Hard Drive power socket problem!

[g0lrk]

Moving some data about off some hard drives like you do and was putting my original slave ide drive back when the molex connector wouldn't plug-in.
I thought it was me, I do have a problem with my eyesight not being good, so got the headset and magnifying glass and then saw that one pin had pulled out totally!
The drive is out of warranty, just checked again, and not too sure what exactly to do!
Will any 4 pin connector off any old drive fit, knew those 1gig ones would come in handy, or does it have to be same drive and same model?
Being a Radio Ham loads of mates to solder for me but any special things of note re. this?
Drive doesn't have anything really of use on it, it's just every Thursday a group of us gather round at my house and we use that drive to send pictures over Ham Radio, so would be a pain in neck this week for me setting another drive up!
Cheers for any answers.
Kevin.

[GoNz0]

yeh im sure if you solder off the broken one you will find the contacts to solder a spare to, it sounds like you know enough to get it running again

end of the day they all supply the same voltage, so long as you can connect all 4 up your laughing.

[g0lrk]

Yes thanks for answer just wondered about the type of solder, if it was leaded or the new un-leaded solder or even silver solder?
Also if anyone else has done this and can give me any pointers to anything I may miss and make a cock-up of?
Do the actual power sockets come off the hard drives, can't see enough to make out here if they do or don't, or do you have to 'butcher' them to fit? [Hmm do I need 4lb hammer out of cupboard or not!!].
Just trying to cover all bases.
Other than that once again cheers!
Kevin.

[peterb]

It will probably be lead free solder (to comply with RoHS regulations) but if you have a bit of the old lead based solder (which has a lower melting point) that will be fine. It won't be silver solder as that has a much higher melting point.

[GoNz0]

look at the board, you will see 1 or 2 places to remove the cables then you can drop the board off the drive and work on it

[Betty_Swallocks]

It should be fine. As peterb suggests if it does use a specific type of solder it will be for legal reasons rather than technical ones.
If you can get a replacement socket it will be much easier to replace rather than butchering the old one but I'm not sure where you could get one. I had a look on Maplin and they seem to stock the plug but not the surface mount socket. It might be worth dropping them an email.

[g0lrk]

Thank-you to everyone for the replies, will get it to my friends asap and let you know what happens from there on.
Cheers!
Kevin.

[peterb]

A lot depends on the age (and make) of the drive. Older drives tend to have a separate socket soldered to the board. Some newer ones have a common moulding (which includes the IDE interface socket, and replacing a pin on theat, while not impossible, would be harder - but you need to inspect the layout/design carefully. What happened to the pin that came off? Check it isn't wedged in the free plug.

[g0lrk]

Just back from my friends, job done!
peterb you are correct the drive is a complete moulding all the way through so changing just the socket is a no no.
He ended up having to make a new pin as the old pin got lost somewhere, not sure where probably on my floor but I can't see the darned thing!
So he made a new pin then used the glue gun, after making sure all the other pins were tight and good solder joints.
Basically 'glugged' on top of them with the glue gun to make sure that they stay were they are with a small plastic piece on top of the 4 solder joints. [Don't know why?]
He tells me he's seen this 3 times in about 10 years, so not common, no idea why or what really.
Thanks for the input folks.
Kevin.