[Coco] HD power supply

[Tim Fadden]

Another option would be to get an external ide to usb case.  you can get 
them for under $20, including the power supply.

Tim

Gene Heskett wrote:
> On Sunday 01 March 2009, Bill wrote:
>   
>> Is a power supply for a FD-501 or FD-502 sufficient to power an IDE hard
>> drive (or two?)
>>     
>
> That might be a little borderline, Bill.  I'd hook the drive up and see if it 
> spins up, if not shut 'er down quick, if it does spin up, immediately check 
> the transistors for rapid heat rise, and it that doesn't burn your fingers in 
> the first minute, let it be for 20 minutes and recheck the transistors and the 
> transformer too this time.  If that seems reasonable, drop the cover back on 
> it & let it run for an hour.
>
> Most IDE drives take less than an amp on the 5 volt line, and usually under 
> half an amp on the 12 volt line after about a 2 amp startup surge, but its 
> continuous load conditions for both, where the floppy's don't use any motor 
> power unless spinning, so the average drain is quite a bit less over an hours 
> use.
>
> It might be worth raiding an old std computer psu for its fan & rig it to pull 
> a little air through the box as the drive may need some cooling if its in side 
> a warm box.  I try to keep my drives under 40C here.  The 12 volt line, if 
> cooling air is used, won't notice the < 175 ma the fan will draw as the 
> cooling will readily offset that extra heat so you can power the fan from the 
> 12 volt line.
>
>