Can't charge new iPod Touch from iPod hi-fi

Question

Can't charge new iPod Touch from iPod hi-fi

When I plugged my new Touch (late 2009, I think they call it) into the charging dock of my Apple hi-fi, I got a message that the battery could not charge from this device. It played songs just fine. I plugged in my first-generation Touch to confirm that the Apple Hi-Fi could charge it, and it could.

I have other, older, charging docks (including a Bose Sound Dock) at various locations in my house, but haven't tried them yet. Is the new Touch unable to charge from such docks, or is it the Apple Hi-Fi specifically that is somehow incompatible with the the new Touch?

Xeon 8-core, Mac OS X (10.6.1), iPod Touch 64 MG (late 2009)

Posted on Sep 16, 2009 8:40 AM

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Answer 1

Howatt

Level 1

25 points

Sep 16, 2009 8:46 AM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Certain pins were removed from all the iPods that came out this september, and last. So all of the new iPods won't charge on old docking stations that still use those specific pins (including the HIFI)

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Answer 2

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Sep 16, 2009 8:47 AM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Through the 1G touch, touches supported FireWire (the old method) and USB (the new method) charging for compatibility reasons. Starting with the 2G touch, only USB charging is supported.

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Answer 3

Sep 16, 2009 10:09 AM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Charging not supported: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1476

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Answer 4

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Sep 16, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Howatt

Certain pins were removed from all the iPods that came out this september,

No pins were 'removed' - the touch simply no longer internally supports the higher FireWire voltage.

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Answer 5

Sep 16, 2009 10:38 AM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Thanks for the replies. Just to be clear, I was not using Firewire or a USB cable--only the docking connector built in to the Apple Wi-Fi which looks like the male "plug" shipped with the iPod, attached to my computer at one end (via USB) and to the iPod at the other end, which I normally use and which continues to work as it should.

I get the impression from some replies here that none of the "old" docking connectors or platforms, perhaps including my Bose Sound Dock, will work to charge the battery of my new iPod. If certain elements have indeed been removed from the new iPod's docking socket, it would be interesting to know why. More importantly, I would expect Apple to make it clear that my "new" product won't work as well as my "old" iTouch, before I spend the money for something which, in this one respect at least, is inferior.

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Answer 6

the fiend

Level 7

23,490 points

Sep 16, 2009 12:46 PM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Perhaps I can explain this a bit more.

Originally, iPods charged using the "firewire" connections which are part of the Dock Connector. I believe the voltage used was 12 volts. Later iPods were charged using the USB 5 volt connections, which are also part of the Dock Connector, but I think those iPods could also be charged by either the USB or the firewire connections.

Several manufacturers of chargers/charging stations/Docks for iPods did not add the USB 5 volt charge feature, probably because they were saving money and missed the incredibly obvious - that Apple would one day drop the firewire charge feature.

That day has come; the latest iPods cannot be charged by the firewire connections, so if your Dock uses the firewire but not the USB, then it will not charge an iPod that only uses USB, such as the Touch. I have an eighteen month old Bose Sound Dock and it will not charge my iPod Touch. (I don't know if Bose have rectified this oversight yet.) I also have two Klipsch RoomGroove units. When the iPod Touch first came out, the Klipsch would not charge it. However, very quickly, Klipsch RoomGrooves disappeared from the shelves (here in the UK anyway) and when they reappeared, they did charge the Touch. I saw this happening and waited until the newer version of the Klipsch was available.

Now you may think that Apple were in some way wrong to stop the firewire charging but, think about this. Originally, the iPod's electronics and battery both required 12 volts to work. As technology improved, both the batteries and the electronics could be made to work reliably with only 5 volts, which happens to be the voltage used by USB connections. So if Apple now have a device that can be charged by the USB on your computer, they don't need to include a charger in with the iPod. So the iPods that charged by either firewire or USB were a case of Apple ensuring that old style Docks would continue to work. But that was not going to last forever.

There is no doubt in my mind that designers should have seen the firewire issue coming!

Phil

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Answer 7

Sep 16, 2009 6:44 PM in response to the fiend

Thanks, "the fiend," for a very helpful response. I think I understand now.

However, in my case the shortsighted designer was Apple, from whom I bought the Apple hi-fi! Parenthetically, I note that both the Bose Sound Dock and the Apple Wi-Fi apparently charged my first generation Touch. On the other hand, maybe the earlier Touch was never charged by these device (I usually keep something close to a full charge, so I might not have noticed), and simply lacked the alert message of my new unit.

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Answer 8

F Shippey

Level 7

21,500 points

Sep 16, 2009 7:01 PM in response to Don Frankenfeld

Apple made the switch to USB charging over three years ago - they tried hard to ease the transition. FireWire voltages can run up to 18 v and complicate the power suppy design and generated more heat internally. Going to USB charging only makes sense.

You should checkout Scosche passPORT Charging Adapter at http://store.apple.com/us/product/TS696LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA4NA&mco=ODAwNDUxNg This is a good solution for older devices.

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