Ultralite // Buspower over expresscard (laptop)?

deniz · Post by **deniz** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:18 pm

Hi, is there any problem supplying the "ultralite" with power over the firewire (6-pins) bus only on the laptop, when using an expresscard?
I experienced that another interface would not work, eventhough it said it should be only buspowered either. I'm running a "HP dv-6000" laptop.

Thanx

D.

Iomegaman · Post by **Iomegaman** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:51 pm

If your laptop has the extra power it should be fine, but in my experience the cardbus may need its own external power if its supplying the ultralite.

My toshiba only has a fourpin (data only) fw port and I use the ultralite with its wallwart, but the HP's are kinda powerful so there's a good chance it will run it fine.

Try it it won't work or it will, nothing to fear there.

carrythebanner · Post by **carrythebanner** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 6:41 am

From MOTU's tech notes:

There are some additional considerations when using FireWire bus power when your FireWire ports are on a PCI or PCMCIA card. PCI cards must have a direct connection to the power supply harness inside the computer, and PCMCIA cards must have an external power supply (most commonly a DC power adapter that plugs into an AC power outlet).

So, using a FireWire PC Card card sort of defeats the purpose of having a "no strings attached" mobile system, since you'll have to plug in power for either the interface or the PC Card. If that's your goal, then you'll want to look into a laptop with built-in FW ports that can power the UltraLite.