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Powering an external 3.5-inch hard drive?

rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member -  
rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member -
Hello, I ordered a WD30EZRX 3TB (green) hard drive and I would like to know how to power it externally?
I plan to connect it via SATA to an Olinuxino A20 lime2 board
see: https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/A20/A20-OLinuXino-LIME2/
The problem is that the board only provides 5V output, can WD green drives be powered by 5V if the amperage is sufficient, or do they absolutely require 12V? The drive states: 5VDC: 0.60A 12VDC: 0.45A.
If 5V were compatible, I would have opted for a 5V 3A power supply to power the board, which is more than enough for everything.
Otherwise, do you have any ideas for creating an external power supply for the hard drive?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Best regards

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2 answers

  1.
    flo88 Posted messages 28493 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   Ambassadeur 5 170
     
    Hello

    A classic internal 3.5" hard drive requires both 5V (red wire from a Molex) and 12V (yellow wire) power.
    Unless I'm mistaken, I'm not aware that it can start with just 5V... you still need to drive a motor, the platters, etc.

    --
    Hello to you
    1
    1. rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member 13
       
      Well, you never know^^! So are both voltages necessary or is 12V alone enough?
      Do you have any ideas for the power supply?
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    2. rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member 13
       
      I found this kind of box after using a Molex/SATA adapter
      https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-5V-AC-adapter-for-an-electric-power-supply-HARD-Drive/380603575032?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140620091323%26meid%3D5962f34da6654c02a14677eb1d82850b%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D121600971769&rt=nc
      0
  2. xiaoyou128128 Posted messages 3 Status Member
     
    I believe you can buy a docking station for your 3.5 hard drive; usually, a power adapter is provided with a docking station.
    0
    1. rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member 13
       
      The problem with the dock station is that I want to connect it via SATA and not via USB.
      But the adapter I linked seems to match, right?
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    2. flo88 Posted messages 28493 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 170
       
      Yes, the adapter will work but it's Molex, the drive needs to have this type of connector; otherwise, you'll need an adapter (they exist) Molex/SATA.
      I'm talking about power supply formats, not data.

      And yes, both voltages are needed, 5 and 12V.
      0
    3. rems41 Posted messages 204 Status Member 13
       
      Yes, I specified in my message that I would take a molex/sata 15-pin adapter.
      0