4-Pin firewire card at DVinfo.net

Jacob Walker · March 6th, 2005, 01:49 PM

I’ve had three camera firewire ports blown in two weeks, a XL1s, a optrua Xi, and finally a ZR 80. Two of them fried on a certain computer, so I stopped capturing video with that one and used another computer and then the ZR 80 fried too.

But forget all that, my question is does anyone know of a 4-pin firewire pci card? After looking on this board and the internet I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s almost impossible to have a 4-pin firewire port toast a camera. This is the only one I found,

http://devicebaystuff.com/firewirestuff/fws46603.html

just wondering if anyone knew of any others?

Thanks,
jacob

Rob Lohman · March 7th, 2005, 03:44 AM

I've only seen 6 pin ports as a PCI. Do you think the 6 pin port is
adding to the problem?

I have seen barebones (small PC enclosures) with 4 pin firewire
ports though.

R Geoff Baker · March 7th, 2005, 06:07 AM

If you don't attach the power feed header to the 6 pin Firewire card you can't possibly fry anything. I've never bothered to attach the power feeds, as every Firewire device I've ever owned was self-powered.

Just pull or don't attach the plastic power feed connector from the card. Six pin connectors are stronger & more secure in general, so if 'power' is the issue nip it at the source.

GB

Jeremy Davidson · March 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM

I believe my card also has jumpers so it can either feed power from a floppy power connector or just from the PCI bus, so you might want to check that as well.

Hmm... I'd better check my card, now that I think about it. That sounds like a good way to prevent these kinds of problems (all of my FW devices are also self-powered).

On those three cameras, did you use the same cable? I've heard stories where it was the real culprit, rather than the firewire card (though the card may have blown as well).

Ed Smith · March 8th, 2005, 11:13 AM

You might wish to invest in something like this:

http://www.mmdirect.co.uk/?page=shop...product_id=524

...

Cheers,

Jacob Walker · March 8th, 2005, 09:20 PM

One of the computers the firewire was on the motherboard, the second a pci board. The same cable was used on the first two cameras, then a different one for the third.

Thanks for your replies everyone, probably pick up one of those line protectors. Thanks

Jeremy Davidson · March 9th, 2005, 09:16 AM

Jacob, if you do get one of those line protectors, post here again and let us know if it really works. Not to be pessimistic, but I'm really curious how it "suppresses" the static electric charge. Most AC surge protectors just shunt it to ground, but here there's no ground connection. Also, it doesn't say anything about preventing cable shorts and the like (such as the power issue Geoff was referring to).

Ed, do you have any other info or experience with this? Really, I'm just overly curious how stuff works.

Ed Smith · March 9th, 2005, 12:44 PM

Hi Jeremy,

I do not have any experience with it, I got an e-mail about it a couple of monthes ago.

Just thought that it could help with this sort of problem.

If you want to read more check out Kramers site:

http://www.kramerelectronics.com/ind...c.asp?p=PT-1FW

Jeremy if you do find out how it works please let us know, I too was a bit dubious... But then again I don't see any reason why it should not do what it says. It could solve a lot iof headaches around here...

Thanks,

Jacob Walker · March 9th, 2005, 03:00 PM

We’ll Jeremy ordered one today so I’ll let you know what happens when it gets here, for anyone who is interested, it was a $99.00, I couldn’t find any site to order off the net that was in dollars so I called the company and ordered by phone, should be here next week at the latest.

March 6th, 2005, 01:49 PM	#1
Jacob Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 69	4-Pin firewire card I’ve had three camera firewire ports blown in two weeks, a XL1s, a optrua Xi, and finally a ZR 80. Two of them fried on a certain computer, so I stopped capturing video with that one and used another computer and then the ZR 80 fried too. But forget all that, my question is does anyone know of a 4-pin firewire pci card? After looking on this board and the internet I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s almost impossible to have a 4-pin firewire port toast a camera. This is the only one I found, http://devicebaystuff.com/firewirestuff/fws46603.html just wondering if anyone knew of any others? Thanks, jacob

March 7th, 2005, 03:44 AM	#2
Rob Lohman RED Code Chef Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Holland Posts: 12,514	I've only seen 6 pin ports as a PCI. Do you think the 6 pin port is adding to the problem? I have seen barebones (small PC enclosures) with 4 pin firewire ports though. __________________ Rob Lohman, visuar@iname.com DV Info Wrangler & RED Code Chef Join the DV Challenge \| Lady X Search DVinfo.net for quick answers \| Buy from the best: DVinfo.net sponsors

March 8th, 2005, 10:25 AM	#4
Jeremy Davidson Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 167	I believe my card also has jumpers so it can either feed power from a floppy power connector or just from the PCI bus, so you might want to check that as well. Hmm... I'd better check my card, now that I think about it. That sounds like a good way to prevent these kinds of problems (all of my FW devices are also self-powered). On those three cameras, did you use the same cable? I've heard stories where it was the real culprit, rather than the firewire card (though the card may have blown as well). __________________ There's no way for you to know if what I'm saying is true unless you know what the truth is, and there's no way for you to know what the truth is unless there is a truth that you can know. -- Frank Peretti

March 8th, 2005, 11:13 AM	#5
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	You might wish to invest in something like this: http://www.mmdirect.co.uk/?page=shop...product_id=524 ... Cheers, __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

March 9th, 2005, 09:16 AM	#7
Jeremy Davidson Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 167	Jacob, if you do get one of those line protectors, post here again and let us know if it really works. Not to be pessimistic, but I'm really curious how it "suppresses" the static electric charge. Most AC surge protectors just shunt it to ground, but here there's no ground connection. Also, it doesn't say anything about preventing cable shorts and the like (such as the power issue Geoff was referring to). Ed, do you have any other info or experience with this? Really, I'm just overly curious how stuff works. __________________ There's no way for you to know if what I'm saying is true unless you know what the truth is, and there's no way for you to know what the truth is unless there is a truth that you can know. -- Frank Peretti

March 7th, 2005, 06:07 AM	#3
R Geoff Baker Major Player Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Ottawa, ON Posts: 471	If you don't attach the power feed header to the 6 pin Firewire card you can't possibly fry anything. I've never bothered to attach the power feeds, as every Firewire device I've ever owned was self-powered. Just pull or don't attach the plastic power feed connector from the card. Six pin connectors are stronger & more secure in general, so if 'power' is the issue nip it at the source. GB

March 8th, 2005, 09:20 PM	#6
Jacob Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 69	One of the computers the firewire was on the motherboard, the second a pci board. The same cable was used on the first two cameras, then a different one for the third. Thanks for your replies everyone, probably pick up one of those line protectors. Thanks

March 9th, 2005, 12:44 PM	#8
Ed Smith Wrangler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hampshire, England Posts: 1,545	Hi Jeremy, I do not have any experience with it, I got an e-mail about it a couple of monthes ago. Just thought that it could help with this sort of problem. If you want to read more check out Kramers site: http://www.kramerelectronics.com/ind...c.asp?p=PT-1FW Jeremy if you do find out how it works please let us know, I too was a bit dubious... But then again I don't see any reason why it should not do what it says. It could solve a lot iof headaches around here... Thanks, __________________ Ed Smith Hampshire, UK Good things come to those who wait My Skiing web www.Frostytour.co.uk For quick answers Search dvinfo.net \| The best in the business: dvinfo.net Sponsors

March 9th, 2005, 03:00 PM	#9
Jacob Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 69	We’ll Jeremy ordered one today so I’ll let you know what happens when it gets here, for anyone who is interested, it was a $99.00, I couldn’t find any site to order off the net that was in dollars so I called the company and ordered by phone, should be here next week at the latest.