Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
I have a Windows laptop with a firewire port which is, of course, not powered. For some of my longer iPod syncs, the iPod battery runs out before the sync is over, which hasn't been disatrous yet - just annoying. I'm worried that one day, it will mess up the iPod database in some way.
What is the best solution to this problem? The only thing I know that would work is to buy a powered firewire hub and plug the iPod into that. At least I think that would work. I wish I could just buy a powered firewire cable - like a normal firewire cable with a power cord coming off of it.
Any ideas on solutions to this problem?
Thanks.
[667 byte] By [
Narvitron] at [2007-11-9 12:54:59]
# 1 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
I believe this is what you're looking for:
http://www.pccables.com/70939.htm
It converts a 4-pin female Firewire to 6-pin female and provides power through the USB port.
# 2 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Man, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Thank you!
Unfortunately, that site is out of stock. Any ideas of other places to purchase this kick ### cable?
Thanks!
# 3 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
I would be carefull of that cable. There is a reason that Apple doesn't let the iPod charge from the USB port, it draws too much juice.
# 4 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Anyone tried this yet?
http://www.sik.com/firejuice.php
# 5 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Originally posted by Doc Holiday
I would be carefull of that cable. There is a reason that Apple doesn't let the iPod charge from the USB port, it draws too much juice.
I haven't used that cable so I can't vouch for it, but supplying the iPod with too little juice wouldn't harm it. Although it probably wouldn't be very effective at powering it either. Anyway that Firejuice looks like the way to go.
# 6 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
If you have a 3G ipod then the current Firejuice won't work, it says on their site that they are 'working on it'.
pie at 2007-11-15 17:11:10 >
# 7 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
i was just going to buy separate cables to make just such a device (but with the a firewire port instead of usb to connect to mains power adapter), but instead of butchering cables I can just buy one of those splitter power take-off plug things if I can find one in the UK, excellent!
Has anyone successfully used this http://www.pccables.com/70939.htm or something like it with a 3g ipod?
# 8 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
I emailed the company about that cable, and they said it is still being created. That's why it is listed as out of stock. They recommended a powered firewire hub/router/repeater in the meantime.
# 9 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
I have just bought a pcmcia firewire card for my laptop and by plugging the ipod power adaptor into the card via a normal firewire cable with the ipod plugged into the card too, et voila! The ipod is now powered!
and all for less than ?30 (?22 firewire card from ebay, ?8 firewire cable)
# 10 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Originally posted by pie
If you have a 3G ipod then the current Firejuice won't work, it says on their site that they are 'working on it'.
I think they designed the FireJuice backwards, but there may be a signal propagation issue with the way I'd do it.
They made a FireWire cable that injects power. It plugs into a 1st/2nd generation iPod and a computer and takes a cable hooked to a power supply.
If they'd made it a FireWire receptacle with two plugs- one to a power supply and one to an unpowered FireWire port, we could use it with the 3G iPods and the 6-pin to dock cable. However, the signals would be going through an extender which is against spec. With a 15' maximum cable length and a typical 6' length, a few inches of cable plus the extra connector capacitance might still fall within spec.
When the 3G FireJuice comes out, I hope they'll make it smart enough to switch power (just need a diode) if the FireWire port on the computer is powered. I have powered ports, but I just want to charge when the computer is off.
If they do it right, it'll be a lot cheaper than a powered FireWire hub, but I'm still interested in whether those work. They could provide power when the upstream port is inactive, but do they??
# 11 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Don't ask me how safe this is, but...here's what I'm doing (I read about it on here, so thanks to whoever said to try it):
I have a two port firewire card on my laptop. On one port, I have a firewire cord plugged into the charger (which is then plugged in). The other port has the actual iPod plugged in.
It works fine, although I miss seeing "charged" on the screen since it sticks in the ok to disconnect screen now. :)
bobbi at 2007-11-15 17:16:14 >
# 12 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Originally posted by bobbi
I have a two port firewire card on my laptop. On one port, I have a firewire cord plugged into the charger (which is then plugged in). The other port has the actual iPod plugged in.
Sounds interesting, but I don't trust my card to be designed correctly and I need both firewire ports- one for a camcorder.
I'm going to get a firewire receptacle backpanel thing (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-999-752-02.JPG) and connect it to the power pins of the firewire receptacles on my Adaptec AUA-3020 DuoConnect (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/product/proddetail.html?sess=no&language=English+US&prodkey=AUA-3020&cat=%2fTechnology%2fFireWire-1394%2fUSB+%26+FireWire+Combo+Cards)
I'll also need a 6pin-to-6pin cable as the ones that came with my firewire cards were both for camcorders (6 to 4).
I have access to a lab with a Metcal iron & a microscope or I wouldn't attempt that.
There is a cable like what I was suggesting as a way the FireJuice could have been designed to work with 3G iPods, the
FireCable (http://www.compucable.com/firewire/embed.asp?stuff=firecable_sys.html), but it comes with an AC adapter (I already have Apple's!), so it's $30 instead of $15 to $20.
I'll post pictures to my website when I get the DuoConnect mod done... if it works. If I ruin my card, I'll slink off...
# 13 Re: Cheapest solution to power windows laptop firewire?
Yeah, I've been wondering about this too. Any new cables? Or updates on the Firecable?
