OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub - Never turn off

[Nightingale_cz]

Hi everyone,

i using new OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub with my Mac mini M1. But i have some issue... when i turn off the Mac mini, hub is still on and he doesn't want to turn off.

I have two ssd disks and one Lacie Big2 connected to the HUB, which are then switched on non-stop and does not switch to sleep modes.

There is someone with similar problem?

Thank you!

 

[BrandonChang]

I seem to observe similar issue. The external SSDs I connected refuse to go to sleep.

 

[rx78]

I don't have a M1 Mac or a TB hub, but I've found USB 3.0 and USB C hubs exhibit the same behaviour, my external hard drives will never sleep if connected via the hub on shutdown and will always be on. They're fine when connected directly to the computer.

1. I have a Seagate Backup Plus external hard drive that has a built in USB 3.0 hub, even when everything is turned off, any connected SSD/HDD will not turn off.

2. I had a Dell WD15 (now changed to using its bigger brother the WD19), SSD/HDDs connected via that will also not turn off.

3. Same behaviour with a powered generic USB 3.0 hub.

Might be due to the power input provided by the hubs?

 

[Ifti]

I have the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub connected to my MBP16. I use i to connect 3 OWC Thunderblade V4 drives to the one port on my MBP.

The hub will also provide 60w of power to the connected system - hence why it doesn't 'sleep'. When used with a notebook, you can close the lid for it to sleep and the system will continue to charge etc. I don't think its a 'problem' - I think its supposed to stay on by design.....
I haven't come across many docs or hubs that go to sleep - my CalDigit TS3+ does the same thing.

I only use my Thunderblade drives while editing - so I usually unplug the hub when its not in use anyways.
First thing I did was to turn down that ultra-bright light on the top though!! lol

 

[rx78]

I have the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub connected to my MBP16. I use i to connect 3 OWC Thunderblade V4 drives to the one port on my MBP.

The hub will also provide 60w of power to the connected system - hence why it doesn't 'sleep'. When used with a notebook, you can close the lid for it to sleep and the system will continue to charge etc. I don't think its a 'problem' - I think its supposed to stay on by design.....
I haven't come across many docs or hubs that go to sleep - my CalDigit TS3+ does the same thing.

I only use my Thunderblade drives while editing - so I usually unplug the hub when its not in use anyways.
First thing I did was to turn down that ultra-bright light on the top though!! lol

Sweet looking drives you have there!

Yeah I'm thinking this power issue is by design as well, just have to remember to pull the power when powering everything down I guess.

 

[BrandonChang]

It isn't that simple for thunderbolt. It's not the fact the hub provides power that the devices won't go to sleep. PCIe devices themselves can enter L1.2 low power state if the PCIe link has support. In this case, there are three possibilities,
1. The hardware doesn't support L1 substates. (Unlikely)
2. The host OS doesn't configure the link to enable L1 substates. (Unlikely)
3. The firmware doesn't configure and report L1 substate support on the link to the host. (Likely)

 

[Nightingale_cz]

I have the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub connected to my MBP16. I use i to connect 3 OWC Thunderblade V4 drives to the one port on my MBP.

The hub will also provide 60w of power to the connected system - hence why it doesn't 'sleep'. When used with a notebook, you can close the lid for it to sleep and the system will continue to charge etc. I don't think its a 'problem' - I think its supposed to stay on by design.....
I haven't come across many docs or hubs that go to sleep - my CalDigit TS3+ does the same thing.

I only use my Thunderblade drives while editing - so I usually unplug the hub when its not in use anyways.
First thing I did was to turn down that ultra-bright light on the top though!! lol

Nice setup! Yes, that light is annoying. I have my hub hidden under the table 👍

Looks like I'm not able to do anything with this issue. Does anyone know if OWC releases any firmware upgrades for hubs?

 

[BrandonChang]

Nice setup! Yes, that light is annoying. I have my hub hidden under the table 👍

View attachment 1731052

Looks like I'm not able to do anything with this issue. Does anyone know if OWC releases any firmware upgrades for hubs?

Well, there is a hidden button on the hub which you can use an iPhone sim pin to push. It adjusts the brightness of the light and can turn it off completely.

 

[Nightingale_cz]

Well, there is a hidden button on the hub which you can use an iPhone sim pin to push. It adjusts the brightness of the light and can turn it off completely.

I didn't notice that... thank you!

 

[Ifti]

Nice setup! Yes, that light is annoying. I have my hub hidden under the table 👍

View attachment 1731052

Looks like I'm not able to do anything with this issue. Does anyone know if OWC releases any firmware upgrades for hubs?

You can turn the light down, or switch off completely, using a sim ejector tool, or pin, in the small hole on the front of the unit.

EDIT : Just noticed someone already posted above