Remove power brick and power via PSU - External Hard Drive

[Dorza]

I have an external hard drive housed in an Icybox. What i want to do is remove the power brick and replace the power source with one coming from the computer PSU.

It currently gets power like so:

230V(Wall Socket)------plug-----brick(5-12V Out)------DIN Plug-----External Hard Drive (IcyBox)

But I want to change it to this:

PC(12V)------DIN Plug (From Maplin)-----External Hard Drive.

Is it as simple as that because from what i can tell the brick is only there to step the 100-230V from the wall socket down to a manageable 5-12V for the Hard Drive. Is there any chance of me damaging my ICYBOX if I do this? From my understanding of this I think its perfectly acceptable but I just wanted a second opinion.

[Funkstar]

i think it should be that simple. It's something i've been planning on doing myself, alhough i was also going to get a modular PSU from Scan and eventually replace all (or most) of my bricks.

The only thing would be getting the right connector for the IcyBox. I've not investigated it, so i don't know if it is a standard connector you can get n Maplin or not.

[Dorza]

Thanks for that, I think I'll give it a go if no one says otherwise. The ICYBOX uses a 6-pin mini DIN connector which are very cheap at maplin . Luckily the ping configuration is displayed on the brick so its easy for me to know where to join the 12 and 5V wires.

Thanks again

[Funkstar]

Luckily the ping configuration is displayed on the brick...

Now you say that, i remember noticing that a while back. good to know about the Din connector too. cheers

[Dorza]

Oh i forgot to ask what this thing circled in red was:



Theres one of the my power lead aswell just before the DIN connection going into the icybox, is it anything important?

[ash_rm]

I think its a Ferrite Core to help reduce noise.

Don't think you'll need it for what your doing.

[chrestomanci]

It reduces radio interference. The manufactuer is required by law to make sure their products don't cause public problems.

I don't think those laws affect private individuals, but to be safe (or if you get interferenced on your TV etc), maplin will sell you a clamp on one.

[Dorza]

Thanks for that. I got all the stuff from maplin (and the ferrite core) and I'm gonna try this next week when i get some time to do it. Hope it will work. Would soldering the wires to the DIN pins be the best approach to fixing them in place? I've thought about using metal epoxy but I'm not sure if it would be better than soldering. I'm thinking it would be easier.

[chrestomanci]

Thanks for that. Would soldering the wires to the DIN pins be the best approach to fixing them in place? I've thought about using metal epoxy but I'm not sure if it would be better than soldering. I'm thinking it would be easier.

I would definitely solder the wires instead of using epoxy. Molten solder flows easily over wires & connectors, and if you make a mistake it is easy to melt the solder and remake the joint. Epoxy is horrible sticky stuff, and it will be much harder to fix any mistakes. It probably has a significant electrical resistance which will cause problems