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http://www.girr.org/mac_stuff/usb_stuff.html
Contents
Introduction To The USB Power Form USB Loads and Sources USB Power Test Method Source Voltage Tests Load Current Tests Responses of Sensitive Loads Conclusions Other Issues Cruise Ship Issues USB Battery Charger Time Machine Issues
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USB Devices
iPod shuffle
iPod photo
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I've also got these USB power sources: USB Power Sources The Apple 15" PowerBook has two USB 2.0 ports apple_albook.jpg
The Apple Airport Express base station has a USB port that is intended to drive a printer, but it also provides power
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Apple USB keyboard unpowered hub has two low power USB 1.1 ports
This generic USB 1.1 powered hub can power 4 high power devices
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This generic USB 2.0 hub can also power 4 high power devices
This AA battery powered USB source was pretty much disappointing. It really didn't do anything that was especially interesting
Virtual Reality Sounds Lab FM transmitter/MP3 player that has a port for a USB jump drive. As an FM transmitter, it works well enough, as an MP3 play (using a jump drive for memory), it does not work very well.
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This is the 12 volt USB charger that came with the Holux GPS receiver. This charger worked quite well, it can source about an amp.
The 110-240 VAC charger that came with the Holux GPS receiver is also good for about an amp.
This 12 volt USB charger that came with a 4-in-1 travel kit for a Sony PDA also sources about an amp.
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The 110/250 VAC USB charger that also came in the 4-in-1 travel kit was good for about an amp.
The 110 VAC 100 watt inverter with a USB port (Xantrex XPower Pocket Inverter 100) is a good lightweight inverter and the USB port is quite capable.
The iGo Juice 70 with a Dual Port adaptor and A46 USB tip also works. The Juice can charge a computer at the same time and it will run from 110-240 volts or 12 volts.
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The Mysoldius universal solar powered charger does indeed work in bright sun, but it can't quite source a high power load.
The VR3 Power Inverter/FM Transmitter/USB charger seems to do everything right. It works well as an FM transmitter, it will charge anything and the inverter works pretty well too.
The object is to be able to recharge any of the USB loads with a subset of the USB chargers, one 110 VAC and one 12 VDC. The question is which ones?
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load for current draw. To this end, I've built a simple test adaptor out of a USB extension cable. This is the diagram of the test cable. A USB extension cable is cut and spliced to reconnect the ground, shield and data lines. The +5 volt line is interrupted so that a regular current meter can be inserted. Another volt meter is used to monitor the source voltage. The two resistors act as the test loads at 100 mA or 500 mA. A clip lead is used to connect one resistor or the other. It is not necessary to use two different meters as only one is needed at a time.
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USB Source Voltage Test Results Voltages (volts) Source No Load Low Load High Load No Load In Spec? Low Load High Load OOS low Comments
4.98
4.83
3.27
yes
yes
This is a low power device. This makes sense because the USB port is intended only to power a USB jump drive. However, as an FM transmitter, it works fine using an iPod as an audio source. As an MP3 player, it sucks. This adaptor will probably power most USB devices, it is good for at least 850 mA because it will drive the Dell Axim. It is also efficient. It runs cool even at 850 mA. The output voltage is just slightly high but it would probably work in most applications. It also powers the Dell Axim and runs cool. Fully in spec. However at $29, it's a little expensive. It will not power the Dell Axim properly. This one is the highest voltage of the bunch. It does power the Dell. I've been using this hub to charge the iPod photo for months. Even though the voltage at high load is low, it behaves fine. in spec all around this is an unpowered hub within the keyboard, it is running from the USB 1.1 hub.
Holux GPS RX DC adaptor Clie 4-in-1 Travel Kit DC adaptor Apple USB Power Adaptor Clie 4-in-1 Travel Kit AC Adaptor Generic USB 2.0 Hub Generic USB 1.1 Hub Apple USB Keyboard Hub Apple 15" PowerBook Apple 12" 500 MHz iBook Holux GPS RX AC Adaptor
5.40
5.43
5.37
OOS high OOS high yes OOS high yes yes yes yes yes OOS high
OOS high OOS high yes OOS high yes yes yes yes yes OOS high
OOS high OOS high yes OOS high OOS low yes OOS low yes yes OOS high
Like its DC sibling, it also has high output voltage. It also powers the Dell Axim.
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AA battery powered USB charger Airport Express Base Station Xantrex XPower Pocket Inverter iGo Juice 70 with USB iTip
5.62
5.16
4.66
yes
The unit had freshly charged NiMH batteries. With partially discharged batteries, the no load voltage would be in spec but the high load voltage would be even lower.
This unit also provides 110 VAC at 80 watts This unit also powers/charges a laptop and other devices depending on which iTip is used The output of the unit is somewhat dependent on the intensity of the light it receives. If the light level is too low, it goes dormant for a few seconds and charges itself up. Then it provides a short burst of power until it needs to recharge itself again. As tested in bright winter light at 7000 feet, it would not charge a high power device at all. The unit is specified at 320 mA max so it does not meet the requirements of a high powered USB load even in the most intense sun. It is not rated to charge an iPod photo. The USB port charges the iPod photo and shuffle fine and has the best regulation of the bunch even though the output voltage is a tad high. The inverter part doesn't like surge loads, such as incandescent bulbs. It will shut down. In that case, plug in the load and THEN plug in the inverter.
5.72
5.47
3.22
OOS high
OOS high
OOS low
5.26
5.26
5.24
OOS high
OOS high
yes
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Each load was tested in four states, running or sleeping, charged or discharged. Running the unit at full discharge should produce the highest overall load current as the source has to run the device and charge the battery at the same time.
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USB Load Current Test Results Source State of Initial Charge Running or Sleeping running charged iPod photo, backlight off discharged sleeping running charged iPod photo, backlight on discharged sleeping running charged sleeping iPod shuffle running discharged sleeping running charged Sony Clie NR70 discharged sleeping running Holux GPS RX charged sleeping discharged running 10 300 low 320 90 This guy could work from a lower power port provided that the battery wasn't discharged. sleeping running 50 high 280 The Clie actually draws more current while it is discharged and sleeping. Some battery manager must be at work. 160 190 170 150 high 530 160 The shuffle doesn't draw much current, at least while charged, but it is touchy as to the quality of a USB port in the way that it's indicators respond. sleeping running 160 OOS high 530 430 160 The iPod backlight consumes another 100 mA and actually puts it a little over spec. I didn't test the peak current of the iPod while it was trying to boot with a dead battery, but I assume that it even higher yet. sleeping running 30 high 430 The iPod consumes most of what a high power USB port can deliver Load Current (mA) 50 Load Type (Low or High Current) Notes
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sleeping running charged Dell Axim X50 discharged sleeping sleeping running
240 420 130 OOS high 840 620 The Axim is a good test case for USB sources. Only the best of them will drive this puppy. The current on this particular one might be a little higher than normal because it has a 4 GB microdrive in it.
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Source Vs. Load Compatibility Source 15" Powerbook 12" iBook USB 2.0 hub USB 1.1 hub Airport Express Base Station Apple USB Power Adaptor Apple Keyboard Virtual Reality Labs FM TX/MP3 player Holux GPS RX DC adaptor Holux GPS RX AC Adaptor Clie 4-in-1 Travel Kit AC Adaptor Clie 4-in-1 Travel Kit DC adaptor AA battery powered USB charger iPod photo proper1 proper1 proper1 proper1 proper charge indicator2 proper doesn't work3 doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge iPod shuffle proper proper proper proper Blinking yellow forever2 proper doesn't work3 charges4 charges4 charges4 charges4 charges4 charges4 doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge doesn't charge Dell Axim
doesn't charge Doesn't charge while the Dell is running (screen flickers) Does charge if the Dell is shut off. orange light, no charge doesn't charge proper proper proper proper flickers, doesn't charge
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proper1 doesn't charge from A46 iTip, may charge properly with B01 iTip not rated to charge an iPod photo
flashes2, 4
flickered a little, then began to charge properly doesn't charge properly with the B07 (5mm) tip and Dell supplied 5mm adaptor. The Dual Power adaptor apparently current limits at the high charging current needed by the Axim. After the Dell has accepted a partial charge from another source and the charging current has decreased a little, it WILL accept a charge from the Juice 70. The Dell does work properly with the Juice 70 and the B36 tip which was designed for the Dell. not a chance, didn't even test it
flashes2, 4
flashes2, 4
proper1
flashes2, 4
works fine
1. With older firmware, the iPod photo is completely discharged, it can try to draw more current than some in-spec USB ports can supply. It will try to to boot. When it tries to spin it's disk, then it drags the voltage too low and crashes and the cycle repeats. A very high power USB port can work, but sometimes it is necessary to initially charge the iPod from FireWire (which can supply 1.3 amps) to pick up the battery a little. Then it will charge from USB. The version 1.2.1 firmware seems to have fixed this issue. The iPod won't try to boot until the battery has picked up a bit. 2. Both iPods try to mount as if they were a disk but there is nothing there to respond and no way to "dismount" them except just by unplugging them. Nothing bad happens. 3. iPod photo causes the computer to issue a low power warning. iPod shuffle blinks a few lights, then quietly does nothing. 4. iPod shuffle charges but may or may not show a normal charging indication. Most of the "dumb" chargers have sufficient current capability to charge the iPod photo but the iPod refused to accept a charge. I suspect that the iPod photo looks out on the data lines for a hint of the existence of a computer like device before it will accept a charge. The shuffle isn't so picky. It will charge as long as the USB bus is powered. The Apple USB power adaptor is an odd ball. It fits the requirement as a "dumb" charger, but it apparently has enough smarts in it to look like a USB data source. The iPods recognize that they cannot mount on it and don't try but they will charge properly. The Airport Express Base Station also charges both iPods, but it is recognized as a real USB source and the iPods try to connect to it, hence the "do not disconnect" messages.
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The mysoldius solar charger seems to deal with low power loads well enough and some loads that draw up to 230 mA. The Clie's battery was full so that it didn't draw full current, but the 230 mA that it did draw was close to the maximum rated current of the mysoldius of 320 mA. This unit comes with tips that adapt to many devices besides USB would probably be pretty handy in a pinch to charge a small PDA, shuffle, maybe an iPod nano or a cellphone.
Conclusions
Not all USB power sources and loads are made the same. There is clearly a pairing that produces optimal results with various devices. The iPod shuffle is a fairly low current device (relatively anyway) and it seems to accept charge from almost any high power source. It may work with some low power sources as well as it draws only 160 mA. The charge indicator responses may be a little odd in some cases, but it seems to accept charge from many sources. Even if the lights don't make sense, another indicator of charging is that the shuffle will get a little warm around the power switch after 10 minutes or so on charge. The iPod photo is pickier. It will accept charge ONLY from devices that will talk to it in some way. Further, these have to be high power sources as it draws nearly 500 mA. The charge indicator on the iPod photo is not ambiguous. If the thing is drawing enough current to charge, the charge indicator says so. At least there is no mystery. The Dell will charge from anything that will put out enough current. Unfortunately, enough current is pushing twice the USB maximum current spec. You might find one that will work like the Holux chargers. However a +5 volt 1 amp wall wart with a 5 mm plug will work in the adaptor supplied by Dell with the Axim. Dell sells a charger for about $20. Hosfelt has one for $5. While I didn't test it with all of the sources, the Clie is not picky either. At 320 mA, it will charge from any high power USB source with the cable in the 4-in-1 Travel Kit. It will also charge from a USB powered hub even if the hub isn't plugged into a computer or the computer is sleeping. So, the answer to my original question (which one?) is answered. I will use the Apple USB adaptor exclusively. It will charge any of these toys. The Apple USB adaptor also allows an international adaptor kit to be installed on it or it can use the common gender bender outlet adaptors to allow it to connect to 240 VAC circuits. The Apple USB adaptor will charge the Dell if the Dell is shut off. For 12 volt operation, I'll just use the 110 VAC inverter that I keep in my truck all the time anyway. For traveling, I may take the Xantrex inverter because it has an adaptor that allows it to connect to some airline power outlets. However, most airlines have this capability in First or Business Class only and I usually fly coach.
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We've got two iBooks, two iPods, two PDA's, three cameras and the powered speakers for the iPod. Two of the cameras and the speakers run from AA rechargeable batteries. The third camera (Sony TRV-33 camcorder) is an oddball that requires it's own charger. We've also got my wife's iGo Juice70 with a selection of charging tips. We set the Juice70 to charge an iBook with an A15 tip and a B26 accessory tip to charge a Dell PDA. Then the computer distributes power to an iPod photo via firewire, a Sony PDA via USB and the iPod shuffle also via USB. Five devices charge at once from one AC outlet. To charge the AA batteries, we have to unplug this mess and use a 110 volt AA charger. To charge the Sony Camcorder we have to plug in it's own charger. I am going to try to see if I can find a iGo tip for the Sony TRV-33. Then I'll still be looking for the AA USB powered charger. With those two items, the combination of the Juice 70 and the iBook as a distribution point will allow reasonably flexible charging.
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of providing before it goes into current limiting for self protection. It appears that these external USB drives draw just a little more than the spec allows and some USB ports current limit just below that value. I was not able to actually measure the current consumption of these drives because inserting the current meter into my test cable caused just enough voltage drop to upset the drives so that they would not spin up properly even on a port that would normally power them. There are a few ways around this problem. You can buy "two headed" USB cables designed to work around this very problem. These have two inputs, one for the USB data and power, one to add some power from a second USB port. These work with the PowerBook but they consume all the available USB ports. One can also use a powered USB hub, but there are problems there too. There is also a computer powered USB hub that combines the two-headed cable approach with a hub, but it also has issues. So far, I haven't found the "perfect" solution. This is a two-headed USB cable that came with an Acomdata external USB drive. The power only head (thinner wire) is long enough to reach around the PowerBook to get to the 2nd USB port on the right side and the load end of the cable has the small USB plug that mates with the connectors typically found on external USB powered disk drives.
This is a more generic "Y" adaptor cable that I found at Amazon.com. The black plug is the usb data/power connector, the gray one is the power only connector. This cable works well on the iBook (which has both USB ports on the left side) but it won't reach around to the right port on the PowerBook. I use a short standard USB extension cable to extend the power head to use it with the PowerBook. It also has a standard USB jack on the other end so I use the short USB cables that come with the WD external drives to connect to the drive.
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Both of these solutions work, but the issue is that the computers have only two USB ports and these cables consume both of them. Since Time Machine works best when the drive is connected all the time, this means that I cannot plug in a mouse, jump drive, or PDA cable without disconnecting the Time Machine disk.
Some powered USB hubs provide enough extra power on a single USB port to power the external USB disk drives. This generic hub does provide enough power and it works fine. The problem is that it's power adaptor is 110 VAC only so that this particular hub is unsuitable for travel.
This HP travel hub is very small and it's power adaptor is 110/220 VAC. Like the generic hub, it has enough power available to run two external USB drives at the same time. However, it has two problems. The power adaptor is sensitive to AC power transients. On a cruise ship, the Star Princess, every time the bathroom light was turned off, a transient in the ship's wiring would leak through the power adaptor and cause a USB wake event on the computer. If the computer was already sleeping it would try to wake, but the drive would often not spin up instantly and then the computer would complain that it could not find the drive. Eventually, when the drive did spin up, the computer would find it and move along, but the complaints from the computer were disturbing. Other wake events, such as a keyboard press or mouse click would result in a normal wake up sequence where the computer would sometimes wait for the drive in the expected fashion.
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However, due to a problem with the HP hub, these wake events no matter how caused, would sometimes cause the computer to kernel panic (crash). This is bad. I suspect that this model of hub has a firmware problem because its bigger brother, a combo USB/FireWire hub that came with it, would do exactly the same thing, even on other computers. The Mac OS may indeed be overly sensitive to particular USB hubs, but still it made the hubs unusable. These hubs are no longer available from HP so they might have found that they have a problem too.
This Vakoss TC-212-AS travel hub is only slightly larger than the HP travel hub but it does not cause the kernel panics that the HP hubs did. However, it is similarly sensitive to power transients. On another cruise, this time on the Grand Princess (a sister ship to the Star Princess), the hub reacted in the same way to the bathroom light as the HP hub, just without the kernel panics. Further, it's power adaptor actually burned up (buzz, crackle, pop and smoke) after a week or so at sea. I went back to using a two-headed cable for the rest of the cruise. I had two of the Vakoss hubs so when I got home I started using the adaptor from the 2nd one. It hasn't burned up, but it is still sensitive to something because I still get unexpected wake events when using this hub but without the complaints from the computer about the drive not being there. Vakoss did replace the power adaptor at no charge with one of a different design. I don't know yet if the replacement adaptor is as sensitive to power transients as the original design.
I saw strange looking USB hub on the web and bought one for $12 at usb.brando.com.hk. The part number is UHUBS004000. It would have been perfect had it worked properly but so far, it has not. It is a travel hub that uses two USB ports for power. It does not use a power adaptor. The red connector is the power only input, the black one on the same side is the combination data/power connector. There are 4 outputs, 3 standard USB jacks and one mini-connector that plugs right into one of the external disk drives.
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The first one that I got worked as expected for a couple of hours and then failed. It refused to do anything at that point. I emailed the company that shipped it and they send another one without charge. This one didn't fail, but it didn't work with the PowerBook either. The drive would not spin up reliably. It would appear that the current limiting on the USB ports is just at the level that the drives needs and if the drive draws just a little too much current, the hub shuts down to protect itself. However, it is interesting that it DOES work properly with the iBook. After some email conversations with the manufacturer, they agree that it isn't doing what it was intended to do and that they have a problem which they are "working" on. If they manage to fix it, this would be the solution to my problem. It is small and light and could power the external USB drive and also allow connection of a mouse, jump drive and PDA sync/charger cable all at the same time. Since there is no power adaptor, it won't be sensitive to power transients.
2005-2008 George Schreyer Created 1 May 2005 Last Updated July 10, 2008
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