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vongole83

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
5
3
Hi All

Has anyone else found the new iPad Air causes the Caldigit TS3 Plus to report (via their laptop) it's drawing too much power when plugged in via USB-C?

I have performed all the upgrades on the TS3 itself and still get this message.

Thanks
 

AutomaticApple

Suspended
Nov 28, 2018
7,401
3,378
Massachusetts
Hi All

Has anyone else found the new iPad Air causes the Caldigit TS3 Plus to report (via their laptop) it's drawing too much power when plugged in via USB-C?

I have performed all the upgrades on the TS3 itself and still get this message.

Thanks
Have you tried using an external power source already?
 

vongole83

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
5
3
Well the iPad charges fine on an external power source (i.e. the power adapter and USB-C cable in the box) if that is what you mean.
I would expect the Air to act like the 20xx Pros which charge fine off the USB-C port of the Caldigit TS3 Plus.
 

vongole83

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
5
3
So I have discovered it only works via the back USB-C port. Seems the front and back ports have different power delivery capabilities. Worth noting for anyone else that comes across a similar issue.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,716
7,290
So I have discovered it only works via the back USB-C port. Seems the front and back ports have different power delivery capabilities. Worth noting for anyone else that comes across a similar issue.
Did you install the Caldigit charging driver which allows for extra USB power to charge devices? I don’t know that it supports USB-C devices but it’s worth checking.
 

vongole83

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 6, 2020
5
3
Did you install the Caldigit charging driver which allows for extra USB power to charge devices? I don’t know that it supports USB-C devices but it’s worth checking.
Yes I did. Front USB ports still don’t behave as expected after doing this
 

pulseft

macrumors newbie
Sep 9, 2011
2
1
V - Same issue. Caldigit TS3 Plus + iPad Air 4. With a 2019 16" MacBook Pro connected to the Caldigit with a single thunderbolt cable. I installed the Caldigit update from 2019 exactly as described on their website for resolving the problem for iPad Pro. However it did NOT resolve the problem for iPad Air 4. I did notice that when the iPad Air 4 is plugged into either of the Caldigit's BACK-SIDE ports for USB-C or Thunderbolt, that it does NOT seem to cause the MBP to complain about "USB Accessories being disabled for drawing too much power". I will get this error on the MBP if I plug the iPad Air 4 into the USB-C port on the front of the Caldigit, and no matter how many times I dismiss the error, with will keep popping as a notification on the screen. Also, the iPad Air 4 WILL charge while connected to either the front or back ports of the Caldigit, at about the same rate for all 3 ports. But the MBP cannot see the iPad Air 4, and so will not be able to sync / backup to the MBP over the wired connection. I am currently plugging the iPad Air 4 directly into one of the MBP's 3 other thunderbolt ports to charge and sync the iPad Air 4. Hope this helps.
 

PhightinPhils26

macrumors 6502a
Sep 12, 2007
796
43
Philly
This is interesting. I haven't tried this yet, but I will.

I did however try plugging the iPad into the main thunderbolt port to use the display, but an error stating the iPad didn't support that setup was a bit disappointing (but that's a different issue.)

I'll mess with mine today and report back.

Edit: That didn't take long. Same situation here. 2020 MacBook Air (i5) connected to dock with thunderbolt. Tried plugging 2020 iPad Air in the front, I get the power draw error. Installed software from CalDigit - same issue. Back ports work fine.
 
Last edited:

orpheus1120

macrumors 65816
Jan 23, 2008
1,432
59
Malaysia
I'm here to report I experienced similar issue with the T3 Plus, but not with an iPad but a Keychron K4 bluetooth keyboard.

I used to be able to plug the keyboard cable to the front Type-A port of the T3 Plus and I'll be able to charge and use the keyboard in wired mode at the same time. But currently every time I try to plug the cable into the T3, it will say that the keyboard is drawing too much power. I can charge the keyboard but my Mac cannot recognise the keyboard.

I have no choice but to connect it directly to my Mac whenever I need to use the keyboard in wired mode.

This is definitely an issue with the T3 Plus.
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,716
7,290
I'm here to report I experienced similar issue with the T3 Plus, but not with an iPad but a Keychron K4 bluetooth keyboard.

I used to be able to plug the keyboard cable to the front Type-A port of the T3 Plus and I'll be able to charge and use the keyboard in wired mode at the same time. But currently every time I try to plug the cable into the T3, it will say that the keyboard is drawing too much power. I can charge the keyboard but my Mac cannot recognise the keyboard.

I have no choice but to connect it directly to my Mac whenever I need to use the keyboard in wired mode.

This is definitely an issue with the T3 Plus.
Did you install the Caldigit charging driver? It's Intel only, but it may allow extra power for the keyboard.
 

orpheus1120

macrumors 65816
Jan 23, 2008
1,432
59
Malaysia
I bought the caldigit 1 month ago and had all the updates preinstalled when it arrived. It worked right out of the box with my keyboard until recently.
 
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