USB-C hard drive dock with NO power adapter required?

[milkygirl]

USB-C, with the help of PD modes, should supply more than enough power for 2 x 3.5" hard drives. Is there any dock that goes with just 1 USB-C cable instead of having to plug in the adapter as well?

 

[milkygirl]

can anyone help please?

 

[mdd1963]

anyone designing a dock is going to have to make allowances for 10-14 TB models(which can draw 15-20 watts each when initially spinning up at power on), and is not going to risk burning out someone's USB port in a laptop...; I'd be surprised if you can find even a single 3.5" docking station that does not need a little brick, truthfully, much less one with provisions for 2 drives.....

(Note that Icy DOck requires a power adapter if using a single 3.5" drive in their docking solution shown)
https://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=168


I fear your search could be an arduous one, and, possibly infinite...

 

[milkygirl]

this is something i just cannot understand. USB-PD supports up to 100W and is already commonly used on 4K monitors/laptops, so why is it that hard drive docks cannot use the same?

 

[Ali_200]

To get Type-C USB with 20-100W PD capability you must have the Type-C host port that does have this capability. Do you have one in your system?

Having a Type-C doesn't necessarily mean it has PD at all, most ports don't have it. The PD is a nearly independent standard, it may or may not be designed into your particular PC host. With "may not" is the most likely.

 

[milkygirl]

yes i do, which is precisely why I asked the initial question. most people don't seem to be informed on PD specifications to begin with..

 

[USAFRet]

3.5" drives require both 5v and 12v.
USB does not provide the 12v.

 

[milkygirl]

i thought only the wattage matters. as long as there are sufficient watts, it will run properly (not the same as comparing 110v vs 220v in different countries)

 

[Ali_200]

There are very few hosts with Type-C, and even less with PD. Implementation of PD/Type-C is expensive. If someone to make an USB enclosure with exclusive Type-C PD supply (especially for obsolete 3.5" HDD formfactor), the market for this kind of device will be ZERO. No business wants to be in a market of zero size.

 

[USAFRet]

i thought only the wattage matters. as long as there are sufficient watts, it will run properly (not the same as comparing 110v vs 220v in different countries)

Additionally, the initial spin up requires even more wattage.
30W+ to start it. Put TWO 3.5" drives in one of those, and the initial burst is enough wattage to run my whole desktop PC.

And still, there is no 12v output in a USB port.

What you seek does not exist.

 

[Ali_200]

[/quotemsg]And still, there is no 12v output in a USB port.

What you seek does not exist.[/quotemsg]

Actually, the 12V supply can be done in several ways, (1) boost 5V to 12V, theoretically, since Type-C can do 5V 5A without PD, and (2) negotiate 20V 5A (100W, if available, or whatever) before starting HDD spin-up.

So the lack of 12V on USB port is not a problem.

The problem is that people have very little sense of hardware, and don't realize that having an extra (and negotiable!) 20 V 5 A power supply on laptop port (or even on desktop) needs substantial hardware and takes serious volume. Just take a look at the size of any AC-DC power adapter (19V 4.7 A 90W) for a typical laptop.

 

[Ali_200]

yes i do, which is precisely why I asked the initial question. most people don't seem to be informed on PD specifications to begin with..

And which power profile does your PD over Type-C port support, to be exact? Did you check your specifications?

 

[USAFRet]

And still, there is no 12v output in a USB port.

What you seek does not exist.[/quotemsg]

Actually, the 12V supply can be done in several ways, (1) boost 5V to 12V, theoretically, since Type-C can do 5V 5A without PD, and (2) negotiate 20V 5A (100W, if available, or whatever) before starting HDD spin-up.

So the lack of 12V on USB port is not a problem.

The problem is that people have very little sense of hardware, and don't realize that having an extra (and negotiable!) 20 V 5 A power supply on laptop port (or even on desktop) needs substantial hardware and takes serious volume. Just take a look at the size of any AC-DC power adapter (19V 4.7 A 90W) for a typical laptop.[/quotemsg]

Yes it could be done.
The USB spec, however, does not include anything about 12v.
Ergo, this does not exist.

 

[Ali_200]

And still, there is no 12v output in a USB port.

What you seek does not exist.

Actually, the 12V supply can be done in several ways, (1) boost 5V to 12V, theoretically, since Type-C can do 5V 5A without PD, and (2) negotiate 20V 5A (100W, if available, or whatever) before starting HDD spin-up.

So the lack of 12V on USB port is not a problem.

The problem is that people have very little sense of hardware, and don't realize that having an extra (and negotiable!) 20 V 5 A power supply on laptop port (or even on desktop) needs substantial hardware and takes serious volume. Just take a look at the size of any AC-DC power adapter (19V 4.7 A 90W) for a typical laptop.[/quotemsg]

Yes it could be done.
The USB spec, however, does not include anything about 12v.
Ergo, this does not exist.[/quotemsg]

The OP clearly states upfront that the issue is about USB Type-C.
USB Type-C does include PD as an option. It looks like you don't know what the PD (Power Delivery) is. You probably need to familiarize yourself with modern development in USB area.

So the possibility to make a device per OP wish does exist, all within the scope of USB specifications. If this device doesn't exist and/or if nobody is willing to make such a device is a different story.

 

[USAFRet]

And still we see no commercially available devices that meet the OP's requirements.

Might they appear eventually? Maybe.
But not today.

 

[Rob_Hub]

USB-C, with the help of PD modes, should supply more than enough power for 2 x 3.5" hard drives. Is there any dock that goes with just 1 USB-C cable instead of having to plug in the adapter as well?

Your question is clear and you are 100% right with your statement that this must be technically possible (also, as you said, the missing 12V is no problem, today with internal DC-DC converters they can be easily generated from 5V. Also, as you said, the 100W count and are easily sufficient for spin up after turn on - actually with some buffer super capacitors, even lower ratings might be sufficient to enalbe spin up).

I am also looking for 3,5 HDD options for USB-C without all the annoying power supply cables - but I have not found one!