NOTE : I might be wrong about the chip I removed being a TVS. It is a chip meant for reverse polarity protection. So read the rest assuming that I'm talking about that sort of diode/tvs/imconfused

I burned my HDD's TVS when I plugged in the enclosure's power cable the wrong way [it's the circle plug with 4 pin, darnit]

Since my enclosure is a media enclosure that I use to play TV shows and movies on my television, it has no valuable data.

Right now, it's running without a TVS, but I don't know what are the real risks.

I understand that if you have valuable data, no TVS means next surge = less chances of recovery

but, what I want to know is if a TVS is only used to "fry" when there's a surge. Basically, is it possible that the TVS protected my HDD in the past without frying?

Because if the TVS only protects my HDD by frying, then I know there's very little risk my HDD will die in the future [since the reason is fried in the first place was a mistake that will not happen again]

But if my HDD is now exposed to all sorts of little surges that happen regularly, then I'd like to know.

And if that is the case, then what's the typical specs of a TVS? I don't have access to a broken HDD with an available TVS.
There's a electronics component store within driving distance that sells all sort of capacitors, resistors, diodes, so I could just go there and buy something close enough to protect my HDD from those little surges that happen regularly.

I already searched this forum, but most[if not all] threads suggest to simply backup the data and throw away the PCB [or hard drive].
Again I repeat : No valuable data on the HDD. I just don't want to have to spend money on a new drive if my current one can work for an extended period of time.



HDD : Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 320GB IDE


Thanks for the info

Weird, I cant edit anymore

I noticed the ">" symbol on the PCB board where the chip was located.
So, this was a unidirectional TVS diode.

Would be nice if someone could link me to an ebay listing for a TVS diode that would work "in general".

Can you post macro mode photo of pcb?

With a jewler's loupe, I could read the chip like this:





I rechecked what caused the chip to fry. When I reversed the plug by mistake, it made the 12v go in the 5v and the 5v go in the 12v.

So I'm guessing/assuming that this is the 5v TVS that fried, since it received 12v of current. The 12v TVS most likely is the chip next to it, that didn't fry, since it only received 5v.