USB Hub making PB 12' Fans go Crazy

[ribbonthecat]

I recently bought an i-rocks combination USB Hub/Card reader, which looks great, and is quite useful. However, I've noticed that since I've started using it, the fans on my Powerbook have been going crazy. Whenever I plug it in, the fans become as loud as I've ever heard them, but when I unplug the thing, it ratchets down again.

I can't see how it could be related to anything I have attached to the hub: I only have an old Apple Promouse, and a Keyboard, as well.

Is this a known issue? Is there anyway to fix it? It's not a huge problem: mostly it's just annoying.

 

[Nicolasdec]

When i connect my External HD the fans on my MBP goes mad.

 

[lil' brudder]

Check the i-rocks website for any newer drivers or software for it that may correct the problem. Otherwise, I have no clue.

 

[PlaceofDis]

bus powered or external power?

 

[ribbonthecat]

Actually, it says that it is both self and bus powered. I unplugged it, and it still seemed to work. Perhaps the power adapter is shot?

 

[PlaceofDis]

External.

now that is odd... so its not the power, but probably depends on what you have connected through it. anything thats going to be drawing heavily on USB still has to be run through the processor so its not surprising that it kicks things up a notch. :\

edit: that could be it, perhaps the laptop is powering it when the external supply should. ?

 

[ribbonthecat]

I love Tech Support

My email to them:

"I just purchased an IR 8100M. However, every time I plug it into my
laptop (an Apple 12' Powerbook) the fans on the computer start going
crazy, and the computer sounds like it is really working hard, even
when I only have one program running. Perhaps it's drawing power
through the USB hub, and not the external power supply, although it
is plugged in. It's quite annoying. Is this a known issue, and is
there a way to fix it? I just installed the only available Mac OS
driver on the CD (for the Hub). The Card Reader did not have a driver
included, and there is nothing for it on your website."

Their response

"Thanks for the email. There is a power adapter included within the IR-8100M package. Please kindly use this external power adapter with your IR-8100M.

Also, please check the dust on the fans on your powerbook; the noisy problem always happens when your OS is running multi-tasking. There is nothing about IR-8100M regarding this fan problem.

Any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Thank you,"

 

[flopticalcube]

Here's a trick. Plug something like an iPod into the USB hub that requires power but don't plug your hub into the PB. If the item draws power, your power adapter is working, if not, it ain't.

 

[ribbonthecat]

Thanks for the suggestion, flopticalcube. While it was unplugged, the iPod did charge, so I guess the power adapter does work. So what's up with that?

 

[flopticalcube]

Could be plugging in a card reader starts something up on the PB? Look in Activity Monitor to see if a process is using all the CPU.