Charging iPod via USB port on T43.

Message

patfla · #1 Post by **patfla** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:32 am

Hi,

Just went out and bought an Apple dock connector (one form factor for Firewire) to USB cable to hook my gen 3 iPod up to my new T43.

I use XPlay (www.mediafour.com) with iTunes on top. This has worked fine on every desktop where I've installed the combination.

Installed such on my T43.

The new cable says that, in principle, in addition to connectivity, it should also charge the iPod.

My preliminary tests tell me No. (yes, I did eject and then leave physically connected the iPod - no charging). The iPod's charging interface requires a certain (not insubstantial) amount of current. And my first guess is that the T43's USB ports don't provide this kind of power?

pat

Jmmmmm · #2 Post by **Jmmmmm** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:15 am

My t43 charges my 4g ipod and nano. There shouldn't be any problem with usb power.

patfla · #3 Post by **patfla** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:38 am

Did you say 4 GB iPod? Did you mean 40?

If 4 then I guess it's a Mini.

I imagine both the Mini and the Nano draw less current than a 30GB gen 3.

Are both the Mini and Nano flash-based? Again I'd guess that this would draw less current than and HD-based iPod like mine.

pat

Michael1980 · #4 Post by **Michael1980** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:57 pm

He said 4th Generation iPod.

I always charge my iPod through the usb. No probs.

#5 Post by **bill bolton** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:41 pm

> The iPod's charging interface requires a certain (not insubstantial)
> amount of current.

The USB ports on a Thinkpad will each directly supply about 500mA of current, which is the maximum rating for a USB port. If you put an unpowered hub between the Thinkpad USB port and the connected USB device, the available power is shared amongst all devices concurrently connected dto the unpowered hub.

I was able to charge my old Nokia GSM 6610 phone off the USB ports on many devices, including my Thinkpad, but my latest Nokia 6230i GSM phone not only won't charge of a single USB port, but also actually tells me its seen power on the charging input, but it is unable to charge for the amount of power available!

Cheers,

Bill

patfla · #6 Post by **patfla** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 1:32 am

thanx bill. That was part of the information that I need (500mA). I vaguely seem to remember that that's over what a gen 3 30GB iPod needs, but I'll have to double-check.

The most obvious thing to do at the moment though is to take the cable back and swap it for another. And see if that works better.

And no, I'm not using a hub. A single port, a single cable, and my iPod on the end of it. So it should be getting the full benefit of the 500mA.

ChristopherTD · #7 Post by **ChristopherTD** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:08 am

AFAIK, 3rd Gen iPods cannot charge over USB. They will sync over USB, but not charge. You need to charge using the AC adapter or a powered Firewire card.

USB charging only came in on 4G iPods (the ones with the click wheel). Which was one of the reasons I sold my 3G!

Regards
Christopher

simscitizen · #8 Post by **simscitizen** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 2:41 am

Previous poster is right. There is no way you will ever be able to charge your 3G iPod over USB...kind of annoying. I have one too.

MadeInJapan · #9 Post by **MadeInJapan** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:38 pm

Guys....what about the Nano? It charges on my son's desktop computer's USB port, but when we go to his grand-parent's this christmas, I will only have my T30. I do have a PC card USB2/Firewire card...will that do it?

ariadgr · #10 Post by **ariadgr** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:21 am

Isn't it more convenient to buy the USB Power Adapter?

Charging iPod via USB port on T43.

Charging iPod via USB port on T43.

Re: Charging iPod via USB port on T43.

Who is online