Why does it get hot?

[Sky]

I have a Hardrive that get's very hot and locks up after a time. It works ok
in another machine but not in mine. The 2 machines are virtually identical
ie:mainboards,cpu's and power supplies.

I have posted about this before and it was suggested that my power supply is
inadequate for the job.

What I would like to know is - If the power supply is not supplying enough
power would that explain why the HD is getting hot?
I would have thought that if there was not enough power it would just not
run properly (if at all) and rather than get hotter it would run cooler.
Wouldn't it get hotter if it was drawing too much power rather than being
supplied too little?
Cheers
Sky

 

[Privacy, please]

I have a Hardrive that get's very hot and locks up after a time. It works ok
in another machine but not in mine. The 2 machines are virtually identical
ie:mainboards,cpu's and power supplies.

Identical in cases and interior cable layout? Perhaps the HDD in box #1
isn't getting the same airflow?

 

[John Fields]

I have a Hardrive that get's very hot and locks up after a time. It works ok
in another machine but not in mine. The 2 machines are virtually identical
ie:mainboards,cpu's and power supplies.

I have posted about this before and it was suggested that my power supply is
inadequate for the job.

What I would like to know is - If the power supply is not supplying enough
power would that explain why the HD is getting hot?
I would have thought that if there was not enough power it would just not
run properly (if at all) and rather than get hotter it would run cooler.
Wouldn't it get hotter if it was drawing too much power rather than being
supplied too little?

 

[Sky]

works

Identical in cases and interior cable layout? Perhaps the HDD in box #1
isn't getting the same airflow?

I've used it with the case open and with a house fan right next to it and it
still gets hot. I also tried another HD (27Gb I think) and it also became
hotter than I would have expected in a short space of time and I took it off
before it could lock up. So the problem does seem to be with my system
somewhere.

 

[Jim Thompson]

Rather than speculate - get the multimeter - equipment
essential to hardware repair - and measure those voltages.
Chart of what to measure is in:
http://www.hardwaresite.net/faqpowersupply.html

Motors run hotter if you starve them of voltage. A motor
can be burned out if run on a feet hundred feet of extension
cord that is too small. Same concept. First get facts. Don't
speculate. Use that multimeter.

[snip]

HD motors are most likely EC (electronically-commutated) motors, so my
guess is the voltage is too *high*.

...Jim Thompson

 

[Sky]

I measured the voltages and and they showed 5v and 12v.

 

[Sky]

Rather than speculate - get the multimeter - equipment
essential to hardware repair - and measure those voltages.
Chart of what to measure is in:
http://www.hardwaresite.net/faqpowersupply.html

Motors run hotter if you starve them of voltage. A motor
can be burned out if run on a feet hundred feet of extension
cord that is too small. Same concept. First get facts. Don't
speculate. Use that multimeter.

I did measure the voltages and they showed 12v and 5v but I shall look at
the link you so kindly posted and find out if I was doing it properly.

 

[Sky]

Rather than speculate - get the multimeter - equipment
essential to hardware repair - and measure those voltages.
Chart of what to measure is in:
http://www.hardwaresite.net/faqpowersupply.html

Motors run hotter if you starve them of voltage. A motor
can be burned out if run on a feet hundred feet of extension
cord that is too small. Same concept. First get facts. Don't
speculate. Use that multimeter.

[snip]

HD motors are most likely EC (electronically-commutated) motors, so my
guess is the voltage is too *high*.

...Jim Thompson

I see. I am going to look at the link Tom posted and measure the voltages
again, I shall report back.
Cheers

 

[John Fields]

I measured the voltages and and they showed 5v and 12v.

Did you measure them under load?

That is, with the hard drive connected and operating.

 

[J. Yazel]

I did measure the voltages and they showed 12v and 5v but I shall look at
the link you so kindly posted and find out if I was doing it properly.
==========================

The plug has to be connected to the drive while the voltage is being
tested or the reading could be inaccurate.

But I suppose you already know that.

Easy way to that is with a "Y" connector.

Jack

 

[Sky]

Oh well, it's irrelevant now as I've sold the system and bought a new one
with a nice big HD. Yippee!

 

[Ross Mac]

Low Voltage usually = High Current = Heat.....
Swap the supply and see if the problem goes...Also check all the connectors
/ connections including the Mother Board which could have a cold solder
joint on the +5vdc.
Good Luck, Ross

 

[Sky]

Thanks for the reply Ross. I've actually sold the machine now but the person
who has it is aware of the situation. I will do as you advise though as it
would be nice to get to the bottom of the problem.

Cheers
Sky

 

[Ken]

I have a Hardrive that get's very hot and locks up after a time. It works ok
in another machine but not in mine. The 2 machines are virtually identical
ie:mainboards,cpu's and power supplies.

I have posted about this before and it was suggested that my power supply is
inadequate for the job.

What I would like to know is - If the power supply is not supplying enough
power would that explain why the HD is getting hot?
I would have thought that if there was not enough power it would just not
run properly (if at all) and rather than get hotter it would run cooler.
Wouldn't it get hotter if it was drawing too much power rather than being
supplied too little?

You need airflow!
http://w1.857.telia.com/~u85710476/docs/image/example/pcvent.png

 

[Arthur Jernberg]

First: Probable lack of cooling in your application, either relocate or
install additional cooling.
Second: improper voltages / current to hard drive, either voltage too high
or too low will cause problem.
Third: Physical mounting differences, twisting of case, etc when installing
physical hard drive.
Fourth: Any electrical motor will overheat if the supplied voltage / current
is too low. Motor is trying to operate at parameter settings but has not the
available supply of power to do so efficiently. Therefore the heat buildup.
This scenario is very effective in burning up electrical motors during
"brown-outs" of the electrical supply. Air Conditioners, fridges, furnace
motors, water pumps, etc all suffer from this so why should not your hard
drive?? Again, try another power supply in your system. Before removing
your original power supply check all the voltages developed by it with a
good DMM.

 

[Watson A.Name - Watt Sun, Dark Remover]

First: Probable lack of cooling in your application, either relocate or
install additional cooling.
Second: improper voltages / current to hard drive, either voltage too high
or too low will cause problem.
Third: Physical mounting differences, twisting of case, etc when installing
physical hard drive.
Fourth: Any electrical motor will overheat if the supplied voltage / current
is too low. Motor is trying to operate at parameter settings but has not the
available supply of power to do so efficiently. Therefore the heat buildup.
This scenario is very effective in burning up electrical motors during
"brown-outs" of the electrical supply. Air Conditioners, fridges, furnace
motors, water pumps, etc all suffer from this so why should not your hard
drive??

The hard drive does not work like an AC motor. It is a DC motor, as
is the power supplied to the HD. This power is regulated, and if the
voltages fall out of regulation, there is something major wrong with
the power supply. So the word brown-out doesn't apply.

The most likely reason for overheating is lack of ventilation. Fix
the fans!

Again, try another power supply in your system. Before removing
your original power supply check all the voltages developed by it with a
good DMM.

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[DarkMatter]

I've used it with the case open and with a house fan right next to it and it
still gets hot. I also tried another HD (27Gb I think) and it also became
hotter than I would have expected in a short space of time and I took it off
before it could lock up. So the problem does seem to be with my system
somewhere.

If the systems are otherwise identical, I would simply replace your
power supply with a dual fan job, and be done with it.

 

[DarkMatter]

Oh well, it's irrelevant now as I've sold the system and bought a new one
with a nice big HD. Yippee!

Hahahah funny. Throw money at it.

Hell, throw money at us...

 

[Arthur Jernberg]

$ to D.M. NO WAY!!!

Hahahah funny. Throw money at it.

Hell, throw money at us...