CalDigit TS3+ dock station causes Kernel Panic

I eventually figured out that my shutdowns were related to the SanDisk security software (that allows you to password protect the disk). Once I completely removed that software my problem went away. I have not had any issues since then. I alerted SanDisk tech support to the issue.

I suggest you backup your files, erase your startup drive, and reinstall macOS. If this does not fix the problem, then call CalDigit tech support for help. I use the same dock without any problems as do several others I know. The TS3 should not cause kernel panics. What, specifically, leads you to think it is the dock rather than some other cause? Some of what you described suggests you have a system problem resulting from the Catalina upgrade.

A Troubleshooting Procedure that may Fix Problems with macOS El Capitan or Later

You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.

    If possible, backup your files before proceeding.

1. Shutdown the computer and disconnect all third-party peripherals.
2. Wait 30 seconds before you restart the computer.
3. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
5. Reset your Startup Disk and Sound preferences, if needed, after resetting the PRAM.
6. Test in safe mode to see if the problem persists, then restart normally. See How  to  use  safe  mode  on  your  Mac.
7. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list.  Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
8. Reinstall a Combo Updater:  macOS Catalina 10.15.6  Combo  Update, macOS Mojave 10.14.6 Combo Update, macOS High Sierra 10.13.6 Combo Update, macOOS 10.12.6 Combo Update, OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update.
9. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
10. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Install OS X then click on the Continue button.
11. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:

     1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.

     2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.

     3. Click on the Erase button in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.

     4. Set the Format type to APFS (for SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)

     5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.

     6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.

     7. Select Install OS X and click on the Continue button.

I can provide another data point, and one that will drastically simplify the suggested route for debugging.

Brand new MacBook Pro 2020, came with Catalina installed (i.e., not a problem introduced during an OS upgrade). Fresh install, fresh machine.

Four kernel panics in one day, much as OP described: if it goes to sleep connected, KP. If I disconnect and walk to the next room, KP. It seems to be an issue with disconnection, to be honest.

And, as OP describes, zero information in the report to Apple, which is *very* unusual. Also, as OP describes, no log of the crash saved.

These KPs continued even when there were zero peripherals plugged into the Dock, and it was *only* being used to provide power.

I have kept the Dock disconnected for four weeks now, and not a single KP.

It's the Dock, or the OS's interaction with it.

To have one kernel panic a year was unusual on the machine this replaced, a 2012 MacBook Pro (Retina). Several times a day is out of the realm of acceptable.

Does the Caldigit vendor give any support guidance as to compatibility with Catalina (or Big Sur), and are there firmware updates available that either restrict the device to an older version of macOS, or resolve the present KP issues now?

Just purchase the new MacBook Air M1, Caldigit TS3+ and a SanDisk 1TB SSD external drive. Every time I attach the SanDisk SSD to either of the two USB-C ports, the TS3 shuts down and reboots also causing my MacBook to reboot and showing a kernel error. TS3 is stable when SSD is not connected or if connected directly to the macbook's second built-in port. Tried following online suggestion to do NVRAM reset on MacBook. Unfortunately, seems like the new M1's don't allow NVRAM resets anymore. Mmmm... Will try and open a ticket with Caldigit.

I haven't installed anything. So no disconnects of the SanDisk when you wake your MBA from sleep? I've disabled "Put hard disks to sleep whenever possible" in System Preferences > Battery > Power Adapter to see if that helps (the setting makes little sense nowadays anyway).

That's an interesting observation about Battery > Power Adapter! (I have a MacBook Pro M1, not a MBA, FWIW). I'm running Big Sur 11.1. I *am* using one of the USB-A ports on the back. I have a 2 TB SanDisk with 550 MB/s max speed, not one of the faster models.

Seems like there are different sleeps states on Macs. This is what I found:

1. Display sleep: The screen goes blank after a certain amount of time. You can wake up the screen by touching the trackpad or pressing a key.
2. Sleep: In this state, the computer goes to sleep: the hard drive stops spinning and the CPU uses much less (almost no) power. This can be invoked by closing the lid of the laptop, selecting Sleep from the Apple menu, or via a timer. You wake up the computer by opening the lid or pressing a key.

Seems like the differentiator is whether the lid is closed (mine is always closed when connected to my external monitor). Not sure if that sheds any light on your issue.

I have virtually the same configuration. Big Sur 11.1. I'm not seeing any TS3 shutdowns/reboots, but I am seeing random disconnects of the SanDisk external SSD during sleep.

I use mine with the lid closed as well. The disconnect occurs during regular sleep, not display sleep.

I'm not sure if this is at all related to either of the problems described above, but this is what I'm experiencing:

1. 2020 Apple 13" MacBook Pro (2 Ghz i5 with 16 GB RAM) running macOS 10.15.7
2. CalDigit TS3+ (FW 44.1)
3. Apple 27" Thunderbolt Display connected into the Thunderbolt 3 port on the back of the TS3+ via the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to Thunderbolt 3 connector.

For most of the time, my MBP is connected to my TS3+ via the CalDigit USB-C cable that came with my dock, and this works great. Sometimes, I disconnect the MBP from the dock and take it elsewhere in the house to work on it.

It's when I reconnect the MBP to the TS3+ dock that things start to get weird...

Typically, what seems to happen is that the Thunderbolt Display flashes on and off a few times and I can see it is attempting to mirror the display on my MBP (which is how I have my display set-up). The computer is not usable during this time because I can't reliably see anything on the screen. This is usually followed by a kernel panic and the first I know about it is when I disconnect the MBP from the TS3+ and open the lid of the MBP where I'm greeted with the black screen of death.

I guess I should test this out by plugging the Thunderbolt Display adapter directly into a spare Thunderbolt port on the MBP and bypass the dock altogether.

I've done all the SMC and PRAM resets and even re-installed Catalina. Frankly, I'm tired of figuring this out now and will probably just take it to the Genius Bar for them to look at it when I get chance.

Ultimately, I should be able to dock and undock my £1800 Mac without it throwing a kernel panic.

Hmm... I don't keep my SanDisk connected. I only connect it when needed to archive photos. I will connect it now and wait for a sleep to see if it reconnects after sleep. Also, I'm not seeing "Put hard disks to sleep whenever possible" in Battery>Power Adapter. I only see "Prevent computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off". What version of Big Sur do you have installed? I'm currently running 11.1.

Also, which port on the CalDigit are you using to connect your SanDisk? I'm using the USB-C on the front panel (next to the audio in port). My problems occurred when I used one of the USB ports on the back. Maybe an issue with the power needed to drive the SanDisk.