Hi folks,
I have a working hard drive (1 TB WD) without a TVS diode D4. What could happen if I use this hard drive (only for some unimportant data) without a D4 overvoltage protection? Will the board be burnt or has the PSU itself a protection? I only want to sure that one of my PCs don't burn my room!

The TVS 's are there for a reason. I would strongly suggest you NOT to use an hdd like that.
It will not start a fire in your house (probably ) but i wouldn't do it for any reason.

Just bin the drive and use some other cheap drive if you want to store unimportant data on it.
Having said that, its your choice.

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you could buy a TVS diode & solder it on

12v diode
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/722663 ... -13-f.html

5v diode
http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/722050 ... -13-f.html

The fact that you are even asking the question should raise concerns.

If data is important dont put it at risk. Simple.

... but the data is unimportant

Then you can use it, but expect it to die easily if your power is not 100%.

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Thank you! I should really think about to do it right and replace this diode.

For example when there's a thunderstorm and produces failues in the power? I ask about that especially because we had a DSL-Modem that was broken because of that.

Yes, a surge or something similar. The TVS diode will sacrifice itself in order to save the rest of the drive. Without it there is no protection and this surge will destroy the components of your hard drive. Or even if your power supply is faulty it could have the same outcome.

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I fail to see why anybody would use a potentially unreliable HDD for storing data. Even if the data is not important a HDD failure can be at the very least a pain when you consider re-installing OS, reloading data, replacement of media...etc

I just dont get it...

Ignorance is bliss to some

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That a typical reaction from other persons when someone asks a
Once more: The data is unimportant, and even the whole hard disk is no system partition.

I'm not ignorant in this case, I only want to know what happend when I not replace the diode. Not more and not less was my initial intent to start this post.

@Nick_CT: I just hate it when you and (in general other users) say I'm ignorant hance.

I even wrote that:


So, please read first and post them.

(@Nick_CT: Some time I don't understand ironic, please be careful with me )

I was not saying you were ignorant, as you had mentioned you wanted to replace to diode and not store important data. I was saying that ignorance is bliss "to some people". People here are only trying to help.

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Nick wasn't attacking you.

"Ignorance is bliss" is an adage that doesn't necessarily have a derogatory meaning. It just means that if you're not aware of a potential problem, then you won't be worried by it.

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It was bruend once and removed. If you want to use it again this is your choice on this one. But next time it can burn the preamp on it. You would be better off to find another pcb board and move your ROM over and go from there. I would not replace the TVS or even trust it at all. It could of burned for reasons of a person plugging in the wrong power supply or a number of other reason unknown. But to keep using it is a risk and personally I would not take this one even if your data is unimportant as you say. Buy a new PCB and move over your ROM and store your unimportant data on it. Or if you feel really lucky use it as it is.

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@fzabkar: OK, thanks. This was my misunerstanding, it's hard for a non-native english-speaking guy to understand that. So, I am aware of this potential problem

@poehere:

This person can only be myself, but I think I find the right S-ATA power, because there are only one kind of S-ATA power-cables, because it's no external HDD, simply inside a tinny box with a power source and a funny more little box were you can put strange round plastic plates inside.