ZIP Drive Connectors

Hi everyone,

I had a ZIP 250 Drive in my MPC 2000XL.
I wanted to backup all my beats from the ZIP dics.
I have a USB powered harddisc case which has IDE Connectors Inside.
I plugged the internal ZIP drive into the case (the IDE 40pin and the Power Cable)
It was getting hot and start smelling. My internal ZIP drive is broken now...
I recognized that inside the MPC the Power Cable has only two pins (red and black)
But the Harddisc Drive has 4 pins.
I think that was the reason...
Do you guys know why inside the MPC only two of the 4 pins are used?

http://www.talktoanit.com/A%2B/aplus-we ... cables.jpg

Is it like on this picture and my ZIP drive got just to mmuch Voltage?

Thanks
16bitbanger

I'm no expert, but my guess is that an external drive needs more power than an internal drive. Maybe? So perhaps you fed 12v into a 5v device and this is the result. You should have just bought a USB Zip drive for back-up purposes, they're cheap enough.

Regardless, if you're unsure about electrical stuff, ask first and if in any doubt, dont do it!

Most modern floppy drives, card readers, hard drives, and some Zip drives, only need 5V power and it's ground connected, they don't always need the 12V and other ground connected to operate.

It depends on the device itself, as to whether it needs both 5V and 12V DC power connected to operate, you have to look at the labeling on the device, or check the specs for the exact model, to know for sure.

If it was working in the MPC with only the 5V DC power connected, then it doesn't need the 12V DC connected, that is why it only had 2 wires attached, instead of all 4. It might have been supplied from Akai like that, if it is a factory supplied Zip drive, or it might have had the smaller Berg floppy power connector changed over to the larger Molex hard drive power connector, if it was supplied with a floppy drive from the factory.

The external case should have all four wires connected, to support hard drives and/or other devices that need both 5V and 12V DC power.

As long as the 4 pin Molex power connector in the external case is wired up/connected properly, it should provide 5V/grounds/12V to the correct pins on the drive, and the drive should work properly. The 12V power line should not be connected to anything within the drive if it doesn't use it, and having the 12V power connected should not damage it.

Hi,
I was just plugging in all 4 pins which was a bad mistake...
Thanks for the Help!

If the 4 pins are wired correctly, 5V/grounds/12V on the correct pins, it shouldn't be a mistake, the Zip drive should ignore the 12V if it doesn't use it.

It was a new Box with new cables... i think the cable was correct. I think the ZIP Drive was not able to ignore it...

I doubt it.

They are designed to be installed into computers. Computer power connectors have the 12V DC power line connected as standard.

It should handle it OK, the 12V line would just not be connected to anything inside the Zip drive.

I think there was something else wrong.

Have you tried the Zip drive in the MPC again, to see if it still works?

Maybe it was a problem with the USB case?

What model is the Zip drive, as shown on the label on the top of the Zip drive itself?

Its a Imoga ZIP250 +5V 0.8A
Yes i hav tried to use it with the mpc again. its not working anymore, the inductor was getting very hot, the plastic melted over it i can still smell it

I can smell it from here.

16bitbanger wrote:Its a Imoga ZIP250 +5V 0.8A
Yes i hav tried to use it with the mpc again. its not working anymore, the inductor was getting very hot, the plastic melted over it i can still smell it

The inductor?

Do you mean the power input socket on the Zip drive?

I mean that one on the picture. not shure if I used the right word...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mkmgqiyhgf4lt ... 225018.jpg
https://www.dropbox.com/s/89ao7fewythr8 ... 225030.jpg

OK, that is not an inductor, it is a solenoid, the eject solenoid, it is used to eject the Zip disc.

Strange that it overheated, if the connected power was wired up properly.

I would have thought that a computer drive would handle standard power from internal computer power connectors without a problem.