PianomanDave

Q: Where to get a Thunderbolt Extension Cable for a Hard Drive

I have a Western Digital Hard 4TB Hard Drive that connects via Thunderbolt cable.  It comes with a very short integrated Thunderbolt cable.  I want to put a Thunderbolt extension cable on it to give me more room to maneuver.

It seems that everything I can find that uses that same plug is described as a "Mini display" plug, which I don't think has all the capability of a Thunderbolt cable.   Does anyone make a  Thunderbolt Extension Cable that I can use to attach a hard drive?

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4), 12 GB Ram

Posted on Jul 17, 2016 7:27 AM

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Q: Where to get a Thunderbolt Extension Cable for a Hard Drive

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  • by tbirdvet,

    tbirdvet tbirdvet Jul 17, 2016 4:38 PM in response to PianomanDave
    Level 4 (3,003 points)
    Jul 17, 2016 4:38 PM in response to PianomanDave

    Not sure this cable can be extended and work correctly.  I have never seen one.  I've seen longer TB cables but not extension types.

  • by PianomanDave,

    PianomanDave PianomanDave Jul 17, 2016 5:30 PM in response to tbirdvet
    Level 1 (42 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 17, 2016 5:30 PM in response to tbirdvet

    Unfortunately, the problem is that I have a hard drive with a built-in cable that needs to be taken off and put on regularly, The Connector strain relief has already broken.  I want to stop using this plug to make connection.  If I can find a Thunderbolt Extension Cable (Male to Female) then I can plug it in once, splint the broken strain relief, and use the extension to make my connections.   

     

    I can find longer Thunderbolt cables and I can find lots of "mini display" Extension Cables (Female to Male) with the same physical plug, but I don't think they have the full capability of Thunderbolt.

  • by tbirdvet,

    tbirdvet tbirdvet Jul 18, 2016 11:44 AM in response to PianomanDave
    Level 4 (3,003 points)
    Jul 18, 2016 11:44 AM in response to PianomanDave

    You are correct that the Mini display port while looking the same will not function correctly.  Like I stated I have never seen an extension for a TB cable.