Firewire Bus Power - Un-needed

I've been using an Echo AudioFire 12 firewire interface for years with my Mac Pro, but now I'm using it in the field with my MacBook.
The AF 12 is (AC) self powered yet the MacBook automatically sends it bus power, thusly running hotter and the fan never stops.
If I plug in a 6 pin FW cable to the MacBook and leave the other end un-attached the fan never turns on. When I plug in the AF 12, the fan starts up (within a few minutes).
Or is there a way to disable Firewire bus power on the Mac (10.6.5). Or can this be achieved using a cable that doesn't send power.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!

Someone may know of a way to disable power on the macbook side of things, but I don't know how. I do know that if you use a 4-wire FireWire 400 cable it will not send power, and that they do make 6-pin cables that don't have power pins connected. It looks like the AudioFire 12 does not have a 4-pin FireWire port, but you may have some luck with a 6-pin cable that doesn't have power pins. This may not fix the issue, however, as depending on how many system resources are consumed by the AF 12, it may just be using enough CPU cycles or taxing the FireWire interface enough to kick the fan into high gear.

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  • Firewire Bus Power - Not Needed

    I've been using an Echo AudioFire 12 firewire interface for years with my Mac Pro, but now I'm using it in the field with my MacBook.
    The AF 12 is (AC) self powered yet the MacBook automatically sends it bus power, thusly running hotter and the fan never stops.
    If I plug in a 6 pin FW cable to the MacBook and leave the other end un-attached the fan never turns on. When I plug in the AF 12, the fan starts up (within a few minutes).
    Or is there a way to disable Firewire bus power on the Mac (10.6.5). Or can this be achieved using a cable that doesn't send power.
    Any suggestions?
    Thanks!

    I had the same idea as you.
    I didn't think of looking for a method of turning off the Mac's firewire power - this would be excellent.
    The method I used was:
    A firewire 6pin to 4pin cable like this (not this actual ebay item).
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2M-Firewire-IEEE1394-Cable-4-6-Pin-DV-out-PC-Lead-/2605482 48174?pt=UKComputing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item3ca9e2c26e#ht_2727wt1141
    A firewire Adapter 6 Pin Male to *4 Pin Female* (not this actual ebay item).
    http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1394-Firewire-Adapter-6-Pin-Male-4-Pin-Female-/35040349329 7?pt=UKComputing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item5195acfdb1#ht_3761wt1141
    My idea was that a firewire 4pin connection does not carry power, so the firewire signal would get through, but the power from the computer wouldn't.
    The combined 6pin plug and adapter were heavy. They needed to be supported to keep them level when plugged in, if the socket was horizontally aligned, like on the MacBook Pro.
    If you try this - be careful when ordering the adapter - some adapters are male to male - you need 6 Pin Male to *4 Pin Female*.
    I also wrapped a piece of tape around the combined plug and adapter.
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