Question Power supply for 3.5 HDD

[zogthegreat]

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a project and I will need an independent power supply for 2 x's 2TB 3.5" 7200 rpm HDD. I have a SATA to USB adapter like this one.

This is a powered adapter, however, when I connect a 12v 3a PSU, the drive spins up and then powers down repeatedly. I'm not sure about pushing more than 3a through the adapter, it's rather cheap and I might fry the electronics or the drive.

I do have SATA power plugs that can be crimped onto a wire, so what I would like to do is find some type of 12v external power source that has enough amps to power up 2 drives's, but is as small as possible.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

zog

 

[Insert_Nickname]

Hi everyone!

I'm planning a project and I will need an independent power supply for 2 x's 2TB 3.5" 7200 rpm HDD.

I'd buy a couple of 3.5" compatible external cases in that case. Much more reliable, and you can plug in drives separately.

I have a SATA to USB adapter like this one.

Ah, but that kind of adaptor will not work with 3.5" drives, since 3.5" drives require a 12V power supply. USB can only supply 5V.

 

[VirtualLarry]

They make USB-to-SATA cables that work with BOTH 2.5" (5V-only) as well as 3.5" (5V and 12V) devices, but they have an additional power supply, and plug into the SATA end of the adapter. I picked up a couple, for under $20 at Amazon.

You CANNOT use the 2.5" USB-to-SATA cables, that are designed for cloning laptop HDDs and SATA SSDs, with 3.5" drives, sorry. Just won't work, no +12V power supply.

 

[SKORPI0]

Why not something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/WAVLINK-Dual-Bay-Docking-Station-Functions/dp/B018FTE87S

 

[zogthegreat]

@SKORPI0 , thanks for the suggestion, I sot of leaning that way as it would be the simplest way to get things done.

However..... (sigh), I'm a cheap bastich and what I;m thinking is to take a 12v PSU, split the 12v line and add a DC to DC converter for the 5v line that the HDD needs and run the lines to a SATA power connector like this:



I just sent a message to my son, one of his degrees is in electronic engineering and since I paid for both of his bleeping degrees, he can tell me if I will need any capacitors, shunts or any other electronics to keep the power steady.

 

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.amazon.com/Cinolink-Cable-Adapter-Compatible-Optical/dp/B081GV9P7C