that worked perfectly fine. ---
**Author:** ![Sean8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sean8/32/11099_2.png) [@Sean8](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Sean8)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/10 "2026-05-15T10:28:49Z")
Hi, I am new here, I am currently having the same issue still waiting for my batteries to arrive, when i press and hold the power button it did light up green but there is no activity in the screen, any help would be appreciated. Rpi CM5 8gb RAM 16gb EMMC, Flashed with Dragon OS 6.12.67 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/3X/4/7/471ee2b2a4a8dc0970b76c0830090d3148640817.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 10:41am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/11 "2026-05-15T10:41:36Z")
> [@Sean8](#): > > Rpi CM5 8gb RAM 16gb EMMC, Flashed with Dragon OS 6.12.67 1. have you tried to connect external display via HDMI cable? 2. have you tried the stock hardware? 3. can you try to boot cm5 in your external board without uconsole? ---
**Author:** ![Sean8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sean8/32/11099_2.png) [@Sean8](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Sean8)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 11:37am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/12 "2026-05-15T11:37:41Z")
1. have you tried to connect external display via HDMI cable? -No unfortunately at the moment i can’t test that i dont have the micro hdmi yet. 2. have you tried the stock hardware? -No I have not. 3. can you try to boot cm5 in your external board without uconsole? -Yes, I tried to flash it on an external waveshare board and boots fine before i transferred it to the clockwork board. 4. ---
**Author:** ![white-round-square](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/white-round-square/32/10385_2.png) [@white-round-square](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/white-round-square)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 11:50am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/13 "2026-05-15T11:50:21Z")
> [@Sean8](#): > > have you tried the stock hardware? > -No I have not. try stock hadrware first, it may be somehow HG related: > [@I'm stuck, and my frustration is winning](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/im-stuck-and-my-frustration-is-winning/22322/17): > > So did you ever get an image on the internal screen? Have you set it up stock without the hackergadgets stuff and boot a clean image? ---
**Author:** ![Sean8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sean8/32/11099_2.png) [@Sean8](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Sean8)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 1:37pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/14 "2026-05-15T13:37:03Z")
Thank you, will try without the HG. ---
**Author:** ![Michal\_Wojcik](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/michal_wojcik/32/16587_2.png) [@Michal\_Wojcik](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Michal_Wojcik)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2026, 3:05pm UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/15 "2026-05-15T15:05:59Z")
Can you reinsert main board with adapter board? From photo it seems like it isn’t fully inserted into it’s slot. ---
**Author:** ![Sean8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sean8/32/11099_2.png) [@Sean8](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Sean8)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 2:47am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/16 "2026-05-16T02:47:32Z")
You were right @Michal_Wojcik Thank you very much, confirms that it would work while waiting for the batteries to arrive 😁, I am sure I flashed dragon os there, will have to figure out the next. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/3X/d/5/d5a3b73cb0f6d03be824d180f4efdcf94878abc2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Michal\_Wojcik](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/michal_wojcik/32/16587_2.png) [@Michal\_Wojcik](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Michal_Wojcik)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2026, 9:16am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/17 "2026-05-16T09:16:49Z")
Glad to hear that. Are you planning to go with NVMe drive too? In that case, make sure that you have batteries first - otherwise you might not be able to power it up. BTW, you might to want to remove antenna from main board - there’s WIFI chip connect to it that cannot be used - so you are wasting perfectly good antenna for no reason. If you get AC1200 from HG - it has four IPEX ports. ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/clockworkpi/original/3X/d/9/d977ea3e9ee63924e79eecc8adfe5937eecdd145.png) ---
**Author:** ![Sean8](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.clockworkpi.com/sean8/32/11099_2.png) [@Sean8](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/u/Sean8)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2026, 9:59am UTC](https://forum.clockworkpi.com/t/operation-without-batteries/13762/18 "2026-05-17T09:59:21Z")
Hi Michal, Yes I am planning to go with the full upgrade, Thank you for this info i have been trying to look at some of the upgrades that may possibly not work with the device and try to avoid any of that soon.