3.5" HDD enclosure

Jim8383 · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:06

Evening all,

Will I find a 3.5" enclosure for an IDE drive on OCUK without a mains power connection (powered from USB only). Most the descriptions don't state one or the other.

please advise.

thanks

squiffy · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:09

No, 3.5" hard drives require external power source. USB doesn't provide enough current for desktop drives. 2.5" drives can run off USB power though (might need to use two USB ports) using 2.5" enclosure here off USB power.

Jim8383 · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:14

I thought that might be the case. I do remember a friend had one with 2 usb plug from the one cable but I can't remember if that was a 2.5" or 3.5" drive. Do we know of any to do a similar thing with a 3.5" drive? thanks

Trifid · 17 Oct 2006 at 18:57

The 2.5" drives can run off one USB cable, the second is used for un powered hubs.

I have looked extensively for a 3.5" caddie for a "spare" 80GB I have that needs only USB. If you find one let me know.

rpstewart · 17 Oct 2006 at 21:01

You won't find a USB powered 3.5" caddy, desktop HDDs need both +5V & +12V supplies. USB only supplies +5V and then only 500mA per port, the second plug on the cable is to allow an additional supply for high current draw drives, usually the larger ones.