Power supply I've mixed up my power supplies. What is the correct one to use for the Hitachi 500 GB External Drive?

The USB port powers the hard drive. It has no external power just the USB connector to the computer.

The correct adapter is 12V 1.5A, 500 mA will not be enough current for the drive.

The external storage device has several major components:

* USB cable

* external power-supply (your "mini" device may not need one)

* disk-drive inside the enclosure

* USB-to-disk-drive adapter inside the enclosure.

Try a different USB cable.
Try a different USB port on your computer.
Try a USB port on a different computer.

Take a multi-meter, and measure the output voltage/amperage of the power-supply,
and compare with the specifications on the label of the power-supply.

Open the enclosure, and remove the disk-drive, and attach it as a "slave" drive in a desktop computer, to see if bypassing the USB-to-disk-drive adapter bypasses the problem.

Look at the label on the disk-drive, for manufacturer, product-number, serial-number, and manufacture date. Access the manufacturer's web-site, and use "check warranty status" to see if the warranty still is valid. If so, the drive can be replaced, at minimal cost to you.

Buy a new, compatible, disk-drive, and install it in the enclosure, to "revive" your external storage device.

Search online for a professional "data recovery service". For a significant fee, they can repair your disk-drive, just long-enough to copy your files to a new disk-drive.

if it's 6 months old, you should be still having warranty, suggest you take it back to where you bought it from.

Output voltage is 12 volts at 2 amps. 24 watts.
See if it looks like this,

http://cgi.ebay.com/12V-AC-Power-Adapter-For-Seagate-FreeAgent-Pro-drives_W0QQitemZ260396021307QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090419?IMSfp=TL090419153008r30934

Thank you for your reply.

I have solved the problem with local help.

Printed installation manual of Seagate 500 GB eSATA external hard drive has not properly mentioned how to use power on/off switch once connected to mains. I could get local help, who has already used the device. On/Off switch to be pressed for few seconds after mains connected, sometimes it comes automatically once power is on and USB cable pluged to the USB port of PC if power supply is ok. There is no indicator for the power supply (before device glows) after connected to the mains. I was in confusion whether power supply is ok or not.

Finally, It was found that the problem was with mains power supply and I have changed the power socket and adapter.

SP Jena

The PSU for my Maxtor 500Gb 9NZ2A4-500 drive is 12V DC, 2A rating, 2.1mm "plug" with centre "hole" as positive.

Regards, kbsguru

Is 12VDC 2,0A the inner pin is + and the outer pin is -

500Gb Lacie D2 Quadra with the same problem of flashing led and not mounting on the desktop (Mac G4 Mirror), traced to the power supply (57w) going down on power, both 12v and 5v supplies are available but the main power to run the drive drops to below an adequate output, hence the clicking and whirring evident from the drive with simultaneous flashing led.

Testing with another Lacie power supply (250Gb D2) this time a 34w unit got the drive up and running, however, and this is the reason for this post, this lower power PSU failed a week later whilst waiting for a warranty replacement from Lacie (5 weeks and still waiting for the new PSU from them. they have no stock)

Message for all Lacie D2 users, check the power supplies first, test with another Lacie PSU, do not run the drive on a lower rating (34w) PSU it will fry it and leave you with another failed power supply.

If you are in a tight spot use the temporary power supply to move your data to another drive and get the correct 57w power supply before running the drive again.

Don't do as I did assume any Lacie power supply will run any Lacie hard drive, they won't, fortunately I had a second back up, but am 2 drives down and no new PSU's available to buy anywhere.

Try and purchase another spare 57w power supply, something all D2 users should do for long term security, as these do not seem to be very reliable and getting warranty support from Lacie on these is currently impossible.

The lack of 57w power supplies from Lacie and its distributors across the world is surely a warning to be noted!!!!!!

Buyers beware!

Get a new external carrier, new external drive, or find a power supply that puts out the same voltage and at least the same current. If you cannot find a power supply with the same connector you can cut the cables on the new power supply and the old one and splice the connector from the old power supply on.

BTW please try to put some more specific information when asking about a problem. The more info the easier it is to solve.