Getting Started

This manual provides a reference for end-users installing for the first time and using their hub afterwards. As well as a guide for product safety-related information.

The ThunderSync5-C16 is intended to be used in an indoor static environment in which the environment falls within the tested specifications to provide charge, sync and management functionality. Please see the Product Specifications section of this manual for information on the environment specifications.

Unpacking your product

When you have received your product, please check the packing slip inside the box to ensure all contents and quantities are correct before opening. This is to avoid retesting and repackaging any items that are not required.

When opening the packaging, use a suitable method to open the box i.e, do not use a knife. This is to ensure the product is not damaged.

	CAUTION
Personal Injury and Damage to the product There will be a label on the hub advising you to read the User manual before use. This will need to be removed before use as it may be covering host ports, vents etc.

CAUTION

Personal Injury and Damage to the product

There will be a label on the hub advising you to read the User manual before use. This will need to be removed before use as it may be covering host ports, vents etc.

What's Included

Thunderbolt™ 5 Cable (to provide communication between the host system and hub)
ThunderSync5-C16 Hub
2m Mains power cable (Country specified on order including fuse for the UK plugs)
Power Supply Unit

Consumables and Placing Orders

If you require any spare parts, such as cables, these can be ordered by quoting the product part number listed in the Product Specifications.

These can be ordered from the reseller or solution partner you purchased your ThunderSync5-C16 from, or from Cambrionix directly.

To find one of our partners local to you please visit www.cambrionix.com/about-cambrionix/partners-distributors where you can learn about the local vendors and distributors that can assist you and find their contact information.

Connecting to the mains

Connect the Power Supply Unit (PSU) to the hub using the Molex Mini Fit 6 pin plug. Connect the power cable to the PSU. Making sure you adhere to local safety regulations, connect the power cable to the 100 – 250 VAC mains power outlet and switch the hub on using the small power switch located adjacent to the power input connector on the hubthe push button on the front of the hub. When the device is switched on, a LED next to the power input will be illuminated. The hub is now ready to charge attached devices.

If you hold the push button for 2 seconds, it will turn off the unit (but not completely; the CPU and other peripheral circuits will still be running). If you were to hold the push button for 8 seconds, it will enter bootloader mode. Plugging in the power while holding the push button will also enter bootloader mode. Turning the hub back on is an instant turn-on with the button (>200 ms).

Connecting to a Host

Throughout this manual we will refer to a "host system" this is the system you will be using to connect and control your devices and hubs. This could be any host system such as a Windows PC, macOS system or Linux PC.

Once the power is connected, connect the ThunderSync5-C16 to your host system using a Thunderbolt™ 5 cable, one of these is supplied with your hub and we recommend using this cable to connect with. If your host system does not have a matching port to the cable supplied still use the cable, but also use an adaptor cable to finish the connection at your host. Using an incorrect host cable may result in the hub and all subsequent ports not being recognised by your host.

In order for the ThunderSync5-C16 to connect to the host system the host will require a Thunderbolt™ connection, this can be checked easily if you look at the port it has the Thunderbolt™ logo. If you host system does not have a Thunderbolt™ connection natively it is possible to add a Thunderbolt™ port by using an expansion card. Not all host systems will allow a Thunderbolt™ add-in card and it is recommended that you check the requirements of the particular add in card for your host. Some basic requirements for the add in card are;

Thunderbolt Header on the Motherboard
Available PCIe slot
Space for the card to sit inside the casing, including a gap for the port to be accessed from

Cambrionix recommend using the Thunderbolt™ cable that is provided with our ThunderSync5-C16. If you are looking at purchasing your own cable, to achieve 80 Gbps a suitable cable would be either:

up to 0.8m passive
up to 2m active.

The difference between active and passive is that active cables have internal signal-boosting electronics, whereas passive cables do not.

A Thunderbolt™ 5 cable is fully backwards compatible and can be used with older generations of Thunderbolt™ ports on your computer. When connected to a host device with an earlier Thunderbolt™ version, data transfer speeds will automatically adjust to match the maximum supported speed of the host. You can also use a Thunderbolt™ 2 cable with a Thunderbolt™ 2-to-5 adapter, though speeds will be further reduced based on the older connection standard.

Cambrionix recommend using cables certified by Intel®, all cables marked with the Thunderbolt™ logo should have certification.

Only one host can be connected to a hub at one time, and only one cable will be required to connect to the host system.

Please note that USB specifications require a minimum 100 mA charge current to be available during data transfer. As indicated in above, if the attached device has a BC1.2 compliant CDP port, the device can draw up to Vbus Output Current Max (A)A whilst transferring data.

Connecting devices to your ThunderSync5-C16

Throughout this manual we will refer to "devices" this relates to the device you are connecting to the ThunderSync5-C16 this could be any USB device such as a phone, tablet, USB drive or any other USB connected device.

Once you have your hub setup the next thing is to connect your devices to start using the ThunderSync5-C16. We would always recommend using the OEM cable supplied by the manufacturer of the device, so whatever cable is provided with the device use that cable to connect to the hub.

If your device has a USB plug (male connector) on it already then you can connect the device directly into the hub.

If the cable (or plug fitted to device) is not the same USB type as the socket (female connectors) on the ThunderSync5-C16 then you will require an adaptor or a different cable.

Cables

Some USB cables are data transfer only, and some are power delivery only. There are also options that can handle both tasks. Be sure to verify a cable’s abilities before purchasing it and select a cable which can handle the speeds and power transfer that you require.

Charging

Your ThunderSync5-C16 will allow your device to charge at the maximum rate possible up to 3A. The way that charging takes place is the ThunderSync5-C16 will provide the device with a capability to charge and the devices USB charging controller will determine the maximum amount of charge it wants to draw down.

Although a maximum charge rate of 3A is possible, the device itself determines the exact rate and as such you may not see the maximum amount of charging on every device type that is connected.