[DM-MUG] Electrical Q ref external harddrives

[Matthew Nuzum]

On Wed, Apr 22, 2009 at 8:18 AM, Victoria L. Herring <VLH at herringlaw.com> wrote:
> I have 50G Western Dig. drive that is allegedly self USB powered but
> maybe not enough from a laptop usb port  [it does work off my MacPro
> but not laptop] = it does have a port for power adapter and notes I
> have on it says "needs AC 100-240vac, 50-60hz, .3AMax, 24VA-31VA, DC
> output 5Vdc = 2A"
>
> Radio Shack had one for $25 which sounded nuts to me, but what do I
> know.  Any ideas as to whether that's the best I would do?  Or other
> options?
>
> Anywhere else in town to get one cheaper?  I need to send this off to
> my daughter this week [in Chile] and her little MacBook probably
> won't pass thru enough power.

That's too expensive. Probably because the drive is saying it needs 2A
which is very very high. I suspect they've over specified it. (I
suspect this because it works on one of your computers and I really
doubt it's pumping 2A out it's USB port which is only rated for 0.5A -
aka 500ma)

Any place that sells electronic gadgets will likely have a universal
power adapter that can fit this. I've also seen usb cords that have
two connectors that plug into the PC so that it can use the power from
two ports.

-- 
Matthew Nuzum
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