CalDigit TS3 Thunderbolt™ Station 3 User Guide

Introduction

The CalDigit Thunderbolt™ Station 3 (TS3) maximizes the potential of Thunderbolt™ 3, offering 40Gb/s transfer speeds to connect numerous devices to your Thunderbolt™ 3-equipped Mac or PC. With two Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C ports, the TS3 allows for daisy-chaining Thunderbolt™ 3 devices without sacrificing ports, supporting any workflow and charging your computer with up to 85W of power.

Usage Precautions

  • Please read this manual thoroughly before using the TS3 to fully understand the product.
  • Do not use the TS3 in environments with extremely high or low temperatures. The safe operating temperature range is 4.4°C to 35°C (40°F to 95°F).
  • Avoid using the TS3 in environments with high humidity. Moisture or condensation can accumulate on drives, potentially damaging electronic components.
  • Do not use any power adapter other than the one supplied with the TS3. Excessive or insufficient power supply can lead to unstable performance and equipment malfunction.

Safety Precautions

  • Do not place the TS3 in or near liquids or excessively humid areas. Contact with liquids may cause unit damage, electric shock, or fire.
  • If the TS3 becomes wet, do not power it on. Do not attempt to repair the unit yourself, regardless of the issue. Doing so may result in injury or equipment damage, and will void the warranty. If you encounter any problems, please contact CalDigit Technical Support.

System Requirements

  • Thunderbolt™ 3-equipped computer
  • Mac OS X 10.12 or later
  • Windows 7, 8, 10 or later

Package Contents

The TS3 package typically includes:

  • A. CalDigit TS3 unit x 1
  • B. Power Adapter x 1
  • C. Power Cord x 1 (Plug type may vary based on regional regulations and requirements)
  • D. 3-to-2 Prong Grounding Adapter x 1
  • E. Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable x 1

Note: The included power adapter and power cord are intended for use only with the CalDigit TS3. Package contents may vary by distributor and reseller. Please check with your retailer for specifics.

An illustration shows the CalDigit TS3 unit and its accessories, labeled A through E: the silver TS3 docking station, a grey power adapter, a black power cord with a plug, a black grounding adapter, and a black Thunderbolt 3 cable.

TS3 Diagram

The TS3 features a comprehensive array of ports on its front and rear panels.

Front Panel Ports:

  • eSATA port
  • USB 3.1 Type-A ports (x3)
  • Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C ports (x2)
  • DisplayPort
  • AC Adapter port
  • Audio Input (3.5mm)
  • Audio Output (3.5mm)

Rear Panel Ports:

  • eSATA ports (x2)
  • USB 3.1 Type-A ports (x2)
  • Gigabit Ethernet port
  • Thunderbolt™ 3 port
  • DisplayPort

Connection Examples:

The TS3 facilitates various connections:

  • Computer Connection: Connect the TS3 to your computer via a Thunderbolt™ 3 cable.
  • Display Connection: Connect Thunderbolt™ 3 or DisplayPort compatible monitors. The TS3 supports up to 4K/5K monitors.
  • Storage Connection: Connect external storage devices, including RAID arrays and single drives, via eSATA or Thunderbolt™ 3.
  • USB Devices: Connect USB memory drives, smartphones, and tablets via USB 3.1 Type-A ports. Some ports support fast charging for smartphones and tablets.
  • Networking: Connect to your network using the Gigabit Ethernet port.
  • Audio Devices: Connect microphones and headphones/speakers via the 3.5mm audio ports.

TS3 Usage

TS3 Power

  1. The CalDigit TS3 requires power from the AC adapter to operate. Connect the AC adapter connector to the DC jack on the back of the TS3, and plug the other end into a power outlet.
  2. To turn off the TS3, unplug the power cable from the power outlet.

TS3 Connection

Once the TS3 is powered, connect it to your computer using the Thunderbolt™ 3 cable. Plug one end into the Thunderbolt™ 3 port labeled '[Computer]' on the TS3 and the other end into a Thunderbolt™ 3 port on your computer. This single connection allows you to add various connection options and charge your notebook with up to 85W of power.

Note: Always use the included Thunderbolt™ 3 cable or a certified 40Gb/s Thunderbolt™ 3 cable.

LED Indicator

The TS3 is equipped with an LED indicator. It illuminates blue when the unit is powered on and connected to a computer.

An illustration shows the TS3 unit with the LED indicator. One image shows the LED lit blue with the label 'ON', and another shows the LED off with the label 'OFF'.

CalDigit Docking Station Utility

The CalDigit Docking Station Utility allows you to safely disconnect all USB storage devices from the TS3 simultaneously, eliminating the need to eject them one by one.

Note: You need to download the CalDigit Docking Station Utility installer file from the CalDigit website and install it on your Mac. Download from: www.caldigit.com/support.asp

An image shows a macOS desktop with the CalDigit Docking Station Utility menu open, displaying a list of connected volumes (e.g., CalDigit AV Pro, CalDigit Tuff) and an option to 'Eject all volumes'.

To Eject All USB Devices:

  1. Open the CalDigit Docking Station Utility from the menu bar at the top.
  2. Click the 'Eject' button next to the TS3 image.

To Eject Individual USB Devices:

  1. Open the CalDigit Docking Station Utility from the menu bar at the top.
  2. Click on the specific USB device you wish to disconnect. That device will then be safely ejected.

Interface Overview

Thunderbolt™ 3

The TS3 features two Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C ports, supporting speeds of up to 40Gb/s. One port is for connecting to the host computer, while the other is for connecting Thunderbolt™ 3 devices. Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C supports both video and data transfer. The Thunderbolt™ host port also provides up to 85W of power to your computer.

eSATA

The TS3 is equipped with two 6G eSATA ports, allowing you to connect professional eSATA devices.

USB 3.1 Type-A

The TS3 offers three USB 3.1 5Gb/s ports. All ports support Battery Charge v1.2.

Illustrations show the front and rear panels of the TS3, highlighting the USB 3.1 Type-A ports.

DisplayPort

The TS3 includes a full-size DisplayPort that supports resolutions up to 4K. You can easily convert the DisplayPort signal to HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, VGA, or DVI using appropriate conversion cables or adapters.

Note: When using adapters with the TS3's DisplayPort, ensure you use active adapters and cables. Passive adapters or cables may not function correctly.

Displays connected via DisplayPort are recognized as secondary displays by default. This setting can be changed in the 'Displays' section of your system's preferences.

Caution: The TS3 supports dual displays. However, the actual resolution may be limited by your GPU, OS, drivers, and firmware. For general information, please refer to the tables below.

Single Monitor: DisplayPort Usage

ResolutionRefresh RateSingle Monitor Support
2K (2560 x 1600)60 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)60 HzYes
4K60 Hz*Yes
2K (2560 x 1600)30 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)30 HzYes

Single Monitor: Thunderbolt™ 3 Port Connection (via USB-C video adapter to Thunderbolt™ 3 port)

ResolutionRefresh RateSingle Monitor Support
5K60 HzYes
4K60 HzYes
2K (2560 x 1600)60 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)60 HzYes
2K (2560 x 1600)30 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)30 HzYes

Dual Monitor: DisplayPort & Thunderbolt™ 3 Port Connection (via USB-C video adapter to Thunderbolt™ 3 port)

ResolutionRefresh RateDual Monitor Support
2K (2560 x 1600)60 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)60 HzYes
4K60 Hz*Yes
2K (2560 x 1600)30 HzYes
Full HD (1920 x 1080p)30 HzYes

*A 60Hz refresh rate for DisplayPort may not be compatible with all 4K displays. For details, please refer to: http://www.caldigit.com/KB/index.asp?KBID=198&viewlocale=1

Ethernet

The TS3 features one Gigabit Ethernet port for connecting to your network. Your computer will automatically connect to the network connected to the TS3. This setting can be changed in the 'Network' section of your system preferences. The Ethernet port also supports Wake-on-LAN, allowing you to power on your computer remotely over the network.

Audio

The TS3 includes one 3.5mm audio input port and one 3.5mm audio output port. Audio devices must be configured in the 'Sound' section of your system preferences. Audio devices connected to the TS3 will appear as 'USB audio CODEC'.

CalDigit TS3 Specifications

Package Size and Weight

  • Height: 12.5cm (4.92 inches)
  • Width: 4.35cm (1.71 inches)
  • Depth: 9.85cm (3.88 inches)
  • Weight: 0.61kg (1.34lb)

Interfaces

  • Thunderbolt™ 3 Type-C x 2
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A x 3
  • eSATA 6G x 2
  • DisplayPort x 1
  • Gigabit Ethernet x 1
  • Audio Input x 1
  • Audio Output x 1

Power

  • AC Input: 100V-240V ~ 50/60Hz
  • DC Output: 20V/8.5A, 170W

System Requirements

  • Thunderbolt™ 3-equipped computer
  • Mac OS X 10.12 or later
  • Windows 7, 8, 10 or later

Environment

  • Operating Temperature Range: 0°C to 70°C (32°F to 158°F)

CalDigit TS3 Accessories

Thunderbolt™ 3 Cables

  • Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable 1m (40Gb/s)
  • Thunderbolt™ 3 Cable 2m (40Gb/s)

Power

  • TS3 PSU 170W

USB-C Video Adapters

  • CalDigit USB-C to DisplayPort adapter
  • CalDigit USB-C to VGA adapter
  • CalDigit USB-C to HDMI adapter

For stock availability and pricing, please contact CalDigit Japan or an authorized reseller.

3. Technical Support and Warranty Information

Technical Support

If you encounter any issues while using the TS3, please contact CalDigit Technical Support:

  • Email: japan@caldigit.com
  • Phone: 050-3136-5168 (Weekdays 10:00 - 17:30)
  • Website: http://www.caldigit.com/support.asp

To utilize customer support and warranty services, please register your product on our website: http://www.caldigit.com/Register/Register.asp

When contacting CalDigit Technical Support, please have the following information ready:

  1. Your TS3's serial number
  2. Your OS and version
  3. Your computer's manufacturer and model
  4. Devices connected to your TS3

Warranty Information

  • The TS3 comes with a 2-year warranty.
  • For detailed CalDigit warranty information, please visit our website: http://www.caldigit.com/rma/Limited-Warranty.pdf

For details on all CalDigit products, please visit: http://www.caldigit.com/jp/

Specifications and package contents are subject to change without notice.

Thunderbolt™ and the Thunderbolt™ logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. HDMI, the HDMI logo, and High-Definition Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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