Recommended USB HD kits...??

[hizark21]

Recommended USB HD kits...??

Does anyone have any recommendations on which USB Kit has the best
shock mounting..?

 

[Arno Wagner]

Recommended USB HD kits...??

Does anyone have any recommendations on which USB Kit has the best
shock mounting..?

From my observations, none have any shock mounting at all.

Arno

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

Recommended USB HD kits...??

Does anyone have any recommendations on which USB Kit has the best
shock mounting..?

FatWallet.com has a big thread about them, entitled "The official
external ENCLOSURE thread":

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/28/496281/

I don't think any enclosures have shock mounts, but a lot of them have
poor ventilation (you may want to mount the drive 1/8" above the
bottom with plastic washers or spacers to fix that), and some have
internal power supplies that aren't UL listed and could be kind of
dangerous.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

larry moe 'n curly wrote in

FatWallet.com has a big thread about them, entitled "The official
external ENCLOSURE thread":

http://www.fatwallet.com/t/28/496281/

I don't think any enclosures have shock mounts,

Maybe because you are not supposed to throw them?
And when you (accidentally) throw them - no (reasonable)
amount of shock mount can save them.

but a lot of them have poor ventilation

(you may want to mount the drive 1/8" above the
bottom with plastic washers or spacers to fix that),

Won't help if no ventilation is available.
May even worsen the situation since you're adding more insulation.

 

[hizark21]

I am considering Sorbothane rubber washers or using Sorothane sheeting
on the outside as well. The question is if there will be enough
clearance for the washers.

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

larry moe 'n curly wrote in

Maybe because you are not supposed to throw them?

If we're supposed to throw computer equipment, why was Microsoft
Windows invented?

 

[Arno Wagner]

Folkert Rienstra wrote:

If we're supposed to throw computer equipment, why was Microsoft
Windows invented?

"Created", please. There was no inventing involved.

Side note: Did you know that the "blue screen of death" is
blue, because researchers found that blue has a calming effect?

Arno

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

"Created", please. There was no inventing involved.

Side note: Did you know that the "blue screen of death" is
blue, because researchers found that blue has a calming effect?

That's true. It causes me to shoot the monitor screen with just my .
22 instead of my .44 Magnum.

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I am considering Sorbothane rubber washers or using Sorothane sheeting
on the outside as well. The question is if there will be enough
clearance for the washers.

The washers should fit fine, but to prevent the screws from vibrating
loose, use either those screws with smooth shanks that are a lot
larger in diameter than the threaded portion, or apply weak Loctite to
the threads of regular screws

From Wikipedia:

"The feel and damping qualities of Sorbothane have been likened to
those of meat."

Has anybody tried replacing worn engine mounts with sirloin?

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

larry moe 'n curly wrote in

The washers should fit fine,

Pity washers won't help.
For this you need either (sorbothane) grommets or studs.
In order to reduce shock the drive must be able to move in all planes.
Grommets need much bigger holes, studs require some extra height.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

larry moe 'n curly wrote in

If we're supposed to throw computer equipment, why was Microsoft
Windows invented?

Presumably you meant "If we're *not* supposed to throw
computer equipment, why was Microsoft Windows invented"

 

[Rod Speed]

The washers should fit fine, but to prevent the screws from vibrating
loose, use either those screws with smooth shanks that are a lot
larger in diameter than the threaded portion, or apply weak Loctite to
the threads of regular screws

From Wikipedia:

"The feel and damping qualities of Sorbothane have been likened to
those of meat."

Has anybody tried replacing worn engine mounts with sirloin?

Yes, but they didnt work too well after the dog had at them.

 

[Backspace]

I am considering Sorbothane rubber washers or using Sorothane sheeting
on the outside as well. The question is if there will be enough
clearance for the washers.

Why are you so concerned about heat? USB external HDD's are meant for
data backup and not to be left on all the time so heat is really a
non-issue. If you want external HDD's that are left on all the time then
you should get one of those media servers for consumers they have out
now. I have 4 external HDD's, three are in cheap aluminum NGear USB
cases that I put together myself and the fourth is a store bought
Comstar 1TB model that does have a rear ventilation fan. None have had
issues with heat but the Comstar is the only one I leave on for extended
periods because it is where I store my MP3 collection. Here's the one I
am talking about that may suite your purpose.

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/pr...angid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10091162&catid=23795

In the specs it says "remarkably quiet". It's fairly quiet at first but
the fan must be thermally controlled because one it has been on for a
while the fan gets noisier. They make a 2TB model too.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Why are you so concerned about heat? USB external HDD's are meant for
data backup and not to be left on all the time so heat is really a
non-issue.

Dead wrong (pun intended).

a) Why do you assume they are only for backup? There is no evidence to
back that assumption up.
b) They are often let on all the time and even a backup may take
long enough to heat the disk up to extreme temperatures.

If you want external HDD's that are left on all the time then
you should get one of those media servers for consumers they have out
now.

Nonsense. External HDDs are far easier to use and you need to
administrate only one computer. External HDDs are also far
cheaper.

I have 4 external HDD's, three are in cheap aluminum NGear USB
cases that I put together myself and the fourth is a store bought
Comstar 1TB model that does have a rear ventilation fan. None have had
issues with heat but the Comstar is the only one I leave on for extended
periods because it is where I store my MP3 collection.

Aha. So you assume everybody uses these things youst like you do.
I would suggest that your reality perception is badly skewed.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Arno Wagner wrote in news:[email protected]

 

[John Turco]

Dead wrong (pun intended).

<heavily edited for brevity>

Hello, Arno:

Sorry, disagree. My SimpleTech "SimpleDrive" external hard drive (160GB,
USB 2.0, 7,200 RPM, 3.5") contains a power switch, on its enclosure.
Hence, I only leave the disk running, fairly briefy (i.e., long enough
to back up new files, daily).

My old Micro Solutions "Backpack" external HDD (30GB, USB 1.1/parallel
port, 5,400 RPM, 3.5") was a different story, however. It had no
such switch, and its rotational speed was somewhat slower.

Besides, unlike the SimpleDrive, the Backpack would automatically spin
down, if it wasn't accessed within a relatively short period of time.

(Neither device has ever caused any problems, either.)


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>

 

[Arno Wagner]

<heavily edited for brevity>

Hello, Arno:

Sorry, disagree. My SimpleTech "SimpleDrive" external hard drive (160GB,
USB 2.0, 7,200 RPM, 3.5") contains a power switch, on its enclosure.
Hence, I only leave the disk running, fairly briefy (i.e., long enough
to back up new files, daily).

You disagree about my general statement, because specifically you
do something more sensible?

My old Micro Solutions "Backpack" external HDD (30GB, USB 1.1/parallel
port, 5,400 RPM, 3.5") was a different story, however. It had no
such switch, and its rotational speed was somewhat slower.

Besides, unlike the SimpleDrive, the Backpack would automatically spin
down, if it wasn't accessed within a relatively short period of time.

(Neither device has ever caused any problems, either.)

Well, a sample of two. That is not the way to evaluate reliability
of specific ways to operate some thing. No failure => Tells you
the failure rate is not astronomically high. Failure => Tells you
nothing.

Also I have evidence that not all enclosures do automatic spin-down,
since I happen to have 4 different models and not one of them does
spin-down. Of course these were all bought without drives, so there
may be some connection to that.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Arno Wagner wrote in news:[email protected]

You disagree about my general statement, because specifically you
do something more sensible?




Well, a sample of two. That is not the way to evaluate reliability
of specific ways to operate some thing.

No failure => Tells you the failure rate is not astronomically high.
Failure => Tells you nothing.

Well, there you have it. In a nutshell.

Also I have evidence that not all enclosures do automatic spin-down,

since I happen to have 4

Wow, a sample of 4. So much better than a sample of 2.

different models and not one of them does spin-down.

Of course these were all bought without drives, so there may be some
connection to that.

There you go, babblebot: no drive to spin down. You nailed it.

 

[John Turco]

Arno Wagner wrote in news:[email protected]

Hello, Arno:

The point is, why does the SimpleDrive feature an on/off switch, in the
first place? I believe it's to keep it from overheating.

Just offering an opposing view, nothing more.

Well, there you have it. In a nutshell.



Wow, a sample of 4. So much better than a sample of 2.



There you go, babblebot: no drive to spin down. You nailed it.

Hello, Folkert:

I couldn't reply to Arno's post, directly, because it never appeared
on my news server. (Oddly, the same thing has happened with >all< of
Timothy Daniels' messages, lately.)


Cordially,
John Turco <[email protected]>

 

[Arno Wagner]

<edited for brevity>

Hello, Arno:

The point is, why does the SimpleDrive feature an on/off switch, in the
first place? I believe it's to keep it from overheating.

Ah, that would make sense. It also is an indicator that coooing
is inadequate then.

Just offering an opposing view, nothing more.
Ok.

Well, I never claimed to have made a scientific study of the issue. <g>

True. I am just pointing that out. If you aready know that, fine.

That was not claimed or implied.

Wrong as allways. What I saitd was "there are drives that do not spin
down". A negative can never be demonstrated with a sample. A positive
can. But I guess thet is way beyond your mental capabilities....

Hello, Folkert:

I couldn't reply to Arno's post, directly, because it never appeared
on my news server. (Oddly, the same thing has happened with >all< of
Timothy Daniels' messages, lately.)

Strange. Maybe complain to your news-operator, since I post
via News.Individual.NET, which is pretty large.

Arno