Author Topic: Self Powered 2.5" Ext Drives (Read 4487 times)

darkage · « **on:** April 26, 2006, 04:50:08 am »

Im about to purchase a 2.5" ext enclosure and whack in my own drive.

I've heard that 40GB non-WD drives would be the max size to go unpowered.

Anything higher would need a separate power source.

Is this true? I would like to go higher than 40GB, if not 40GB it is.

JohnX · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2006, 05:08:56 am »

If you're trying to attach it to the Z you won't get away with running any 2.5", 3.5" or 1.8" drive without an AC adapter.

dbowden · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:02:26 am »

Quote

If you're trying to attach it to the Z you won't get away with running any 2.5", 3.5" or 1.8" drive without an AC adapter.
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Actually you can -- you just need to have batteries for the HD as well. It doesn't need to be AC.

I use a cheap HD based .mp3 player (Archos Jukebox, bought used for $50) with a 30GB drive that runs off 4AA batteries. You can theoretically update it to 127 GB, if you need to.

David

darkage · « **Reply #3 on:** April 26, 2006, 10:50:41 am »

Yep I plan to add a PSP power pack to the ext hdd so that the Z can use it. But a power source for taking the ext. hdd to friends pc's would be a pain hence the self powered question.

JohnX · « **Reply #4 on:** April 26, 2006, 05:21:38 pm »

Ah...I thought you were asking about powering it from the Zaurus. What I've heard (and experienced) with USB-powered external drives is that two things effect whether the drive will work on USB power alone:
1) How much current the host will provide from it's USB port
2) How much power the drive takes to spin up.

Laptops are especially stingy in terms of supplying power over USB. Also size isn't necessarily a valid indicator of how much power a drive will draw to spin up. For example, I'd be willing to bet that a 40GB 7,200 RPM drive will take more power to spin up than a 4,200 RPM 80GB drive. What's worse is that sometimes the manufacturer's claimed power draw on spin up isn't accurate either. Your best bet is probably to ask people what drive they've had good luck with.

arniel · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2006, 06:41:03 am »

Quote

If you're trying to attach it to the Z you won't get away with running any 2.5", 3.5" or 1.8" drive without an AC adapter.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=124622\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I'm running a Toshiba 1.8" drive off of a CF -> PCMCIA adapter on my SL5500.

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Author Topic: Self Powered 2.5" Ext Drives (Read 4487 times)