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

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ant <[email protected]> wrote:

> > In alt.comp.periphs.hdd VanguardLH <[email protected]> wrote:
> >> 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?
> > 
> > I am not using any enclosures like this Vantec I used to use: 
> > https://www.amazon.com/Vantec-CB-ISATAU2-Supports-2-5-Inch-5-25-Inch/dp/B000J01I1G. 

> Use the A/C adapter that came with that adapter.  Hopefully there is a
> label or embossed printing on the A/C adapter that tells its output
> voltage and output amperes.

> It's manual describes attaching a 2.5" SATA drive to the converter.
> This has the drive plug into both the data and power connectors at the
> same time.  The manual says the power to the SATA drive comes from the
> USB port.  So, which version of USB port are you using?  Different
> versions have different amperages.

USB2 and USB3.


> https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2020-what-are-the-maximum-power-output-and-data-transfer-rates-for-the-usb-standards
> USB 1.0 and 2.0: 0.5A max.
> USB 3.0: 0.9A max.

> Are you connecting to a USB-3 port?  Obviously you cannot use a
> power-only (charging) USB port since it would have no data connections.
> Is it a USB-A or USB-C port?  USB-C can go up to 3A w/data, 5A for
> charging.

> https://i.stack.imgur.com/bEDsj.png

Mostly USB-A.


> I would've thought a docking station that holds the drive(s) instead of
> laying them on the desk, and usually has better USB and power cord
> management, would've been a better solution if you are swapping the
> drives a lot.  I can have multiple docking stations in a row and neatly
> placed on my desk versus these adapter/converters make a mess on the
> desk.  Doesn't sound like you're running a repair shop where the
> converters are handy when needed, but mostly sit in a drawer.  More like
> you are managing several external drives at a home computer.

Yep, but I only do one drive at a time.


> > Another one is WLX-891U3: 
> > http://www.wanlongxin1.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=30. 

> That notes no A/C adapter is needed when using a 2.5" SATA drive.  The
> 2.5" format form has lower power requirements than 3.5", and it's for
> SATA, not IDE (PATA).

> Is this the converter with which you are having usability problems?
> I've use Vantec USB enclosures without problems.  I have had problems
> using Rosewill SATA stuff; however, that's based on experience, not an
> exhaustive QA on a high sample of their products.

> Is what you showed an example, or exactly what you got?  I've seen some
> converters, even from this same brand, that include a ribbon cable.

Those were the ones I have. I have another one, but no labels like 
models and details. Just boring SATA, PATA/IDE, etc. Weird that one can 
handle very old laptop/notebook HDDs like from the 90s.


> However, they don't provide pull tabs on the connectors.  The result is
> users have to pry apart the connectors by grabbing the connectors which
> often results in twisting the cable, or worse is users that pull on the
> cable instead of the connector.  The wires are thin and fragile.  They
> can break on too many twists.  Also, the connectors are a push-in fork
> type: the end is split like a 2-prong fork, and the wire pushed down
> between the tines.  This is a poor and mechanical connection.  To
> alleviate user abuse to the cable or the connections in the connector,
> some IDE cables come with pull tabs to ensure you are pulling on the
> connector, not the cable, and not twisting the cable.

> https://www.riitop.com/cdn/shop/products/[email protected]?v=1608686482
> That is designed for minimal cycling (push-ons and removals), not for
> repeated use.  Put on, leave on, remove only when replacing drive.

> https://www.newegg.com/p/0ZF-00FH-00001
> Pull tab on each connector for safer repeated use.

> Never heard of the WANLONGXIN brand.  Sounds like a reseller: slap their
> sticker on someone else's [cheap] product.

> > I am trying to better portable ones than these that will work with all
> > drives.

> Are you connecting more than 1 drive to the USB converter?  These are
> not listed as multidrive docks.

Nope. Just one drive at a time.


> For the IDE drives, are they jumpered for master, slave, or cable
> select?  According to Vantec's manual, jumper the IDE drive for master
> or slave.  Since it's the only drive on the converter, doesn't matter if
> master or slave.  Cable select may not work which relies on the wiring
> of the ribbon connector.  For master, the first part of a ribbon cable
> is unaltered to the first drive connector, but there is a cutout or
> disconnect on the 28th wire to the 2nd drive connector.  The cable
> handles the selection: first drive should be set to master or CS, and
> second drive should be slave or CS.  With a CS cable, you can set both
> drives to CS.  I always used unaltered cables, and preferred deciding
> which drive on which connector was master or slave.  

> You don't have a ribbon cable with the converter, so the drive should
> not be set to CS.  I don't know if master or CS is the default config
> for IDE drives.  Been way too long since I last used IDE (PATA) drives
> to remember the shipping default.

The oldest drive was a laptop/notebook's HDD from the 90s.
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