this is getting ridiculous.

First my macbook pro firewire stopped working.

Then my imac firewire stopped working.

Then on the day I got it my mac pro firewire stopped working. Apple sent a replacement. FIrewire worked fine until I plugged my f350 in. Now it's dead too! four mac's all fried!

Can my F350 really be blowing my mac's firewire boards?

I did think that it must be my Western Digital my book's that were doing it, but I have plugged them into the firewire just the usb 2.

Any ideas. Is this possible? Could my hot swapping be doing this?

Are you sure it's not the cable? Some of the cheaper cables can short the power and data pins as you plug them in. I've seen quite a few firewire devices cooked by a dodgy cable. It's not really a good idea to hot swap firewire as the power and data pins are next to each other and any slop in the connector can lead to a disaster.

it's possible. but it is a new belkin firewire cable. without having a row of mac's and going through the different options it's hard to say. All i know is it's the only piece of equipment that i have plugged into the firewire on this new mac.

edit:

I think I have just worked out the problem.

my cat!

She loves cables and I try to keep her out of the edit suite but she sometimes sneaks in. The cable I used has a small nick in it. I am sure power is leaking into the rest of the cable.

It is the only thing I can think of!

I'de want to get the camera checked as firewire ports are very expensive to get repaired/replaced on laptops, decks and other camcorders.

I only plug and upplug with the power off.

both the computer and camera powered off

am inclined to buy 6pin to 4pin lead and a 4 pin to 6 pin adaptor to avoid power getting to the computer/ camera.

We've been editing for 5 months with the F350 and the MacBook Pro with no problems at all. Make sure your camera's off before you plug in the firewire and then go camera on. A 6 to 6 pin is what we use in the field, on set and in the editing bay and we've had zero problems.

We've been editing for 5 months with the F350 and the MacBook Pro with no problems at all. Make sure your camera's off before you plug in the firewire and then go camera on. A 6 to 6 pin is what we use in the field, on set and in the editing bay and we've had zero problems.

Thanks Jonathan,

I am certain it was the cable.

It you ever cast a cat for your series, keep it away from the firewire cables!

We introduced a dog, Dr. Carlos' real life canine companion, and he stole the scene. Cats I don't think so.

both the computer and camera powered off

am inclined to buy 6pin to 4pin lead and a 4 pin to 6 pin adaptor to avoid power getting to the computer/ camera.

I know there are issues with Sony Z1s & FX1s killing computer firewire ports.

On one of those threads somewhere (can't find it now) someone mentioned one of these: http://www.ivojo.co.uk/kramer-pt-1fw.htm

When I had long conversations with a Sony tech while they were working on my 330, he said they get many blown firewire ports in daily. He recommended a null adaptor if you use 6-pin to 6-pin and don't actually need the power. I've been doing that for six months without having to shut anything down with no problems.

How can a Z1 blow out a firewire port since the 4-pin doesn't have power running through it?

where can i get a null adaptor from. What is it called officially?

How can a Z1 blow out a firewire port since the 4-pin doesn't have power running through it?

Not entirely certain, but it's fairly well documented. Something to do with static, bad grounding, and the design of the firewire circuitary at the Z1's end.

This is what I'm using. Someone else may have better information or another source, but this has worked well for me so far.

http://www.fwdepot.com/

2 x FireWire 1394a cable - 8 inch port Isolator (CFE-66-8-NP) = $33.90USD
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Sub-Total: $33.90USD
: $21.88USD
Total: $55.78USD

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On the Z1 - I have a Z1 and an FX1 and have used them on 6 or 7 computers with no problems yet. I'm pc based - I don't know if that's the difference.