hard drive docks - question about power supply?

[dapitts08]

does anyone know of a hard drive docking station that doesn't require an external power source?

i have looked around and haven't found one.


does this not exist?

i need a new external for my mac mini and was thinking about going this route but i also what the option of it being portable without have to purchase an enclosure too.

 

[simsaladimbamba]

Since HDD docks also take 3.5" HDD, there will always be a need for a power supply.
Either get a 2.5" HDD in an enclosure with USB 3.0 (cheapest option) or an enclosure and HDD.

 

[dapitts08]

Since HDD docks also take 3.5" HDD, there will always be a need for a power supply.
Either get a 2.5" HDD in an enclosure with USB 3.0 (cheapest option) or an enclosure and HDD.

thanks. i figured there was a reason i couldn't find one :/

 

[philipma1957]

thanks. i figured there was a reason i couldn't find one :/

you can cheat with this wire

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPMPWR12VF8/

and this dock

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3S3HDOB/

YOU MUST ONLY USE A 2.5 INCH DRIVE TO CHEAT WITH NOT A 3.5 INCH THE FIREWIRE CABLE WILL NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER FOR A 3.5.

THIS IS GHETTO OR WHITE TRASH OR RED NECK METHOD.

I DON'T ADVISE YOU TO DO IT. Not as bad as a penny in the fuse box.

 

[dapitts08]

you can cheat with this wire

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEPMPWR12VF8/

and this dock

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3S3HDOB/

why don't you advise it? can it mess up the drive?

the drive would have stuff on it that will be backed up but it is still important stufff that i would rather not add extra chance of it being corrupted.

right now it is all on this drive:

http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-All-Terrain-FireWire-Portable-301924/dp/B003SO4F38

since i have the mini now i want to get a drive with usb 3.0 and use the old drive as the back up.

 

[philipma1957]

why don't you advise it? can it mess up the drive?

the drive would have stuff on it that will be backed up but it is still important stufff that i would rather not add extra chance of it being corrupted.

right now it is all on this drive:

http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-All-Terrain-FireWire-Portable-301924/dp/B003SO4F38

since i have the mini now i want to get a drive with usb 3.0 and use the old drive as the back up.

this would be more reliable

http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged-...1366158484&sr=8-1&keywords=rugged+thunderbolt

it comes with a thunderbolt cable and a usb3 cable. docks are iffy and the fw800 power wire setup would be about a 1 amp power supply the docks full power supply is 3 amps so forgetting and putting in a 3.5 inch drive will over tax the setup. the thunderbolt from lacie is pretty good. you can even get a different sleeve color

http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Sleeves...1-1-fkmr0&keywords=rugged+thunderbolt+sleeves

 

[dapitts08]

this would be more reliable

http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Rugged-...1366158484&sr=8-1&keywords=rugged+thunderbolt

it comes with a thunderbolt cable and a usb3 cable. docks are iffy and the fw800 power wire setup would be about a 1 amp power supply the docks full power supply is 3 amps so forgetting and putting in a 3.5 inch drive will over tax the setup. the thunderbolt from lacie is pretty good. you can even get a different sleeve color


http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Sleeves...1-1-fkmr0&keywords=rugged+thunderbolt+sleeves

so having a 2.5 in there would be fine? the only time i would be using it with out cable is if i was traveling with my macbook pro. so it wouldn't be an everyday setup but i would like the option.

as for the thunderbolt lacie .... not really trying to pay a premium for thunderbolt when i just need usb 3.0 for my mini and firewire 800 for when i travel with my macbook pro

by the time i buy a new macbook pro i will likely be swapping this one out for whatever is better at that time and using this as the back up as i am doing now.

but thanks ... you ALWAYS give me helpful advice and i appreciate it.

 

[philipma1957]

I have gotten away with a usb2 dock and the firewire cable and I have used the firewire power cable to run a raid0 esata 2x 2.5 inch case
________________________________________________
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MEQMH0GBK/

this worked with a firewire power cable and a esata jack

__________________________________________________
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thermaltake...093?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4164e8846d

this worked with a firewire power cable and a usb2 .

both cases I used 2.5 inch drives.

I am not perfectly sure about the usb3 as I have done the above but not the usb3 dock.

 

[Fishrrman]

USB3 docks all come with power adapters.

This is pretty much a "fact of life".

As noted above, you might be able to "cheat" with a particular drive and a particular dock.

But really, the answer to the original poster's question is:
"No. You're NOT going to find an external USB/SATA dock without an external power supply."