How would a power connector to my cd drive short out?

[kodyr990]

the sata power connector to my cd drive melted or something, how would this happen?
http://imgur.com/nQqOdTGhttp

 

[Ralston18]

What were you doing when the connector melted?

 

[kodyr990]

The thing is, i dont even know when it happened, i just realized it today when i tried to open my cd drive and wouldnt open and that's when i saw the damage.

 

[Ralston18]

I would suspect that a short developed in the connector and during a period of heavy use the current flow heated things up and all melted.

Cannot really tell much about the quality of the connector per se but even a "good brand" could have a defect.

Any problems with drive that you can remember?

Google the cable manufacturer and see if there are any reports/complaints of similar problems.

Possibly could have been a problem in CD drive's port but personally I would think the cable more likely.

How does the CD drive port look?

 

[kodyr990]

No problems with the cd drive, it always used to work.

http://imgur.com/YXRLiYK

 

[jsmithepa]

What were you doing when the connector melted?

Playing some XXXXX stuff? 😀

KIDDING!

Unusual but not impossible. Poorly made cable and/or dirt got into the connector and just enough of it for it to form a "resistor" like a small incandescent light bulb. At least your drive survived. I would attempt to clean the drive connector with a tinny hobbyist wire brush before you put it back together, then monitor it for a couple of days, it should feel room temperature.

 

[Ralston18]

Wow! Looks more like a big spark to me.

A heat up/ burn would have more carbon upwards versus off to the right as shown in the photograph.

Per jsmithepa's reference it was like a small incandescent light bulb: however, the connector "blew" with a significant flash/spark.....

 

[kodyr990]

Okay, thanks for the quick answers and info. Guess i was lucky it didn't start a fire, that would've sucked.