Phase One H10 Laptop question

[martinangus]

<p>I noticed the Phase One manual for the H10 states that laptops MUST always be connected to the back via Phase One's portable solution...ie, belt power pack?</p>

<p>So, that was written when laptops were not expected to provide power from the firewire cable (I assume).</p>

<p>My question: "Has the technology improved that I can buy a more current laptop that will connect direct to the phase one digital back?</p>

<p>What are other phase one H10 users doing in the field?</p><div></div>

[marc_david]

<p>In fact, the laptop was expected to provide power for the back (or you need an external power source while being connected to a laptop). Most new laptops won't even have firewire 400 that these backs require. From what I've heard, most older PC laptops with FW400 did not provide enough power for these backs. My 'old' white Macbook (4,1) does provide enough power, as should the previous gen. Macbook Pro's. You can get either of these for a song.<br>

These backs require a)power from a laptop, and b) to be tethered to a laptop running Capture One. </p>

[gregory_king1]

<p>I used a 12 volt battery for a CCTV from Ebay, wired into the second FireWire port of my PCMCIA card. It feeds power back through the bus. It works quite well, and only costs about $20-30.</p>

[chris_johnson28]

<p>I have tried it and it works. You just need to have a firewire adapter piece (as you probably wont have the older stye firewire port). Doesn't cost much and you can find them at most electronics/computer stores. </p>

[martinangus]

<p>Great info...thanks all. Gregory/Chris: any chance I can see a pic or schematic of this adapter gizmo?</p>

<p> </p>

[gregory_king1]

<p>Not much to show...just buy a 12v CCTV battery and splice it to a 6-pin 1394 connector. Just make sure you get the wiring correct... ;-)<br>

You can either plug it into one port if you have two, or get a power injector connector that puts it inline.</p>

<p>I think Chris is talking about a Mac setup. I'm not sure any PC laptops have powered 1394...most don't have 1394 at all. But I also thought the 4-pin connector couldn't handle power. After all, that's what the 2 other pins are for.</p>

[martinangus]

<p>Will a Apple iBook G4 (Oct 2003) work? It has the firewire 400 and I can get a used one for about $80</p>

[gregory_king1]

<p>A little research confirms that a 4-pin port has no power. Things like this can be used to inject power, but you still need a 12V source.<br>

<a href="http://www.usbfirewire.com/parts/rr-fw-ipod-adapter.html">http://www.usbfirewire.com/parts/rr-fw-ipod-adapter.html</a></p>