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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

RED Drive power supply.

G

Gary Rogers

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Hi

Does anyone know the voltage/current rating to power the old Red drives??

Thanks in advance..
 
Perfect, thanks for that.. although I never needed one when plugged into my Macbook Pro I am now using a MacPro and it can't seem to draw enough power from the thunderbolt port using an adapter cable! I guess thats progress for you!
 
Always use the power supply with the RED Drives. Sure, they can bus power themselves from many systems, but they actually over-draw what is technically available from USB and Firewire and they have no circuitry protection and the most common RED Drive failure is actually due to input power issues, more so over FireWire. Thunderbolt actually transmits the same 5W that USB does, but has proper regulation on it and doesn't allow for over-draw. We also lose a bit due to overhead of the active electronics in the TB cables, so we can often end up under-powering some USB and FW devices via adapters. Many adapters do not transfer power through to the device since TB is often used with long-run or optical cabling that does not transmit power. So if you're using with a new Mac Pro, you're best to plug directly into the USB port, but will get a 45% reduction in max drive speed vs. FW800.

Specs for your power adapter requirements are actually right on the RED Drive. But it's easiest to just acquire one of the ones RED sells. Or at least it's no more expensive to do it that way. For some reason decent AC adapters are expensive when we go to Radio Shack or other electronics store to pick one up. :/
 
I bought a used kit and ran into the same problem. There was no power adapter included and the previous owner had been running it off of fire wire, which doesn't really boast its full functionality anymore because of the thunderbolt standard on newer macs. I tried every configuration of port and powering it but the configuration that works for mine is using the USB mini b port and a third part power adapter.

I got mine on amazon, its an Enercell 12v 1.5amp univeral adapter with several interchangeable plug heads which i just trying until it fit the Red Drive. turned out to be the blue one. probably the dumbest way to figure out how to power it but i was in a pinch and it worked
 
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