Thread

Help needed identifying external HD case

68kMLA Hardware 14 posts Apr 21, 2013 to Apr 25, 2013

#1 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 - 17:51 68kMLA

Hi there,

Among the pile of stuff that I managed to get a few weeks ago is an external SCSI harddrive case, as shown below:

I'd like to find out who made it etc as there is no labelling on it at all.

But more importantly I need to know whether the power supply is a universal voltage one (110 and 220/240 Volt). I have been told that it used to belong to an old Lady from the US living in Ireland (had US mains cable when I bought it), so I have no idea if I can plug it into my 230V mains supply.

So if anyone knows anything, please let me know.

Cheers!

Ps: there is a 250V fuse in it.

#2 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 - 18:09 68kMLA

Any labels on the bottom?

#3 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 - 19:43 68kMLA

Since I am pretty sure that the main thing a drive case does is convert the incoming like to low voltage DC, couldn't a travel adapter work with this device? I would think the only issue might be the 50 Hz (assuming you're household supply is 230 volt, 50 Hertz and not 60 hertz.) Hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge of these things will chime in...

J White

#4 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 - 20:16 68kMLA

I have one of those. It has a Sequential Systems badge on it but that was just the seller, not the manufacturer. No sign of a manufacturers name.

#5 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 07:05 68kMLA

there is a 250V fuse in it.

So probably 230 V, don't see the point for such a fuse in a 110 V item.

#6 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 08:58 68kMLA

I wouldn't count on that, every external hard drive power supply I've looked at has had a 250v fuse. Seems to be a standard size.

there is a 250V fuse in it.

Click to expand...

So probably 230 V, don't see the point for such a fuse in a 110 V item.

#7 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 15:34 68kMLA

Notice how the power connector on the PSU PCB has three pins but a two prong plug.

Perhaps the position determines weather it is being used in a 120v or 240V environment.

#8 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 18:54 68kMLA

That's exactly what I was thinking! Moving the connector may switch it between 110/220V.

Maybe waynestewart , you could have a look at the position of that plug (I assume you are on 110V).

Otherwise I might have to use an old PC psu.

PS: no labels anywhere, not even on the botton, but I haven't taken out the pcb to have a look there yet...these Macs really are a full time job....

#9 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 19:12 68kMLA

Probably just a "generic bulk OEM" design that got re-badged by lots of small shops.

No easy way to tell voltage other than to risk a hard drive.

#10 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 - 19:50 68kMLA

You shouldn't need to hook up a hard drive to see if it's 110 or 230. If it's 110 and you plug into the 230 it just wont have enough juice. However, prepare for a smoke cloud if its the opposite :-(

#11 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 - 02:27 68kMLA

Ha! That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid! Don't want to turn that nice little psu into even more junk that I have to bring to the electronic recycling place. Mind you I pick up more stuff from there then I bring...

#12 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 - 05:34 68kMLA

Yes, I'm on 110V.

That's the one slight difference. Mine doesn't have a 2 prong plug but a 3 prong with the 3rd one not being used.

Just moving your plug over raises a concern. With this power supply the outside pin is the hot wire while the center is neutral.

I'd probably just pick up one of those cheap ata/USB adapters and just use the power supply that comes with it to power the SCSI drive

That's exactly what I was thinking! Moving the connector may switch it between 110/220V.
Maybe waynestewart , you could have a look at the position of that plug (I assume you are on 110V).

#13 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 - 12:59 68kMLA

Thanks for checking.

Good idea, I have one from and old external HD case so that would be grand.

Would be nice to have a cleaner solution with the original PSU though.

#14 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 - 01:19 68kMLA

Finally found out what psu is in it. It's a Autec UPS40-2002. It's universal voltage (90-260V) alright, so happy days.

80meg drive in it now and working fine (except for address selector wheel which I connected wrong so all addresses are inverted now

)

Also power connector pin out is (ground, neural, live) from left to right.

Thanks for all the replies