Using USB Superdrive with USB-C

[bunnspecial]

I needed to use my external Superdrive the other day-the fancy Apple aluminum with one USB plug. Mine's old enough to say "Macbook Air Superdrive" on it, but I use to use it regularly with my 2015 Retina, and my wife has used it recently with her 2015 Air.

My main USB dock is this one

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The "Hyperdrive" brand minidock.

When I plugged the Superdrive into this, it didn't work. Just to verify, I pulled out an older MBA I had handy, and the drive is fine. I'm GUESSING it's because the dock didn't kick into high power mode, which these drives need to function(most other external CD drives I've seen need two USB plugs or a wall plug).

Are these just out of commission on USB-C, or do I need to use one of the Apple USB-C to USB-A adapters? Alternatively, is there an inexpensive C-to-A adapter that can power these?

 

[jdlnmia]

I have a USB Superdrive and it works just fine using a simple USB A to USB C dongle connected directly to the MBP. I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015Z7XE0A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[BaggieBoy]

Ditto. I have a couple of Apple A-to-C dongles but found them unwieldmy. Bought a pair of simple adapters:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XYTHCXV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[svenmany]

My Superdrive is connected to the back of an old 27" Apple monitor. That monitor is driven by a usb-c to display port adaptor plugged right into my Mac. It works fine.

Now and again I try to plug my Superdrive somewhere else. It certainly doesn't work when I plug it into a powered USB hub. That hub is connected via a USB-C to USB-A dongle to my Mac.

 

[svenmany]

Ditto. I have a couple of Apple A-to-C dongles but found them unwieldmy. Bought a pair of simple adapters:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XYTHCXV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have avoided these since I've read they can get in the way of each other when they're placed in adjacent ports on a MacBook Pro; that they are just too wide.