Correct way to use firewire and Cam

claxius

claxius

Active member
I'm a noob and I am close to uploading some footage onto my comp. I'm using anohter cheaper mini dv cam to upload my footage. Ive heard that if you plug in the firewire the wrong way or turn on the cam at the wrong time that you can blow the chip in the cam and screw up its ability to upload.

My question is, what is the process when setting up the cam? Where should I plug in the firewire first and when should I turn the cam on? What are the correct steps that will avoid the chip in the cam getting blown out?

thx
 
Yes you can blow up your firewire port. The problem happens when you're connecting to a computer that has a six-pin (larger connector) firewire port. If you're connecting 4-pin to 4-pin you don't really have to worry about much, just make sure you don't damage the connector by plugging in the cable backwards, but it won't blow up the port.

But when using a 6-pin firewire port, the potential exists to fry your camcorder's firewire port. The manufacturer-recommended procedure is that both the computer and camera should be turned off before connecting or disconnecting the firewire cable. Of the two, it's probably more important to have the computer turned off, because that's the one issuing the power current that does the actual frying.

At least one of the units should be turned off when connecting or disconnecting. Preferably both.

Again, if you're using 4-pin to 4-pin there shouldn't be an issue; I've hot-swapped 4-pin-to-4-pin thousands of times. It's when one of them has a six-pin connector that the problem arises.
 
Sorry Barry but that's not exactly correct. Firewire can supply a DC voltage from the host computer's bus to power ancillary devices (usually external audio capture hardware) without the need for the hardware's DC powerpack. Only 6 pin firewire terminals on the computer can supply this power.
The only way this can work is when a 6-6pin cable is used between a computer with a 6pin port and the hardware offering the 6pin interface. The DC power is wired straight through using pins 5 & 6. Basically you cannot get power from a 6-4pin cable as the power pins are not connected. This said, you cannot damage any hardware connected to the computers 6pin firewire port if your cable/camera uses 4pin.
On a 6 pin firewire plug pins 3, 4, 5 & 6 supply data and pins 1 & 2 are the power. On a 4 pin firewire plug pins 1, 2, 3 & 4 directly match up to 3, 4, 5 & 6.

http://pinouts.ru/Slots/ieee1394_pinout.shtml
 
give me a run down on exactly what gear you are using and so on... PC/MAC Laptop/Desktop, type of camera etc. What cable r u using and what pin config? What FW port do u keep frying??
 
Exactly. There's theory, and then there's a littered landscape of blown firewire ports. I'm reporting what's going on out there. And every single report has been from someone who plugged into a six-pin port, as far as I know.
 
I'm sure it's a fact that many people are having issues and blowing ports up around the world but fact is you cannot damage a device with a 4pin port if you connect it to a 6 pin host port in relation to the host's 6pin port's ability to supply DC power. Unless you have a dodgy cable it's just not possible.
My standard hookup procedure that has worked flawlessly for the past 7 years is plug the cable into the computer first, computer can be on. Connect 4pin end to camera DV then turn on camera. Always turn off camera before disconnecting FW cable...
If you are blowing FW ports, you either have a bad cable, incorrect connection process, causing damage due to static or existing problem with either firewire port electronics/components.
 
I did blow a Dvx100 firewire (and the rest of the connecting sound board too) by pluging the 6pin pin firewire the wrong way in the computer port. So I guess that the "power" pin then became live in one of the 4 pins connected to the camera...
 
S0ftfx said:
I did blow a Dvx100 firewire (and the rest of the connecting sound board too) by pluging the 6pin pin firewire the wrong way in the computer port. So I guess that the "power" pin then became live in one of the 4 pins connected to the camera...
Click to expand...

Now that sounds logical. In fumbling around trying to plug the cable into the PC 6-pin port, I could see how a contact could brush one of the power pins and blow the port on the camcorder -- if the camcorder end of the cable was already connected.

If that's what's happening, then it seems to me that as long as you plug in the PC (6-pin) end FIRST, and then plug in the camcorder (4-pin) end (with the camcorder turned OFF, of course), then that should prevent this particular issue from damaging the camcorder FW port. Right??
 
I was really surprised to read this thread. I have never heard of this issue or procedure and I have been going 6pin to 4pin for the past 7 years without one issue. I am constantly unplugging and replugging the 4 pin in and out of the powered camera whenever I need to change a tape.
 
yes, I've never heard of this either. How come it is not posted under 'WARNING'..do not do this ever on the user manuals of higher end camcorders? seems to be a very important process.
 
Panasonic and Sony have issued warnings; I don't know if they're in the camcorder manuals or not.

It does seem safer to unplug and re-plug the 4-pin side. It makes logical sense that the danger happens when plugging in the six-pin side. Whether that "logical" sense is enough to trust with your firewire port, well, that's up to you. Until proven otherwise, I'd say it's probably safe to plug in the six-pin side first, and then plug in the 4-pin side. It seems reasonable that the blowing-up happens when the 4-pin is plugged in, and then the user tries to plug in the 6-in and gets it backward, thus shorting out the power pins and blowing up the 4-pin. So if the 6-pin is plugged in properly first, that should minimize or eliminate the danger.
 
The only time I have had a problem in the past is when I a couple years ago on a small sony consumer cam, I had the 4pin plugged in and then when I tried to plug in the 6pin into the computer I had plugged it in upside down. It did fry out my firewire port on the camera.

On my HVX I plug into my computer first (it is on) then I plug into the camera. Knock on wood, it was worked for me.

I have not looked up the wiring details for a 6pin to 4pin firewire, but it would seem be understandable that plugging it in upside down, thus supplying tower to somethign not made for it, would be shorting them out. Thanks Slinkii for the info
 
WOW, I feel like I dodged a bullet, becasue I have always had mine plugged into my cpu. Some kids at my high school blew a ton of ports on gl1s and 2s, but they were doing the classic computer hop around and keeping the FW in the camera. But there were only GL1s and 2s, so it's probably for the best. ahah
 
I may be wrong, but I belive that, as long the computer is pluged in there is voltage on the 6pin connectors. No mather if it is turned on or off.

I know it sounds odd, but I have a FW cable with a LED in it and it lights up in the moment I plug the FW cable in (even if the computer is turned off).

Frank
 
My HVX'S firewire port is blown up once.One day suddenly i understooda that my pc doesn't recognize my camera.I also could'nt record to FS-100.Than i bring my camera to technical support,and yhey have changed the firewire port (around 250E)
.Then we saw that there is a problem on our mainboard.Because it also destroy other cheap mini dvd cameras firewireport while we are trying to figure out whats going on.There was a electrical problem about the mainboard.It was the best ASUS mainboard on the market,ı throwed it throught to their head.Now i changed my mainboard and trhere is no problem at all..
 
I concur with Barry.

I will hotwire a 4 pin f/w connector but never a 6 pin.

In the case of a cable with 6 and 4 pins on either end. I plug 6 first and then the 4.

It sometimes does not work to plug in f/w's before booting up a computer so one is forced to hot connect. (never ever blown a f/w port yet)
 
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