How do you *really* charge the iPod through a FireWire port?

lucaluca
Posted:
in iPod + iTunes + AppleTV edited January 2014
I've been used to my setup of having a laptop with a FireWire PC card (unpowered) to transfer files from my iPod to the laptop. To charge the iPod, I just hooked it up to the AC adapter. Now that I have a G4 tower with powered FireWire, I was wondering how to have the iPod charge through the FireWire port. I know it's automatic, but how can I get it to charge without constantly spinning? I don't want the life of the drive to be compromised, and I'm guessing a constant spin on the drive will drain the battery almost as fast as it will be charged thorugh the FireWire port.



Any way to charge the iPod through the computer without having the hard drive spinning constantly?

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    you just unmount it from your dektop, but leave it plugged in.
  • Reply 1 of 10
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    The drive is being powered direct from the Firewire bus, so the battery charges at the same time, although it doesn't sem to be as quick as charging from the mains adaptor.



    You're right though, having it spun up all the time can't do the drive's life any favours, and it doesn't seem to spin down when the drive is ejected (unlike my self-powered Firewire drive!).
  • Reply 3 of 10
    lucaluca Posts: 3,833member
    [quote]Originally posted by Defiant:

    <strong>you just unmount it from your dektop, but leave it plugged in.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    I tried that. It still remains spinning constantly. That's not good for it. It charges, just like it should, but I don't want it to spin.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    [quote]Originally posted by Luca Rescigno:

    <strong>



    I tried that. It still remains spinning constantly. That's not good for it. It charges, just like it should, but I don't want it to spin.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    looks like you have to use the adapter...
  • Reply 5 of 10
    eugeneeugene Posts: 8,254member
    <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    As long as my computer doesn't try to access the disk, it doesn't spin up. If it's not mounted, but still plugged in, it doesn't spin...
  • Reply 6 of 10
    defiantdefiant Posts: 4,876member
    [quote]Originally posted by Eugene:

    <strong> <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />



    As long as my computer doesn't try to access the disk, it doesn't spin up. If it's not mounted, but still plugged in, it doesn't spin...</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Xctly. mine spins down if I unmount it. what OS do you have, luca ?



    [ 09-28-2002: Message edited by: Defiant ]</p>
  • Reply 7 of 10
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    Hmm, interesting, I had mine unmounted when I posted: had been for about 20 minutes and the drive was still spinning away...
  • Reply 8 of 10
    anamacanamac Posts: 80member
    You can also power your iPod using the FireWire card on your PB (if your card has a power jack) by using the iPod's power supply and the adapter cable made by Redcuff (Defiant-it's Swiss, btw!). This is great is you have a pre-Pismo PB and want to use your iPod on your main computer and on the go with your PB. I saw the cable thing mentioned on the iPod sites, but here at AI yet.
  • Reply 9 of 10
    thuh freakthuh freak Posts: 2,664member
    if u have itunes updating it, then it'll mount and unmount itself everytime a song changes in itunes. atleast in itunes3. to keep the last heard up to date, and play count. so, unmount, and quit itunes. it should then spin down.
  • Reply 10 of 10
    overhopeoverhope Posts: 1,123member
    Strangely enough, mine doesn't, even though my FW hard drive does the moment it's unmounted. However, it will charge on the second port of that drive without mounting... all very odd.
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