SATA HDD with molex and SATA power connections

Ketxxx · Nov 11, 2007, 11:17 PM

Title explains most of it. I was asked if plugging BOTH the molex and SATA power cables into a SATA HDD with both types of connections would do any harm, I said plugging both in would likely cause enough of a zap to destroy the data on the HDD, if not kill the HDD due to too much voltage being fed to it. Somebody I don't even know then butted in saying nothing would happen, an I was like

voltage dude, voltage! So to try and settle this once and for all, does anyone have a SATA HDD with both SATA and molex power connections or knowns in general what may happen. The HDD in question is a Western Digital.

pt · Nov 11, 2007, 11:27 PM

my buddy hdd says clearly not to connecto both

panchoman · Nov 11, 2007, 11:28 PM

i would hope that it wont take the molex power if it gets sata power, but if it takes both, i hope you dont get a fried hdd..

Widjaja · Nov 11, 2007, 11:30 PM

I have plugged both in by accident and nothing happened with the WD cavier 160GB SATA.
I was certain I was plugging in the power to my IDE but I didn't notice the SATA power connector right next to it for some reason.

Ketxxx · Nov 11, 2007, 11:44 PM

Ok, so 50\50. If it helps any the WD in question is about a year old, 120GB.

newtekie1 · Nov 11, 2007, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketxxx

Title explains most of it. I was asked if plugging BOTH the molex and SATA power cables into a SATA HDD with both types of connections would do any harm, I said plugging both in would likely cause enough of a zap to destroy the data on the HDD, if not kill the HDD due to too much voltage being fed to it. Somebody I don't even know then butted in saying nothing would happen, an I was like

voltage dude, voltage! So to try and settle this once and for all, does anyone have a SATA HDD with both SATA and molex power connections or knowns in general what may happen. The HDD in question is a Western Digital.

Yeah, don't connect both, it is BAD! I have 3 WD drives with both, and it is clearly marked not to do it.

http://wdc.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/wdc....i=&p_topview=1

Send him there if he has any questions. It clearly says:

Quote:

Do not connect both the SATA and the legacy ATA power cable to the drive at the same time. This may result in damage to the drive.

wiak · Nov 11, 2007, 11:56 PM

i have connected both and didnt do any damage but its good to only connect one at a time

Ketxxx · Nov 12, 2007, 12:00 AM

There we go then ppl, figured it was bad for the WD but its good to know for certain

Mussels · Nov 12, 2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ketxxx

Title explains most of it. I was asked if plugging BOTH the molex and SATA power cables into a SATA HDD with both types of connections would do any harm, I said plugging both in would likely cause enough of a zap to destroy the data on the HDD, if not kill the HDD due to too much voltage being fed to it. Somebody I don't even know then butted in saying nothing would happen, an I was like

voltage dude, voltage! So to try and settle this once and for all, does anyone have a SATA HDD with both SATA and molex power connections or knowns in general what may happen. The HDD in question is a Western Digital.

they die. WD are the only ones with both connectors, and they will either not power on until you remove one, or they will just die and never power on again. if you buy them retail (in a box, not OEM) they often have a warning sticker/pamphlet with them.

kwchang007 · Nov 12, 2007, 12:29 AM

My friend plugged both in...until he saw the book and was like OH SHIT and unplugged the molex. So I guess in the short term it doesn't do anything. In the long term I have not a clue.

Ketxxx · Nov 12, 2007, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mussels

they die. WD are the only ones with both connectors, and they will either not power on until you remove one, or they will just die and never power on again. if you buy them retail (in a box, not OEM) they often have a warning sticker/pamphlet with them.

HAH! I KNEW it!

keakar · Nov 12, 2007, 02:27 AM

i cant think of any reason connecting both at the same time would hurt the drive or power supply. all you are doing is connecting two wires with the same voltage to one device so its not like they are different voltages.

(im not that sure about power supply to sata drives so forgive me if im wrong about not using different voltages)

i think the reason you are told not to connect both at the same time is in the event of a short circuit it may not have proper trip protection to your system.

naturally you dont want to be doing it if you run dual psu. (might mix up the wires)

DanTheBanjoman · Nov 12, 2007, 06:53 AM

Most drives clearly state "do not plug in both".

As for voltage, logically you'd think the wires end up together anyway and therefor the voltage would remain the same as it is connected parallel. For some reason it doesn't work this way and drives can die when both connectors are connected. As mentioned above some drives simply don't work, they're probably protected against this kind of misuse.

keakar · Nov 12, 2007, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Most drives clearly state "do not plug in both".

As for voltage, logically you'd think the wires end up together anyway and therefor the voltage would remain the same as it is connected parallel. For some reason it doesn't work this way and drives can die when both connectors are connected. As mentioned above some drives simply don't work, they're probably protected against this kind of misuse.

it must be like ac fans then, they have speeds regulated by sending power through more or less windings which increases or decreases speeds but if two are connected to power at the same time they cause a backfeed of electricity that shorts out the whole motor even thou nothing was actually grounded.

Darknova · Nov 12, 2007, 04:43 PM

I did that and ran my drive for over a month when i first got it. It was perfectly fine if a bit hot (read - 75'C!!).

Mussels · Nov 12, 2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Most drives clearly state "do not plug in both".

As for voltage, logically you'd think the wires end up together anyway and therefor the voltage would remain the same as it is connected parallel. For some reason it doesn't work this way and drives can die when both connectors are connected. As mentioned above some drives simply don't work, they're probably protected against this kind of misuse.

its because of voltage differences, one could be 5.05v and the other 4.95v, and if so the power can try and travel backwards along some paths to 'even' the voltages out. This obviously doesnt go well, and the drive could shut off for safety, or have the electrics just die.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darknova

I did that and ran my drive for over a month when i first got it. It was perfectly fine if a bit hot (read - 75'C!!).

Good example - 75C can kill drives.

Darknova · Nov 13, 2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mussels

Good example - 75C can kill drives.

I shat myself when I noticed lol, but it's still going strong (Hurrah for Excelstor).

surfsk8snow.jah · Nov 13, 2007, 06:41 AM

Ok here's an extension of your question. I have 2 WD Raptors, each with the SATA power plugged into the PSU, but with an HDD cooler fan/heatsink plugged into its MOLEX connector leeching power that way. The fans work, and so do the HDDs, perfectly actually.
Now, I just setup my PC within the past week, so I'm wondering about long-term? Is it alright to be leeching power this way?

Darknova · Nov 13, 2007, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfsk8snow.jah

Ok here's an extension of your question. I have 2 WD Raptors, each with the SATA power plugged into the PSU, but with an HDD cooler fan/heatsink plugged into its MOLEX connector leeching power that way. The fans work, and so do the HDDs, perfectly actually.
Now, I just setup my PC within the past week, so I'm wondering about long-term? Is it alright to be leeching power this way?

Woah woah what?

Let me get this straight. You have your HDD plugged in via SATA, and the Heatsink/fan is plugged into the molex ON the HDD itself?

I'm surprised it works. NO, that's REALLY not a good idea. It needs to be plugged into a seperate molex.

DanTheBanjoman · Nov 13, 2007, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darknova

Woah woah what?

Let me get this straight. You have your HDD plugged in via SATA, and the Heatsink/fan is plugged into the molex ON the HDD itself?

I'm surprised it works. NO, that's REALLY not a good idea. It needs to be plugged into a seperate molex.

Nonsense, it's logical that it works, the wires are connected directly and there is no reason it should be bad.

Darknova · Nov 13, 2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanTheBanjoman

Nonsense, it's logical that it works, the wires are connected directly and there is no reason it should be bad.

From what I read it wasn't. He had the HDD plugged in by the SATA power cable, and the fan/heatsink plugged into the molex of the HDD. That would mean the HDD is acting as a bypass, which can't be good for it.

freaksavior · Nov 13, 2007, 03:15 PM

there was a thread similar to this a few months ago:

A guy had a raptor and he plugged sata power and molex power in and he then stated the drive would not power up with one or both in it. the post mentioned that is was brand new too

tigger · Nov 13, 2007, 03:16 PM

Why would you even want both the molex and sata power in at the same time anyway? I think its too dodgy to risk losing a drive for.

keakar · Nov 13, 2007, 05:18 PM

because people often believe just because it has a plug then something must be plugged into it

aximbigfan · Nov 13, 2007, 05:42 PM

Does WD even make hdds with the dual power connector config any more? I had one that went bad (NOT because of connecting both in, for an unrelated reason), and the replacemnt didnt have the molex connector, just sata pwr. Same model number and everything, differnt revision though.

Chris

Nov 11, 2007, 11:17 PM	#1
Ketxxx Eligible for custom title Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingdom of gods Posts: 6,380 (2.42/day) Thanks: 35 Thanked 580 Times in 412 Posts System Specs	SATA HDD with molex and SATA power connections Title explains most of it. I was asked if plugging BOTH the molex and SATA power cables into a SATA HDD with both types of connections would do any harm, I said plugging both in would likely cause enough of a zap to destroy the data on the HDD, if not kill the HDD due to too much voltage being fed to it. Somebody I don't even know then butted in saying nothing would happen, an I was like voltage dude, voltage! So to try and settle this once and for all, does anyone have a SATA HDD with both SATA and molex power connections or knowns in general what may happen. The HDD in question is a Western Digital. __________________ WARNING: I am cracking down on stupidity in the forums. Anyone caught making a dumb statement clearly not knowing many, if any of the facts, will promptly be directed to xtremesystems. Sig edited. If anyone wants to know about the E4400 (E7200 sold) drop me a PM

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Nov 11, 2007, 11:27 PM	#2
pt not a suicide-bomber Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portugal Posts: 5,877 (2.23/day) Thanks: 106 Thanked 219 Times in 193 Posts System Specs	my buddy hdd says clearly not to connecto both __________________ [img disabled]http://apax.eveonlinekb.com/?a=sig&i=39051&s=zealot[/img]

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Nov 11, 2007, 11:28 PM	#3
panchoman Sold my stars! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 6,650 (3.11/day) Thanks: 339 Thanked 1,227 Times in 1,036 Posts System Specs	i would hope that it wont take the molex power if it gets sata power, but if it takes both, i hope you dont get a fried hdd.. __________________ Need any Graphics Made? Visit Graphic Artists United! R.I.P Megan--Heaven has a new angel

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Nov 11, 2007, 11:30 PM	#4
Widjaja Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wangas, New Zealand Posts: 4,023 (1.85/day) Thanks: 241 Thanked 617 Times in 534 Posts System Specs	I have plugged both in by accident and nothing happened with the WD cavier 160GB SATA. I was certain I was plugging in the power to my IDE but I didn't notice the SATA power connector right next to it for some reason.

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Nov 11, 2007, 11:44 PM	#5
Ketxxx Eligible for custom title Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingdom of gods Posts: 6,380 (2.42/day) Thanks: 35 Thanked 580 Times in 412 Posts System Specs	Ok, so 50\50. If it helps any the WD in question is about a year old, 120GB. __________________ WARNING: I am cracking down on stupidity in the forums. Anyone caught making a dumb statement clearly not knowing many, if any of the facts, will promptly be directed to xtremesystems. Sig edited. If anyone wants to know about the E4400 (E7200 sold) drop me a PM

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Nov 11, 2007, 11:56 PM	#7
wiak Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Norway Posts: 1,681 (0.53/day) Thanks: 15 Thanked 199 Times in 156 Posts	i have connected both and didnt do any damage but its good to only connect one at a time __________________ My rig @ overclock.net \| My new friend OpenShot

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Nov 12, 2007, 12:00 AM	#8
Ketxxx Eligible for custom title Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingdom of gods Posts: 6,380 (2.42/day) Thanks: 35 Thanked 580 Times in 412 Posts System Specs	There we go then ppl, figured it was bad for the WD but its good to know for certain __________________ WARNING: I am cracking down on stupidity in the forums. Anyone caught making a dumb statement clearly not knowing many, if any of the facts, will promptly be directed to xtremesystems. Sig edited. If anyone wants to know about the E4400 (E7200 sold) drop me a PM

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Nov 12, 2007, 12:29 AM	#10
kwchang007 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Severn, MD, USA. Posts: 2,949 (1.28/day) Thanks: 72 Thanked 189 Times in 185 Posts System Specs	My friend plugged both in...until he saw the book and was like OH SHIT and unplugged the molex. So I guess in the short term it doesn't do anything. In the long term I have not a clue. __________________ Power User Teenager Club Laptop Overclocking club Thanks button....hit it if someone helped you, not a difficult concept really. [img disabled]http://www.hwbot.org/signature.img?t=1&uid=8351&iehack=.jpg[/img]

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Nov 12, 2007, 02:27 AM	#12
keakar Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,267 (1.01/day) Thanks: 382 Thanked 301 Times in 216 Posts System Specs	i cant think of any reason connecting both at the same time would hurt the drive or power supply. all you are doing is connecting two wires with the same voltage to one device so its not like they are different voltages. (im not that sure about power supply to sata drives so forgive me if im wrong about not using different voltages) i think the reason you are told not to connect both at the same time is in the event of a short circuit it may not have proper trip protection to your system. naturally you dont want to be doing it if you run dual psu. (might mix up the wires) __________________ here are some guides that might help you: Guide to Proper Case Airflow Design How To Safely Clean The Dust From Your PC How to Build a Great Computer Desk for $50 in Under an Hour Helpfull Step by Step Troubleshooting Guide for Assembling Your First Computer

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Nov 12, 2007, 06:53 AM	#13
DanTheBanjoman Señor Moderator Join Date: May 2004 Location: Utrecht, Utrecht, The kingdom of the Netherlands Posts: 8,498 (2.58/day) Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,453 Times in 1,077 Posts System Specs	Most drives clearly state "do not plug in both". As for voltage, logically you'd think the wires end up together anyway and therefor the voltage would remain the same as it is connected parallel. For some reason it doesn't work this way and drives can die when both connectors are connected. As mentioned above some drives simply don't work, they're probably protected against this kind of misuse.

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Nov 12, 2007, 04:43 PM	#15
Darknova Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Manchester, United Kingdom Posts: 4,342 (1.82/day) Thanks: 113 Thanked 551 Times in 514 Posts System Specs	I did that and ran my drive for over a month when i first got it. It was perfectly fine if a bit hot (read - 75'C!!).

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Nov 13, 2007, 06:41 AM	#18
surfsk8snow.jah Join Date: May 2007 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 428 (0.19/day) Thanks: 42 Thanked 11 Times in 10 Posts System Specs	Ok here's an extension of your question. I have 2 WD Raptors, each with the SATA power plugged into the PSU, but with an HDD cooler fan/heatsink plugged into its MOLEX connector leeching power that way. The fans work, and so do the HDDs, perfectly actually. Now, I just setup my PC within the past week, so I'm wondering about long-term? Is it alright to be leeching power this way? __________________ (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━━┻ ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Nov 13, 2007, 03:15 PM	#22
freaksavior To infinity ... and beyond! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: H-Town Texas Posts: 6,780 (2.88/day) Thanks: 1,031 Thanked 852 Times in 581 Posts System Specs	there was a thread similar to this a few months ago: A guy had a raptor and he plugged sata power and molex power in and he then stated the drive would not power up with one or both in it. the post mentioned that is was brand new too __________________ Heat My HTPC Guide freak's F/S thread Fill Out you sp here.

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Nov 13, 2007, 03:16 PM	#23
tigger I'm the only one Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: HU5 1LL Posts: 7,212 (2.75/day) Thanks: 473 Thanked 951 Times in 780 Posts System Specs	Why would you even want both the molex and sata power in at the same time anyway? I think its too dodgy to risk losing a drive for. __________________ http://img.techpowerup.org/110324/v6351cpuzvalj197.jpg ]Monster E6300 oc http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2163.html

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Video Card:	ATI Radeon HD 6380G 512MB
Hard Disk:	Seagate ST950032 5AS 500GB sata
Optical Drive:	HP 208BB DVD R/CDRW sata
CRT/LCD Model:	15.6" 1366x768 widescreen+17" 1440x900 widescreen
Case:	hp laptop
Sound Card:	onboard
Software:	windows 7 home premium x64 genuine (for once)

Nov 13, 2007, 05:18 PM	#24
keakar Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,267 (1.01/day) Thanks: 382 Thanked 301 Times in 216 Posts System Specs	because people often believe just because it has a plug then something must be plugged into it __________________ here are some guides that might help you: Guide to Proper Case Airflow Design How To Safely Clean The Dust From Your PC How to Build a Great Computer Desk for $50 in Under an Hour Helpfull Step by Step Troubleshooting Guide for Assembling Your First Computer

Nov 13, 2007, 05:42 PM	#25
aximbigfan Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 554 (0.23/day) Thanks: 51 Thanked 35 Times in 28 Posts System Specs	Does WD even make hdds with the dual power connector config any more? I had one that went bad (NOT because of connecting both in, for an unrelated reason), and the replacemnt didnt have the molex connector, just sata pwr. Same model number and everything, differnt revision though. Chris __________________

System Name:	QUAD1
Processor:	Intel Core i7 920
Motherboard:	Asus P6T SE
Cooling:	XIGMATEK HDT-S963
Memory:	OCZ 3 X 1GB Triple Channel
Video Card:	HIS Radeon HD4670 IceQ
Hard Disk:	Seagate 250GB 7200RPM SATA
Optical Drive:	Sony Optiarc 24X DVD/CD Rewritable
CRT/LCD Model:	Acer AL1916W 19" Widescreen LCD
Case:	CM Storm Scout
Sound Card:	Onboard
PSU:	Corsair 520 Watt
Software:	Windows XP Pro

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