FireWire battles the wall warts

The linear wall wart is pretty much extinct already. Most of my gadgets use tiny switch mode wall warts or fat snakes, not only for the efficiency but for the cost and universal input (100-240VAC). If you want to promote firewire, the best thing about it is the standardized device control protocols. USB power is being stretched. Ipods and my Zune actually will use up to about 7 watts, which it does get from many USB wall warts. The power is limited for safety reasons that apply to firewire just as well. It’s a mater of discretion and maybe connector design. As someone else pointed out, USB power is limited for the sake of the PC. USB Y-cords to boost the power are not uncommon, the point being that using a PC as a power source would be like hauling freight in your sports car.

Most laptops have a 4-pin Firewire port (no power) and have to be externally supplied with power when connecting to a camera. The 45W max power is probably used for industrial cameras which often have firewire ports.

What is needed is a power supply that detects the load. When the load is not connected, the power supply turns off the primary side and puts a micro-processor in sleep mode. Periodictly the micro-processor wakes and tests for the load. If the load is found then primary is energized and the load receives power.

So we should use FireWire because it is more energy efficient? Seems like a huge stretch....and that ship has already sailed. But I would like to minimize the number of wall warts in my life....standardization is the way to accomplish that.

I'd be very happy to see a "universal" DC interface (I'm voting for 13.8 VDC, same as what's in most automobiles) supplied through a switchmode supply that has some DECENT noise filtering. I'm really, really tired of seeing wall warts and other junk come in the country with no filtering of switchmode noise. As of now, the filtering components are designed in, and are shipped installed in the units submitted for FCC tests, and then can be (and are in some cases) omitted from the production models. As clock speeds continue to increase, the problem of radiated trash only gets worse.

I'd be very happy to see a "universal" DC interface (I'm voting for 13.8 VDC, same as what's in most automobiles) supplied through a switchmode supply that has some DECENT noise filtering. I'm really, really tired of seeing wall warts and other junk come in the country with no filtering of switchmode noise. As of now, the filtering components are designed in, and are shipped installed in the units submitted for FCC tests, and then can be (and are in some cases) omitted from the production models. As clock speeds continue to increase, the problem of radiated trash only gets worse.

FireWire offers 45W on the port? Do PCs and laptops even support that much current on such a tiny connector!? My laptop power supply is 65W or 90W, depending on where I am. What would possibly need 45W over FireWire? 2.5W over USB is even quite a bit for a phone. Sure, I could charge my phone in 30 minutes, but would that be safe? If I short the USB connector on my laptop, I get a notification that a port exceeded its power limit. No smoke, no crash from a power drop. 500mA is a good level to limit at. Now, try shorting a 45W supply. Will the traces on my laptop's motherboard be able to handle it? My guess would be that I would end up spending the next 2 hours of my life with the warrenty department...

FireWire offers 45W on the port? Do PCs and laptops even support that much current on such a tiny connector!? My laptop power supply is 65W or 90W, depending on where I am. What would possibly need 45W over FireWire? 2.5W over USB is even quite a bit for a phone. Sure, I could charge my phone in 30 minutes, but would that be safe? If I short the USB connector on my laptop, I get a notification that a port exceeded its power limit. No smoke, no crash from a power drop. 500mA is a good level to limit at. Now, try shorting a 45W supply. Will the traces on my laptop's motherboard be able to handle it? My guess would be that I would end up spending the next 2 hours of my life with the warrenty department...

If the loads involved require only relatively low-duty-cycle power, the strategies described in my patent US 6178514 can be used to get much higher short-term power out of a limited bus standard like USB. With still higher continuous power available from 1394 and POE, similarly even greater peak powers can be realized. PS: Despite appearances due to a USPTO error, -514 is wholly assigned to Harman International Industries Inc., who should be contacted by those interested in licensing

(previous submittal cut off) Best thing going is on my replacement power supply for my laptop. Although I HATE the universal plugs, my Belkin replacement power supply has a USB plug for recharging my iPod or cell phone. No need for a wall wart or to keep my laptop computer on. (go ahead - burst my bubble. Tell me that the replacement is no better than a wall wart!)

Best thing going is on my replacement power supply for my laptop. Although I HATE "

Interesting article, but desktop computers are becoming less common. I would love to see a standardized DC power interface, similar to the ubiquitous 120v AC interface we have today. It could be backed by a switching converter which is turned on only when a device is plugged in. At any rate, getting rid of those wall warts would be a step in the right direction.

Or just make them all standard for a start. One wart to share charging my phone, ipod, my wifes phone, my kids ipods. my wifes GPS, etc. (ok with kids maybe need two) but not one with each device !!

Then travel problem will be solved by ONE wall-wart to Firewire adapter for all your devices

I have a gen one iPod. The charger is a wall wart with a firewire connection. My choice - computer or direct.

Even given the efficiency of switching converters, it’s probably wasteful to charge my cell phone using my desktop computer when I would have otherwise shut it off.