External Hardrive Enclosure Help

[ReligionStudent]

I am looking for help from someone with a model HD-338-U2C external hard drive enclosure (I purchased mine at COMPUSA, which had branded it, but others also sell it). .

I need to replace the plug but cannot find mine to see the voltage. If anyone with one could look at their plug and tell me the specs, it would be great.


Thanks

[bruto]

By "replace the plug," I assume you mean to replace the power supply? I'm not sure mine is the same - it's an "Iomagic" enclosure, USB with an external power supply. But anyway, it's dual voltage, both 12 and 5 volts, the standard power requirements of a hard drive. It uses a mini DIN style plug. I also have an external Iomega CDRW drive which uses a similar power supply, and a similar, but not compatible, plug.

Here is a rough drawing of the diagrams that appear on the two power supplies, just in case it's of any use:7945

edited to add, in case it's unclear: the Iomega plug diagram has pin numbers 1-4, followed by voltages.

[ReligionStudent]

The enclosure I have is http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=312100
It appears to have a single pin power supply, similar to power drills and speakers I have. Think of a headphone jack with a hole in the middle of the pin.

[bruto]

The enclosure I have is http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?pfp=cat3&product_code=312100
It appears to have a single pin power supply, similar to power drills and speakers I have. Think of a headphone jack with a hole in the middle of the pin.

That's odd. I always thought an IDE (what they seem to be calling PATA now) drive needed both voltages, so I wonder if it's being converted internally. I just looked at a couple of loose drives, and they list current consumption for both voltages, so if this enclosure is like mine and capable of running any old PATA drive, then you need both voltages somewhere down the line. My guess woud be that if the input is only one, it would be 12, since it's easier to get 5 from 12 than vice versa.

Can you go to a CompUSA store and see if you could read what's printed on the power supply?

e.t.a. I suppose it's also possible that it's designed to take the 5 volt supply off of the USB connection, since USB includes a 5 volt power supply line (some laptop drive enclosures seem to get their power that way, as does my scanner, for example). If that's the case, then you'd definitely be needing 12 from the other supply.

[ReligionStudent]

I certainly agree with everything you post, it make sence.

I thought of going to a COMPUSA, but all of the stores near me had huge sales and then closed. I actually thought the entire chain had just switch to online only sales.

[bruto]

I certainly agree with everything you post, it make sence.

I thought of going to a COMPUSA, but all of the stores near me had huge sales and then closed. I actually thought the entire chain had just switch to online only sales.

There never were any in Vermont, but their web site suggests that they still have some stores.

http://www.compusa.com/locations/default.asp

[ReligionStudent]

Unfortunatly it all looks like they are in other states.

[Zax63]

I have a Western Digital external drive that has a single pin power supply. It is 12V with the tip being positive. Not the same brand/model so try at your own risk.