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Is there a way that the charging components inside a 3rd-gen iPod can be changed from Firewire to USB ? With so many USB car chargers available that make it easy to carry USB-charge-able devices, carrying a 3rd-gen iPod that solely charges via Firewire is truly a pain in the neck. I have 2 car charge ports in our vehicle, one is usually occupied by the GPS, the other one rotates between when my wife wants to charge her iPhone with the 2-port USB charger, and when I want to charge the iPod 3rd-gen with the Firewire charger. Even though the iPod 3rd-gen charges solely through Firewire, it would be much more convenient if both devices could both share the USB charger with 2 ports. I found a hack on the Instructables site that someone posted to modify a USB charger to charge a 3rd-gen iPad Nano, (http://www.instructables.com/id/Modify-a...), though I suspect it would work the same way for a regular 3rd-gen iPod. This however, doesn’t completely solve my question, it only keeps a dedicated charger for the iPod and doesn’t make it flexible enough to use a “regular” USB car charger that might have 2 ports. Everyone I’ve spoken to doesn’t have any suggestions since it requires a Firewire charge, so they suggest ditching a perfectly good working 40GB iPod for something newer. I refuse to give up a functioning device I paid close to $400 many years ago. What can I do to make this device work with a USB charger ?

herman428, this would be an interesting hack but all the circuitry in the iPod requires firewire for the charging, so you can not modify that. I would suggest something like a USB charger followed by a buck converter and terminate this with a firewire connection. Not really that cumbersome and should be doable. Hope this helps, good luck. Update The “hack” on instructable is a bit different.It was developed to charge the iPod with just any generic charger The USB output will remain around 4.6V- to - 5.2 V. Firewire is at 12V, you you will have to have some sort of DC-DC step up converter.

I spliced a usb step up 12v cable to a FireWire dock connector charging cable DC 5V to DC 12V USB Voltage Step Up Converter Cable - iGreely Power Supply USB Cable with DC Jack 5.5 x 2.5mm or 5.5 x 2.1mm, USB 5V to DC 12V Cable 3ft https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07J6NYVJV/ref…

Yes, I have exact same experience. One power source means from the one usb supply.

This incredibly compact DC step-up converter is what I used. It fits neatly inside the 3G case behind the hard drive. http://www.pololu.com/product/2117 Here are the traces for USB and Firewire power.

Problem is, the iPod freezes when plugged in. It seems that the iPod refuses to function when both USB 5V and Firewire 12V power are being supplied. And you can’t cut off USB power to the device, because that’s what the iPod uses to power the chips that interface with the computer. How did you get around it? Or is the iPod non-operable when plugged in via USB?

Hi Friends, I have found another method of charging - use the battery charger circuit put directly to the battery - search e-bay with “MICRO USB 1A Battery Charging Module TP4056” . See it here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8C4Foyc…

  • LED for charging indicator
  • My IPOD has CF card which allows enough space for the charger board. I think it is not sufficient space inside with original HDD.
  • Charging time is around 3 hrs. Working time is 8 hrs from fully charged (with 850 mAh battery ,play with rockbox).
  • During sync with PC, can be charged simultaneously. Cheers! I have use it over a month now and things are fine.

One option its just an adapter with firewire for the car. http://www.amazon.com/Griffin-Technology…