Mac Mini 2018 External Drives Disconnecting (TB3)

[Ploki]

I bet you have an SSD in it, am I right?
.

no, two Scorpio Blues 1 TB
[doublepost=1550170095][/doublepost]

No, no name on the enclosure or in the Amazon AD.

This One

I suspected the cable so I bought a $50.00 Active TB3 cable and it still had disconnects. So I returned both the cable and the enclosure and went to plan "B", buy a quality name brand enclosure. Seemed to me if I'm using a Samsung M.2 then a Samsung X5 enclosure should have the least amount of issues. This has proven true. =)

ah.
that one looks like a different board. The Leidian has the same board as TEKQ Rapid

 

[harriska2]

I have 2 WD 10tb external usb drives with their own power supplies that never disconnect - except when I pick up the powered USB hub and turn it off accidentally :/ Then yes, they disconnect when the hub turns off - mostly because I didn’t learn the lesson the first time.

 

[Stephen.R]

OK, so I dutifully connected back to Apple, and the response is somewhat brief and doesn't really answer the question of "why is this happening":

ThunderBolt 3 / USB 3 ports are able to provide unto 100W of power coming into a computer, and 15W of power to bus powered devices. i.e. unto 100W of power from a Power Adaptor to the computer (not needed in a Mac mini) and 15W of power from the computer to an external device. If the external device needs more than 15W of power it will need to connect to an external power source itself, it cannot be powered from the computer.

 

[harriska2]

OK, so I dutifully connected back to Apple, and the response is somewhat brief and doesn't really answer the question of "why is this happening":

Is that 15W per connection or altogether? Also, if spinning drive first spin up it may require more power initially and exceed 15W. Can you put a power block on the drive itself?

 

[Stephen.R]

Is that 15W per connection or altogether? Also, if spinning drive first spin up it may require more power initially and exceed 15W. Can you put a power block on the drive itself?

I believe it's meant to be per-port, but maybe it's per-bus? (i.e. a pair of ports on most Macs). Nobody is using Thunderbolt for a single spinning disk. Bus powered thunderbolt drives should all be using SSDs.

 

[IngerMan]

I believe it's meant to be per-port, but maybe it's per-bus? (i.e. a pair of ports on most Macs). Nobody is using Thunderbolt for a single spinning disk. Bus powered thunderbolt drives should all be using SSDs.

I just set mine up 24 hours ago. I am using both USB-A on the MM (Das Keyboard and one to the Dell Monitor for USB upstream) I then have 2 more USB-A downstream on the back of the monitor which are being used for webcam and printer. I have 2 on the side of the monitor for charging etc but I would not want anything permanent on the side, I rotate my monitor often for working out.

I am using 3 of the 4 TB3 ports. #1 for eGPU, #2 for 500GB SSD M500 extra storage (games, etc), #3 is an older WD 2TB spinner that I partition the drive for Time Machine and CCC and plan on leaving them permanently attached for auto updates.

Its early but I have backed up and did not have any issues. I did not even think running the spinner in the TB3 port would be an issue. If I had something else I needed to put in the TB3 port, the spinner would be coming out and moved to a new configuration.

 

[Stephen.R]

I did not even think running the spinner in the TB3 port would be an issue

Sorry, when I said "should be" I meant "it makes little sense to put a single spinning drive in a TB3 enclosure".

Obviously if you have a TB3 enclosure but no USB enclosure, then sure, it'll work.

 

[madrag]

I am using 3 of the 4 TB3 ports. #1 for eGPU, #2 for 500GB SSD M500 extra storage (games, etc), #3 is an older WD 2TB spinner that I partition the drive for Time Machine and CCC and plan on leaving them permanently attached for auto updates.
View attachment 822152

From your picture, I can see that the 2TB HDD is USB-A (It reads Super Speed USB) connected to the USB-C port on the Mac, that's not a true TB enclosure, which seems to be the problem.

I also have been using USB-A enclosures connected to the USB-C port and they work perfectly. What didn't work for me was a trully USB-C to USB-C enclosure.

 

[harriska2]

I just set mine up 24 hours ago. I am using both USB-A on the MM (Das Keyboard and one to the Dell Monitor for USB upstream) I then have 2 more USB-A downstream on the back of the monitor which are being used for webcam and printer. I have 2 on the side of the monitor for charging etc but I would not want anything permanent on the side, I rotate my monitor often for working out.

I am using 3 of the 4 TB3 ports. #1 for eGPU, #2 for 500GB SSD M500 extra storage (games, etc), #3 is an older WD 2TB spinner that I partition the drive for Time Machine and CCC and plan on leaving them permanently attached for auto updates.

Its early but I have backed up and did not have any issues. I did not even think running the spinner in the TB3 port would be an issue. If I had something else I needed to put in the TB3 port, the spinner would be coming out and moved to a new configuration.

View attachment 822152

Love how you labeled everything. Do you pull out the label maker all the time for this stuff? I sure do and it has made my life much better. Even hubby’s tool chest is labeled.

 

[kaibob]

After exiting sleep mode, I occasionally receive a display notification that:

"USB Accessories Disabled
Unplug the accessory using too much
power to re-enable USB Devices."

By the process of elimination I discovered this is caused by my Samsung T5 SSD, which was connected directly to my 2018 mini with the supplied USB-C cable. I tried plugging the T5 into a USB-A hub, which has its own power supply, but still received the same message.

I looked on the Samsung help site and they recommended disconnecting the SSD before the computer enters sleep mode.

BTW, the T5 doesn't eject and otherwise works as expected.

 

[Stephen.R]

they recommended disconnecting the SSD before the computer enters sleep mode

Try turning off "disk sleep" in energy saver preferences?

 

[kaibob]

I never had that enabled, as I read somewhere that it does not apply to SSD's. I am going to try enabling the option to prevent the computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I never had that enabled, as I read somewhere that it does not apply to SSD's. I am going to try enabling the option to prevent the computer from sleeping automatically when the display is off.

The only options that should be ticked are 1 & 3

 

[jakebrosy]

So, I've been experiencing frustrating intermittent drive disconnects on a new MacMini and contacted Apple. After running a diagnostic they told me there's no problem.

Again, Apple is burying their heads in the sand hoping the problem will go away. After dealing with the frustrating 2010 and 2011 MBP graphic issues I'm pretty effing sick of Apple ignoring real problems.

Does anyone know of a proposed class action for this?

I figure I'll join early and avoid the rush.

 

[Ploki]

what drive disconnects? external? what kind of connection?

th eonly drive that drops connection here is a TB3 drive which has a faulty cable. (tried with another cable and it works fine)

 

[Octognoma]

Hi, Glad to have found this thread after searching everywhere!

So after going down the 2018 mini route for a music production, setting up a 3.2- 6 core with 32 gigs of ram,

I have a Belkin USB 3 powered hub connected to usb A Port1
This has low power devices such as keyboard and mouse, as well as some midi controllers


I ran into the Usb audio issue with my RME UCX USB-2 soundcard. Audio Glitching ect has been reported extensively

This was sorted by acquiring a Caldigit hdmi_usb2+3 thunderbolt 3 hub.


TB BUS 1
TB-3 PORT 1 (Caldigit Hub)
This is running
2 x Hdmi 27 monitors
Ethernet
1x USB 2 - RME UCX soundcard
1xUSB 3 - Access virus Ti

5 devices, within the specified amount


TB BUS2
TB Port -3

UAD Firewire Duo connected using the FW800-TB2-and the TB2-3 Adaptors

All has been working great, but started to run out of storage quick. The solution was a TB3 External SSD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TEKQ-Thund...2925024&s=gateway&sprefix=tekq,aps,172&sr=8-3

When i first plugged in the TB drive it did not boot, it was not even view able in disc utility, it was only after i disconencted the UAD FW-tb cable that the LED kicked in and the drive works.

What is puzzling me is this seems to be a power (or lack of) issue, the UAD has a AC-Dc power supply, but when the TB SSD is present and mounted the UAD will not engage.

So simply the devices are both stopping the other one from working. They work separately but not together , i have obviously tried both of the other TB3 ports and all combinations, I know firewire is pretty much redundant but am not in a position to replace the UAD device, and need the containing plugins to work.

Has anyone experienced similar? Going to look into the power being used by each of the Bus's and TB connections this weekend, but am running out of ideas other than to buy another Dock /Hub to run the Drive from, This is getting into the ridiculous with that totaling up to over £500 in Hubs and cables to get this working.

 

[bdbolin]

Since a previous firmware update, things have been way more reliable. In fact I've only had my NVMe TB3 disconnect on me once maaaaybe twice.

The most recent time my wife grabbed the harddrive which moved the cable and it disconnected (even though it was still plugged in). I'm thinking it might even be some poor ports connectors. Nothing on the computer was changing - but I guarantee if you touch a cable that it'll disconnect.

I have a sit/stand desk and when it's vibrating up, now the TB3 eGPU disconnects - again I think it's port connections. I just ordered a new cable that arrives today sometime to test if that's the issue on that end.

 

[eelpout]

rather than start a new thread I'll post to this one.

I have two Vantec NexStar external drive cases which I'm trying to use on the USB-C ports of the 2018 Mini (yes, these are USB 3.x compliant cases and came with USB-C to USB-C cables, NOT Thunderbolt though). One is for media and the other for Time Machine. In short, the problem is getting the Mini to provide a signal to those drives after waking from sleep or sometimes even from cold boot. Handily, these cases have an LED that is either red or blue depending on the status. Invariably they keep showing red after the Mini wakes up, they aren't getting a valid signal unless I unplug the cable and plug it back in.

The workaround appears to be keep the drives plugged into a powered USB hub (sounds like others here do the same), but the problem is the drives then never go fully asleep unless I turn off the switch to that port (which the hub handily has).

Vantec says the problem must be with the Mini 2018, on my old 2012 Mini I could plug these drives directly in its back USB ports and they would sleep/wake just fine.

(and for the record I searched within Macrumors and -didn't find this thread-, I found it through an external Bing search )

Edit: after re-reading this thread, maybe as some suspect it's the amount of power the '18 is putting out on the bus and it's just not what these enclosures need. Someone mentioned to try daisy chaining, so I'll have to do that. I'm still on Mojave BTW.

 

[bdbolin]

Turns out things only got stable after turning off wifi. It was never a firmware update - I happened to go ethernet only and turn off Wifi. Since verified with Apple.

So I can't have wifi on - if I do:
- Magic trackpad constantly disconnects
- eGPU constantly disconnects
- external NVMe drives constantly disconnect

Huge pain in the butt. Now I can't airdrop or have apple watch auto unlock.

The issue is that USB causes interference and crap with the wifi - and all hell breaks loose. Personally, I'd never buy another mini because of it. Price to performance though, I don't think it can be beat.

 

[Ploki]

Turns out things only got stable after turning off wifi. It was never a firmware update - I happened to go ethernet only and turn off Wifi. Since verified with Apple.

So I can't have wifi on - if I do:
- Magic trackpad constantly disconnects
- eGPU constantly disconnects
- external NVMe drives constantly disconnect

Huge pain in the butt. Now I can't airdrop or have apple watch auto unlock.

The issue is that USB causes interference and crap with the wifi - and all hell breaks loose. Personally, I'd never buy another mini because of it. Price to performance though, I don't think it can be beat.

I don't have eGPU but i have everything else in your list, and everything is working fine here while on 5G WiFi (was fine on 2.4 but didn't really use it that much since i have a 100mb line and 2.4 doesn't cut it)

 

[bdbolin]

Apparently this external NVMe drive from OWC causes some pretty good interference. My other external drive has less issue - but at like 1/4 the speeds. So maybe it is largely dependant on the USB devices.

 

[Ploki]

Apparently this external NVMe drive from OWC causes some pretty good interference. My other external drive has less issue - but at like 1/4 the speeds. So maybe it is largely dependant on the USB devices.

oh. i have the cheap-ass aliexpress enclosure and it doesn't have as much i guess?

 

[Fishrrman]

eelpout wrote in post 43 above:
"Edit: after re-reading this thread, maybe as some suspect it's the amount of power the '18 is putting out on the bus and it's just not what these enclosures need. Someone mentioned to try daisy chaining, so I'll have to do that. I'm still on Mojave BTW."

Those enclosures are for 2.5" and 3.5" drives, is this correct? If so...
You can't run 3.5" drive enclosures from the Mini's USB bus power.
It doesn't supply enough power.

You have to use the power supplies that came with those enclosures.

Generally, the only external USB enclosures that can mount/run from a Mini's (or any other Mac's) bus power are 2.5" "portable" enclosures.

There's no workaround for this.
It is what it is.

 

[Stephen.R]

Turns out things only got stable after turning off wifi. It was never a firmware update - I happened to go ethernet only and turn off Wifi. Since verified with Apple.

The issue is that USB causes interference and crap with the wifi - and all hell breaks loose. Personally, I'd never buy another mini because of it. Price to performance though, I don't think it can be beat.

I'm confused why having Wifi on would cause the drives to disconnect though?

 

[Ploki]

I'm confused why having Wifi on would cause the drives to disconnect though?

2.4Ghz and USB3.0 issues