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Help needed identifying external HD case
Posted by: genie_mac on 2013-04-21 09:51:25
Hi there,

Among the pile of stuff that I managed to get a few weeks ago is an external SCSI harddrive case, as shown below:







I'd like to find out who made it etc as there is no labelling on it at all.

But more importantly I need to know whether the power supply is a universal voltage one (110 and 220/240 Volt). I have been told that it used to belong to an old Lady from the US living in Ireland (had US mains cable when I bought it), so I have no idea if I can plug it into my 230V mains supply.

So if anyone knows anything, please let me know.

Cheers!

Ps: there is a 250V fuse in it.
Posted by: tecneeq on 2013-04-21 10:09:42
Any labels on the bottom?
Posted by: jwse30 on 2013-04-21 11:43:40
Since I am pretty sure that the main thing a drive case does is convert the incoming like to low voltage DC, couldn't a travel adapter work with this device? I would think the only issue might be the 50 Hz (assuming you're household supply is 230 volt, 50 Hertz and not 60 hertz.) Hopefully someone with a bit more knowledge of these things will chime in...

J White
Posted by: waynestewart on 2013-04-21 12:16:56
I have one of those. It has a Sequential Systems badge on it but that was just the seller, not the manufacturer. No sign of a manufacturers name.
Posted by: bibilit on 2013-04-21 23:05:30
there is a 250V fuse in it.
So probably 230 V, don't see the point for such a fuse in a 110 V item.
Posted by: waynestewart on 2013-04-22 00:58:48
I wouldn't count on that, every external hard drive power supply I've looked at has had a 250v fuse. Seems to be a standard size.

there is a 250V fuse in it.
So probably 230 V, don't see the point for such a fuse in a 110 V item.
Posted by: CelGen on 2013-04-22 07:34:39
Notice how the power connector on the PSU PCB has three pins but a two prong plug.

Perhaps the position determines weather it is being used in a 120v or 240V environment.
Posted by: genie_mac on 2013-04-22 10:54:21
That's exactly what I was thinking! Moving the connector may switch it between 110/220V.

Maybe waynestewart , you could have a look at the position of that plug (I assume you are on 110V).

Otherwise I might have to use an old PC psu.

PS: no labels anywhere, not even on the botton, but I haven't taken out the pcb to have a look there yet...these Macs really are a full time job....
Posted by: Anonymous Freak on 2013-04-22 11:12:38
Probably just a "generic bulk OEM" design that got re-badged by lots of small shops.

No easy way to tell voltage other than to risk a hard drive.
Posted by: markyb86 on 2013-04-22 11:50:21
You shouldn't need to hook up a hard drive to see if it's 110 or 230. If it's 110 and you plug into the 230 it just wont have enough juice. However, prepare for a smoke cloud if its the opposite :-(

Posted by: genie_mac on 2013-04-22 18:27:28
Ha! That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid! Don't want to turn that nice little psu into even more junk that I have to bring to the electronic recycling place. Mind you I pick up more stuff from there then I bring... 🙂

Posted by: waynestewart on 2013-04-22 21:34:32
Yes, I'm on 110V.

That's the one slight difference. Mine doesn't have a 2 prong plug but a 3 prong with the 3rd one not being used.

Just moving your plug over raises a concern. With this power supply the outside pin is the hot wire while the center is neutral.

I'd probably just pick up one of those cheap ata/USB adapters and just use the power supply that comes with it to power the SCSI drive

That's exactly what I was thinking! Moving the connector may switch it between 110/220V.
Maybe waynestewart , you could have a look at the position of that plug (I assume you are on 110V).
Posted by: genie_mac on 2013-04-24 04:59:02
Thanks for checking.

Good idea, I have one from and old external HD case so that would be grand.

Would be nice to have a cleaner solution with the original PSU though.
Posted by: genie_mac on 2013-04-24 17:19:06
Finally found out what psu is in it. It's a Autec UPS40-2002. It's universal voltage (90-260V) alright, so happy days.

80meg drive in it now and working fine (except for address selector wheel which I connected wrong so all addresses are inverted now 😉 )

Also power connector pin out is (ground, neural, live) from left to right.

Thanks for all the replies 🙂

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