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

Cross-posted to 3 groups.

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Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> wrote:

> In alt.comp.periphs.hdd VanguardLH <V@nguard.lh> wrote:
>> Ant <ant@zimage.comANT> 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.

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

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.

> 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.
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/2Pack_bd19bb6e-aa0b-427f-8670-40dfbed82aea_1024x1024@2x.jpg?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.

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.

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Thread

What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-01-11 00:44 +0000
  Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2024-01-10 22:57 -0600
    Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-01-11 06:14 +0000
      Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2024-01-11 02:10 -0600
        Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-01-11 08:23 +0000
          Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-01-11 08:24 +0000
          Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2024-01-11 04:42 -0600
    Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> - 2024-01-11 16:20 +1000
      Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> - 2024-01-11 03:59 -0600
  Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? Computer Nerd Kev <not@telling.you.invalid> - 2024-01-11 16:28 +1000
    Re: What's the best external USB(A&C together) adapters to get for connecting various drives (SATA, IDE/PATA, etc.)? ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) - 2024-01-11 07:29 +0000

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