[SOLVED] SATA power vs Molex SATA power adapter

[InfraSND]

Hi All,

Just experienced a weird issue, I recently purchased a Mini SAS SFF-8087 to 4 SAS SFF-8482 Cable, each end that plugs into the HDD has a SATA power plug. When I plug a PSU SATA power plug into the adapter (SFF-8482) it doesn't power up the drive, if I plug the PSU SATA power plug directly into the HDD it spins up, if I use a Molex to SATA power adapter and plug it into the SFF-8482 it spins up the drive. So why would the PSU SATA power plug not power up the drive when plugged into the SFF-8482 but works fine with a Molex to SATA adapter?

 

[lvt]

Is it this cable that you bought?

 

[InfraSND]

This is what the cable looks like that I purchased.

 

[lvt]

This is what the cable looks like that I purchased.

It didn't work because your PSU to SATA has 5-wire connector.

If you use a Molex adapter it will convert to 4-wire SATA.

If you buy this cable with built-in power cable (either Molex or SATA version) it will work with a PSU to SATA cable.

 

[lvt]

This is the Molex version of your cable

 

[lvt]

This is the SATA version

 

[InfraSND]

Interesting, as I did connect a SAS drive for my testing... But why with the inclusion of the 5th wire (3.3v) it seems to have change the power pinout? (even though hardly used) Surely the 3.3v line would be additional and would not compromise the default power pin-out?

 

[lvt]

Interesting, as I did connect a SAS drive for my testing... But why with the inclusion of the 5th wire (3.3v) it seems to have change the power pinout? (even though hardly used) Surely the 3.3v line would be additional and would not compromise the default power pin-out?

Drivers don't need the 3.3v to operate, there are a lot of SATA cables without the 3.3v on the market, your adapter is intended to work with those old 4-wire SATA connector.