Charging and IPOD via USB on my thinkpad???

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Comeron · #1 Post by **Comeron** » Mon May 29, 2006 7:54 pm

On my desktop computer, I can simply plug my ipod into any usb connection and it will charge. My thinkpad on the otherhand will not charge the ipod. I have tried the advanced minidock ports and they also do not work. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

astro · #2 Post by **astro** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:13 pm

Nope, my iPod (4th generation 20GB) charges fine straight off the USB ports (on the left and right side) on the T60. I suspect you would have to be plugged into AC or it won't charge. Then again, the dock should be always connected to AC? There were some comments in previous threads about the USB on the dock only working intermittently...

Comeron · #3 Post by **Comeron** » Mon May 29, 2006 8:18 pm

hmm, yea the AC is plugged in....

christopher_wolf · #4 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:00 pm

Comeron wrote:hmm, yea the AC is plugged in....

And all your USB ports work fine?

Comeron · #5 Post by **Comeron** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:17 pm

yea, all my usb ports work fine

i first noticed this problem when I transfered all my songs from my ipod to my laptop (ephpod) and my ipod's battery ran out

i am starting to think that i may have a faulty usb/ipod cable.. i am going to find a desktop and test out the cable on that

Website · #6 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:28 pm

FWIW: I wouldn't recommend charging an iPod off of a laptop. I have seen 6 people fry their USB ports OR the systemboard itself. 4 fried the USB ports (2 600E, 1 T20, 1 T23) and 2 fried the systemboard (2 600Es).

The only thing that I can guess is that the power supplies are not like those of a PC. The PC power supplies can provide far more power than is necessary, for example, some people I know will use a 550W PSU. These thinkpads have 56-95W PSUs, which are enough to power the system and little else. This is why a lot of external drives for laptops require external power.

NOTE: this is only my recommendation and is based solely on my experiences and hypotheses.

Comeron · #7 Post by **Comeron** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:37 pm

^^ thx for the advice, I am thinking about buying a powered usb hub.. but if i go that far i might as well use the power adapter that came with my ipod

astro · #8 Post by **astro** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:46 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:FWIW: I wouldn't recommend charging an iPod off of a laptop. I have seen 6 people fry their USB ports OR the systemboard itself. 4 fried the USB ports (2 600E, 1 T20, 1 T23) and 2 fried the systemboard (2 600Es).

NOTE: this is only my recommendation and is based solely on my experiences and hypotheses.

Ah, but none of the latest iPods ship with power packs -- they only come with the USB cable. Want a power pack? $29, thank you.

One would think that the USB implementations have matured a *little* since the T23s were made: they at least now *expect* that there are devices out there drawing power from the port.

EDIT: For $29, why not get your own USB-powered fondue set?

christopher_wolf · #9 Post by **christopher_wolf** » Mon May 29, 2006 10:05 pm

astro wrote:
EDIT: For $29, why not get your own USB-powered fondue set?

I would have a heart attack if somebody tried to connect that to my Thinkpad.

astro · #10 Post by **astro** » Tue May 30, 2006 12:56 am

christopher_wolf wrote:
astro wrote:EDIT: For $29, why not get your own USB-powered fondue set?
I would have a heart attack if somebody tried to connect that to my Thinkpad.

Sure -- if you ate enough cheese, you would eventually have a heart-attack, I would imagine.

kulivontot · #11 Post by **kulivontot** » Tue May 30, 2006 5:34 am

well I'm looking at my ipod charger here. labeled as 13V output at .62A dc. Assuming power = I * V... that would be 8.06 watts. I agree 620 mA of power off a single USB port seems quite a bit. I believe the most you can draw out of USB is 500 mA... Still, I don't think it's enough to really make your computer burst into flames.

lithium726 · #12 Post by **lithium726** » Tue May 30, 2006 1:45 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:FWIW: I wouldn't recommend charging an iPod off of a laptop. I have seen 6 people fry their USB ports OR the systemboard itself. 4 fried the USB ports (2 600E, 1 T20, 1 T23) and 2 fried the systemboard (2 600Es).

Those are all USB 1.1 systems. I have never had any issue charging my 4g Ipod off my T40.

#13 Post by **BillMorrow** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:26 pm

re. USB ports..
i constantly run 100gig HDD's off the USB ports in my X41, X41 tablet, X60s and T60p..
so far, no fried ports..

also, i run my ipod G5 60gig using all of the above thinkpads..

never a problem or complaint..

if it were a problem, the 60gig and 100gig 7200 RPM drives would cause it first, since they are spec'ed at 1.1 A. startup..

Troels · #14 Post by **Troels** » Tue May 30, 2006 2:47 pm

tfflivemb2 wrote:The only thing that I can guess is that the power supplies are not like those of a PC. The PC power supplies can provide far more power than is necessary, for example, some people I know will use a 550W PSU. These thinkpads have 56-95W PSUs, which are enough to power the system and little else. This is why a lot of external drives for laptops require external power.

Definitely not the problem. The average Thinkpad consumes VERY little power even under full load compared to the PSU size. Say a max of 45W-50W out of the 75W to 95W rating.
The reason is the obscure 500mA @ +5V current limit of current USB interfaces. Hard drives (dektop size) require about 1A, and won't even run with 5V alone, hence the need for external power.
The USB controller will be fried long before the PSU.

#15 Post by **archer6** » Wed May 31, 2006 11:05 pm

christopher_wolf wrote:
astro wrote:
EDIT: For $29, why not get your own USB-powered fondue set?
I would have a heart attack if somebody tried to connect that to my Thinkpad.

The USB fondue set might not be a bad idea... except I don't do dishes...

Regarding the heart attack, that would be me.....

Charging and IPOD via USB on my thinkpad???

Charging and IPOD via USB on my thinkpad???

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