Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)?

Ant <[email protected]> wrote:

> What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for 
> connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? I tried various ones, 
> but some don't work for newer drives and will work for older drives. 
> Then, some work for newer drivers but not the older drives. Same for 
> various sized drives. I know the drives still work too if used inside 
> computers. That's annoying for quick usages and my disabilities. :(

Did you check both the output voltage and output amperage of the A/C
adapters?  The adapter has to put out more voltage and amperes than what
get consumed by the USB case (with its hardware protocol translation
hardware) and the drive inside, so you need to also check the specs on
the drive, like voltage, amperes, and even surge amperes when it starts
to spin up.

USB ports can output only 5 VDC, and a limited amount of amperes.  You
didn't say if you were connecting to USB 1, 2, or 3 ports.  However,
since you mentioned A/C adapters, presuming all of the USB enclosures
you are using for external drives have their own power source via A/C
adapter.  Some USB drive enclosures come with a Y-adapter that uses 2
USB ports on the host (computer or powered hub) in trying to up how many
amperes can be drawn from 2 ports instead of 1.  Those don't have their
own power (A/C adapter).

Whose USB enclosures are you using?

When putting drives (always SATA, not old IDE/ATA) into a USB enclosure,
only rarely have I inserted a 3.5" drive intended for internal use.
Usually I put in a 2.5" laptop drive since those draw less power.

SATA drives only require 5 VDC power.  You mentioned IDE.  You're really
trying to put an IDE drive in an external USB enclosure?  IDE drives
take both 5 and 12 VDC input on their power connection.  2.5" drives
typically use 5V motors, but larger drives typically use 12V motors.
What's the output voltage on the A/C adapter you are using with a USB
enclosure providing the USB-to-IDE hardware protocol converter?