USB powered external HDD

[Project X]

Do you get usb powered external HDD's? not the laptop ones i mean the normal big ones?

 

[werner]

no.

simple answer is
usb is 5 volts only.

the big drives use 12 volts for their motors, whereas the little drives use 5 volts.

you cant use a step up convertor to get 12 volts form the 5v, as the 5v is only at a max 500ma, so wont be much good at 12v, definately not enough to get the motor going.

 

[kronoSX]

I only know of the laptop kind.

 

[kayvee]

It's not only the voltage issue, as there are ways around that, i.e. generate 12V from 5V. It's a current issue, just not enough available from the USB port.

 

[werner]

It's not only the voltage issue, as there are ways around that, i.e. generate 12V from 5V. It's a current issue, just not enough available from the USB port.

I'm sure I said that....are you busy running in your keyboard after a rebuild?

 

[seymour7]

I remember seeing an external 3.5" hdd that was powered from 2 usb ports.

 

[HavocXphere]

I doubt it. Its barely enough for the laptop drives which are optimized for low power.