While the TS3 does support stand alone iOS device charging for various devices connected via USB, it can only do so after receiving the proper protocols from a host computer. The TS3 is a passive device and needs to be instructed by a host computer to perform certain tasks such as transferring data, or providing the necessary power to charge USB devices through its USB ports.
Before charging can occur, however, it is necessary to download and install the USB Charging driver from our website which can be found here:
http://downloads.caldigit.com
The following steps outline the best way to provide charging to your iOS devices through the Thunderbolt Station 3 without the computer present. The computer does, however, need to be connected briefly to enable this function within the TS3 dock. That is why the following steps will need to be followed in order to achieve this:
1) Disconnect your iOS devices from TS3.
2) Connect the CalDigit TS3 to your Apple Computer via Thunderbolt 3 cable. Make sure the cable is connected to the proper port on the TS3 labeled [Computer].
3) Connect your iOS device to one of the TS3 dock’s available USB ports.
4) Disconnect the the TS3 dock from your computer.
This method will ensure sustained charging for your iOS devices. Please note that once your iOS devices have been disconnected from an off-line TS3 dock, you will need to repeat steps 2 through 4 to re-establish proper stand alone charging once again.
Plugging in your iOS device to the TS3 prior to connecting the dock to your computer will result in a significantly lower power flow. The iOS device will not explicitly indicate that it is charging, despite the reduced power flow that occurs. You must follow the above outlined steps to ensure optimal power charging for your iOS devices.
You can also use an Apple USB-C to Lightning cable to charge your iOS device through the TS3’s Thunderbolt 3 port.
