Can PC fry firewire port? at DVinfo.net

Jamie Francis · November 14th, 2005, 10:08 PM

Our company uses two PC's to edit and we've had the FX1 we use firewire port fry twice. Could this possibly be a PC problem or is most definetly a camera problem?

Thanks

Matt Brabender · November 14th, 2005, 11:38 PM

I didn't think the PC sent any power through the firewire cable to the camera, and if that is right, then it's not possible to fry the port on the camera.
So I'd say it could be either a common problem with the camera or it might be the cables are causing damage to the ports.

Jacob Walker · November 15th, 2005, 02:12 AM

If the firewire port your going to is a 6pin (versus the 4pin like on your camera) than I would blame the computer, or more importantly the firewire card. The 6pin firewire port (IEEE1394) can output a certain amount of voltage (think its 30). Its possible that the cable is bad, but I’ve never had that happen. I have fried three cameras myself and had to ship them in to get the internal part replaced. All the times I fried them was usually from frustration about something or in a hurry and would power on and off the camera too quickly, or going from vcr mode to camera mode and back too quickly. (you’d think I would learn quicker) I asked quite a few people why exactly this happens, but with know real knowledge. I anyone knows please chime in. I have had a firewire card go bad on me but it was an off brand, its defiantly worth investing in good cables and name brand firewire interface. So the sure way to avoid blown firewire, - connect to a 4pin, or take it slow.

Giroud Francois · November 15th, 2005, 04:26 PM

yes, for sure.
The firewire on some asus port is known to fry easily any device you could plug in it.
Additionally , i do not recommend to plug device live. do it when at least one device is powered off.

November 14th, 2005, 10:08 PM	#1
Jamie Francis Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada Posts: 27	Can PC fry firewire port? Our company uses two PC's to edit and we've had the FX1 we use firewire port fry twice. Could this possibly be a PC problem or is most definetly a camera problem? Thanks __________________ Jamie Francis Double or Nothing Productions http://www.francisbros.com

November 14th, 2005, 11:38 PM	#2
Matt Brabender Major Player Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 230	I didn't think the PC sent any power through the firewire cable to the camera, and if that is right, then it's not possible to fry the port on the camera. So I'd say it could be either a common problem with the camera or it might be the cables are causing damage to the ports.

November 15th, 2005, 02:12 AM	#3
Jacob Walker Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Enumclaw, WA Posts: 69	If the firewire port your going to is a 6pin (versus the 4pin like on your camera) than I would blame the computer, or more importantly the firewire card. The 6pin firewire port (IEEE1394) can output a certain amount of voltage (think its 30). Its possible that the cable is bad, but I’ve never had that happen. I have fried three cameras myself and had to ship them in to get the internal part replaced. All the times I fried them was usually from frustration about something or in a hurry and would power on and off the camera too quickly, or going from vcr mode to camera mode and back too quickly. (you’d think I would learn quicker) I asked quite a few people why exactly this happens, but with know real knowledge. I anyone knows please chime in. I have had a firewire card go bad on me but it was an off brand, its defiantly worth investing in good cables and name brand firewire interface. So the sure way to avoid blown firewire, - connect to a 4pin, or take it slow.

November 15th, 2005, 04:26 PM	#4
Giroud Francois Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: switzerland Posts: 2,133	yes, for sure. The firewire on some asus port is known to fry easily any device you could plug in it. Additionally , i do not recommend to plug device live. do it when at least one device is powered off.