Toutch, new Universal Dock & Firewire Charging

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Toutch, new Universal Dock & Firewire Charging

I've just bought a new universal dock to replace my iPod Photo one, as the touch wasn't a good fit for the latter

I'm finding that whilst I could charge using firewire & mains adaptor through the old dock, the new one doesn't work. I can charge the touch directly from the firewire lead, but routing it through the dock somehow disables the current

Is this something to be expected?

I know that USB is the way forward, but not only would I have to but the mains adaptor, but I'm using quite a long firewire lead (Apple oem) and I don't know if a USB equivalent exists

Thanks

PowerBook G4 17" 1.33GHz / 15" 1.67GHz / MacBook 1.83GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Posted on Oct 11, 2007 12:58 PM

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Answer 1

Oct 15, 2007 12:38 AM in response to Dom C

My experience is same as yours - new iPod Touch, new Universal Dock, old non-Universal Dock for 4G B&W iPod with ClickWheel, old FireWire cable & charger. The FireWire cable can charge the iPod Touch if connected directly but not if connected to the Universal Dock. Yet, the new USB cable connected to the Dock does charge it. The Dock therefore can't be just a simple wire-for-wire passthrough of all the Dock Connector pins.

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Answer 2

Kempard

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71 points

Oct 11, 2007 1:05 PM in response to Dom C

Your problem must be with the Universal Dock. If the iPod Touch will charge when plugged into the dock connector on the FireWire lead, the Universal Dock is only an extension to this so must be the culprit, being able to charge through the dock from the Photo iPod more or less proves this.

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Answer 3

Dom C Author

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Oct 11, 2007 1:22 PM in response to Kempard

I'd tend to agree, BUT I can charge the touch through the dock if I use a USB lead and connect to my powerbook, but I can't if I use Firewire

So, it's either that the dock is designed not to accept power from a Firewire source, or it's faulty (but still recognises USB)?!

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Answer 4

Kempard

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71 points

Oct 11, 2007 1:35 PM in response to Dom C

That's bizarre. My hunch would remain with the dock, however. Surely power is power, whether it's from a USB port or a FireWire power adapter, it must arrive at the same pins at the connector with the same power and current.

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Answer 5

Dom C Author

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105 points

Oct 12, 2007 12:41 AM in response to Kempard

My hunch is the same, but I'm starting to wonder whether firewire charging has been disabled for some reason

Is there anyone out there who can firewire charge through one of the brand new universal docks?

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Answer 6

Kempard

Level 1

71 points

Oct 12, 2007 12:47 AM in response to Dom C

I don't have a universal dock but am able to charge using a FireWire power adapter c/w FireWire to iPod Dock connector cable (Apple supplied). I don't see how the power source can affect this, surely the power comes into the same pin on the 20(?) pin dock connector, irrespective of its source the other end?

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Answer 7

Kwopau

Level 4

1,748 points

Oct 12, 2007 2:28 AM in response to Dom C

Weird, I use my Universal Dock to charge my IPT, and it works just fine with the cable that came with the IPT.

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Answer 8

rheend

Level 1

0 points

Oct 12, 2007 11:06 AM in response to Dom C

I have an older universal dock that charges my touch just fine with a firewire charger. Will it work if you pull the dock connector out of the back and plug it directly into your touch? If so, it's something funky with your dock.

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Answer 9

Dom C Author

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105 points

Oct 13, 2007 1:01 AM in response to Kwopau

To clarify

Firewire straight to touch - OK
Firewire through iPod photo dock - OK
USB through new Universal dock - OK
Firewire through new Universal dock - no power

So, the touch still supports Firewire charging, and the dock is capable of passing power through it, but only (it seems) if it comes from a USB source?!

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Answer 10

Dom C Author

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105 points

Oct 14, 2007 1:38 AM in response to Dom C

Is there anyone out there who can firewire charge through one of the brand new universal docks?

Thanks

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Answer 11

clarkn

Level 1

15 points

Oct 14, 2007 2:46 PM in response to Dom C

I can't help, but I can second your call for help. My new universal dock won't charge off the firewire either. My ipod WILL charge directly off of the firewire-power adapter though, so it must be something about the dock.

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Answer 12

Oct 24, 2007 9:29 PM in response to Dom C

I am having the EXACT same problem as the OP. Had I known this I would never have ordered one of the new universal docks. Has an explanation been given by Apple yet?

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