How much power is required for a SuperDrive?

Ok, well it seems you think that if the OP goes out and exchanges his superdrive for a different one that his current hubs will suddenly start working. I am simply stating that I don't think so, I think that Apple designed the drive outside of USB spec.

Here is a link from Apple stating that Apple designs some USB devices that require more power than the USB spec: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4049

Not a great photo, but here you go:

I have the Apple USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (the one with USB-C, HDMI, & USB-A sockets). THIS will power my SuperDrive when plugged into the mains & my 2015 MacBook. No other hub seems to be able to do so.

Not a great situation, as the MacBook obviously only has a single USB socket. So when I'm connected to the SuperDrive I can't connect to Ethernet or other USB devices

If anyone knows of a USB-C hub that will

a. Power the Superdrive

b. Has an Ethernet socket

c. Has another USB-A socket (other than the one used to power the Superdrive)

Then please let me know

I've tried hubs from Anker & CableCreation with no luck

I would get a usb hub that can supply 2 amps at 5 volt.

A Superdrive requires 0.45a at 5vdc, well within USB range.

They all do, 0.5a is the minimum for a hub but practically they all deliver more if needed.

I think it requires significantly more than that, which is why his current hub and monitor usb ports are not working.

here ya go:

dlink hub supplies 2a current

djcastaldo wrote:

I think it requires significantly more than that, which is why his current hub and monitor usb ports are not working.

Please read the USB power spec, the Superdrive conforms to it and if you are going to discuss it you should be aware of it as well.

To Whit:

Power

The USB 1.x and 2.0 specifications provide a 5 V supply on a single wire from which connected USB devices may draw power. The specification provides for no more than 5.25 V and no less than 4.75 V (5 V±5%) between the positive and negative bus power lines. For USB 3.0, the voltage supplied by low-powered hub ports is 4.45–5.25 V.^[47]

A unit load is defined as 100 mA in USB 2.0, and 150 mA in USB 3.0. A device may draw a maximum of 5 unit loads (500 mA) from a port in USB 2.0; 6 (900 mA) in USB 3.0. There are two types of devices: low-power and high-power. A low-power device draws at most 1 unit load, with minimum operating voltage of 4.4 V in USB 2.0, and 4 V in USB 3.0. A high-power device draws at most the maximum number of unit loads permitted by the standard. Every device functions initially as low-power but the device may request high-power and will get it if the power is available on the providing bus.^[48]

Some devices, such as high-speed external disk drives, require more than 500 mA of current^[49] and therefore may have power issues if powered from just one USB 2.0 port: erratic function, failure to function, or overloading/damaging the port. Such devices may come with an external power source or a Y-shaped cable that has two USB connectors (one for power+data, the other for power only) to be plugged into a computer. With such a cable, a device can draw power from two USB ports simultaneously.^[50]

A bus-powered hub initializes itself at 1 unit load and transitions to maximum unit loads after it completes hub configuration. Any device connected to the hub will draw 1 unit load regardless of the current draw of devices connected to other ports of the hub (i.e. one device connected on a four-port hub will draw only 1 unit load despite the fact that more unit loads are being supplied to the hub).^[48]

A self-powered hub will supply maximum supported unit loads to any device connected to it. In addition, the V_BUS will present 1 unit load upstream for communication if parts of the Hub are powered down.

It is not guesswork, there are rules.

Take your Superdrive back to the store, it is not working to specification

The superdrive is not designed to fall within the usb power spec. Apple made it so that you could only attach it directly to certain Apple computers or certain displays that provide more power than the USB specification.

EDIT: and I am sure that Apple did this because the drive looks "pretier" without an external power supply that needs to be plugged into it (and should be if the device were to fall within standard usb specification).

djcastaldo wrote:

The superdrive is not designed to fall within the usb power spec. Apple made it so that you could only attach it directly to certain Apple computers or certain displays that provide more power than the USB specification.

EDIT: and I am sure that Apple did this because the drive looks "pretier" without an external power supply that needs to be plugged into it (and should be if the device were to fall within standard usb specification).

Sorry, if you use USB connectors you are bound by the USB spec, instaed of posting nonsense post the links containing some attribution for what you are posting.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=420281http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/01/23/macbook.air.usb.details/