Question [Solved] Is it dangerous to connect a 2.5 SATA SSD to a (SATA-powered) 3.5 HDD enclosure?

[ExTxL]

I have an old external 3.5-inch HDD. For lack of a normal SATA-USB cable, I want to use its enclosure to connect a 2.5-inch SATA SSD to my PC's USB port.

The HDD enclosure has a separate AC power cable. When I opened up the enclosure, I saw the AC power goes directly into the PCB, which has a normal SATA connector that the HDD itself connects to. I can remove the HDD and connect my SSD into that SATA connector.

When I attached the enclosure's USB cable and connected it to my PC, it did not recognize the drive. I suspect that because the enclosure is designed to use a dedicated AC adapter, it does not have the capability to supply power through the USB cable. My next plan would be to connect the AC power cable to the PCB's AC input. Here is my concern. Is there any danger that because the enclosure is designed for a 3.5-inch HDD, it will pump 12V right through the SATA power connection and fry my SSD? Will the SSD be able to handle 12V safely if it receives it? Will the enclosure's PCB automatically figure out that it only needs to deliver 5V?

 

[hotaru.hino]

The PCB in the enclosure contains circuitry to provide the 12V, 5V, and 3.3V (probably) that SATA requires. The SSD will use whatever it needs from those to power it. If it doesn't need it, it won't have it connected.

So there's no issue with using the AC adapter in the enclosure. In fact, it's probably required anyway to run the chip that converts SATA to USB and vice versa.

 

[Ralston18]

What HDD enclosure?

I have an old Dynex enclosure - this model:

Dynex HDD enclosure

Removed the 3.5 inch HDD a couple of months ago and replaced the HDD with an 2.5 inch SSD.

No problems to date.

Could not really secure the SSD into place and only relying on (for now) the snug fit into the slot.

Enclosure is not being moved about so the SSD coming loose in the near future is unlikely.

 

[ExTxL]

The PCB in the enclosure contains circuitry to provide the 12V, 5V, and 3.3V (probably) that SATA requires. The SSD will use whatever it needs from those to power it. If it doesn't need it, it won't have it connected.

So there's no issue with using the AC adapter in the enclosure. In fact, it's probably required anyway to run the chip that converts SATA to USB and vice versa.

Ok. The enclosure is a WD Cavalry HDD from 2007. Here's an example of it. https://technogog.com/review/cavalry-caxe37500-500gb-usb-20esata-35-external-hdd/

You're certain that the PCB would have the circuitry to provide both 12V and 5V, even if it was designed for an external HD that contains a 12V-drawing 3.5 HDD? (To clarify, the enclosure is not intended to be opened and the HDs swapped about. I had to remove a bunch of screws and peel off some scary-looking tamper tape in order to remove the PCB. So idk if it's possible it would have been designed to only be compatible with a 12V 3.5. And idk if there's any way to tell by looking at the PCB.)

 

[hotaru.hino]

Ok. The enclosure is a WD Cavalry HDD from 2007. Here's an example of it. https://technogog.com/review/cavalry-caxe37500-500gb-usb-20esata-35-external-hdd/

You're certain that the PCB would have the circuitry to provide both 12V and 5V, even if it was designed for an external HD that contains a 12V-drawing 3.5 HDD? (To clarify, the enclosure is not intended to be opened and the HDs swapped about. I had to remove a bunch of screws and peel off some scary-looking tamper tape in order to remove the PCB. So idk if it's possible it would have been designed to only be compatible with a 12V 3.5. And idk if there's any way to tell by looking at the PCB.)

Unless Western Digital used a completely proprietary SATA pin out (which I doubt) and most hard drives use the 12V and 5V rail, I don't see why the power side in the enclosure wouldn't also provide at least 12V and 5V.

If the data on this SSD is really important to you, then I wouldn't go further and just get a proper SATA to USB type thing from Amazon.

 

[Ralston18]

My Dynex enclosure receives 12 volts from the adapter.

Also, just as a matter of mention, the data on the SSD should be backed up somewhere else regardless of what you do.

 

[ExTxL]

If the data on this SSD is really important to you, then I wouldn't go further and just get a proper SATA to USB type thing from Amazon.

You're right, of course. Ultimately this is a fool's errand. But I am a fool and I wanted to see if it would work - but wanted to make sure I wasn't about to do a known-stupid thing first, so I came here.

Unless Western Digital used a completely proprietary SATA pin out (which I doubt) and most hard drives use the 12V and 5V rail, I don't see why the power side in the enclosure wouldn't also provide at least 12V and 5V.

This is the level of knowledge that gives me confidence that, at the very least, it won't explode when I plug it in. Thank you!

 

[fzabkar]

Your enclosure's bridge PCB would pass the incoming 12V supply directly to the HDD, and it would step down the 12V input to 5V via an onboard switchmode regulator. That's the typical approach taken by WD.

That said, the firmware in current My Books does not always allow the USB-SATA bridge to be repurposed. I don't know if the Cavalry falls into this category, but it's something to be aware of.