HDD Motor Direct Power-up

[nulldbully]

How can I power-up an HDD motor directly from its 3 terminal pins? What is its safe DC Voltage range?

 

[nulldbully]

You will need to buy BLDC (brushless DC) motor driver. And not to get confused, it is a hardware driver (controller).
But if you don't want to have any control over its rpm, you can just connect 12V to it's 2 power pins. Power pins should be labled as "+" and "-".

Thanks, but I understand HDD motors are 3-phase motors and its 3 supply pins are not color coded.

 

[fzabkar]

The motors are 3-phase. Each pair of phases is energised in turn while the third phase is used for RPM sensing.

Here is a list of spindle motor controllers:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/HDD_Motor_Control.html

Here is a popular controller (SMOOTH) used by many HDD manufacturers:

L7250, SMOOTH, spindle motor + VCM controller, ST Microelectronics:
http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheet/SGSThomsonMicroelectronics/mXyuswx.pdf

The datasheet contains application circuits.

 

[nulldbully]

No, they are not 3 phase, they are DC motors. 2 pins are for power and 1 pin is for feedback (rpm values).

Thanks. I’ve tried it but it didn't work.

 

[nulldbully]

I was wrong. They are actually 3-phase motors. They are probably used because spinning the disk requires both low RPM torque and high RPM capability...

It's alright. Anyway, it's ok if I have to use its existing PWB but I don't know how to get power to the motor if it's not connected to the motherboard.

 

[nulldbully]

The motors are 3-phase. Each pair of phases is energised in turn while the third phase is used for RPM sensing.

Here is a list of spindle motor controllers:
http://www.users.on.net/~fzabkar/HDD/HDD_Motor_Control.html

Here is a popular controller (SMOOTH) used by many HDD manufacturers:

L7250, SMOOTH, spindle motor + VCM controller, ST Microelectronics:
http://pdf.datasheetcatalog.com/datasheet/SGSThomsonMicroelectronics/mXyuswx.pdf

The datasheet contains application circuits.

Thanks, but as much as possible, I don't want to spend extra money to buy a controller. It's ok if I have to use its existing PWB but I don't know how to get power to the motor using only the existing PSU but not connected to the motherboard.

 

[nulldbully]

Can you post a pictures of that PWB and motor? In micro mode.

Sorry, I don't think I can until next week. 'Don't have my stuff with me now. Thanks though.

 

[fzabkar]

@nulldbully, what are you trying to accomplish? Does you HDD not spin up on its own without a SATA connection?

What is the model number?

Is the drive configured to Power Up In Standby (PUIS)?

 

[nulldbully]

@nulldbully, what are you trying to accomplish? Does you HDD not spin up on its own without a SATA connection?

What is the model number?

Is the drive configured to Power Up In Standby (PUIS)?

I just want to use the motor from my old HDD's - taking advantage of its high rpm to improvise some micro machines utilizing only what I already have including my existing PSU. I'm using a Seagate ST340823A and Seagate ST36422A HDD's. I hope you could help. Thank you friend...

 

[fzabkar]

I don't know about those earlier drives, but current models can be made to spin up and spin down from a serial terminal interface. However the spin speed would be fixed. You might have some control over the torque by playing with the motor current via a sense resistor, but ISTM that it wouldn't be a trivial exercise.

The following article might help a little.

Measuring VCM and Spindle Motor Current:
http://malthus.zapto.org/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=204&p=484

 

[nulldbully]

I don't know about those earlier drives, but current models can be made to spin up and spin down from a serial terminal interface. However the spin speed would be fixed. You might have some control over the torque by playing with the motor current via a sense resistor, but ISTM that it wouldn't be a trivial exercise.

The following article might help a little.

Measuring VCM and Spindle Motor Current:
http://malthus.zapto.org/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=204&p=484

Ok, I'll check on it. Thanks!