HDD GURU FORUMS

Hi guys, got this one in...when put into adapter nothing happens and adapter is not recognized by system, adapter alone is recognized...so some kind of short is it.
I have a good drive to cross-check with and all power measure looks ok, in the picture the voltage is the same on both working and non working drive.
The chip close to connector is:
7MAE
913

The other half way up is:
CAT
06W
ZH7D

Thanks for looking

Why are you powering a 3.3V SSD from a 5V adapter?


MP5003EQ, Monolithic Power, 3.3V, 1A-3A Programmable Current Limit Switch with Auto Enable, QFN10, marking 7M:
https://www.monolithicpower.com/DesktopModules/DocumentManage/API/Document/GetDocument?id=1407

TPS62410, Texas Instruments, 2.25MHZ 2x800mA Dual Step-Down Converter with 1-Wire Interface, Vin = 2.5V - 6V, QFN10, marking CAT:
http://www.ti.com/lit/gpn/tps62410

The adapter is a proper Envoy from OWC and works fine with working ssd's.

mr_spokk wrote:The adapter is a proper Envoy from OWC and works fine with working ssd's.

No, it isn't "proper". Please STOP using it. The correct adapter would supply 3.3V via its own 3.3V LDO regulator. Your adapter is supplying 4.60V. That in itself says something about your "+5V" supply.

Please read the label of your client's SSD.


The only reason that your SSD is working with this adapter is that the MP5003EQ IC is protecting your client's data by limiting the output voltage to 4.04V. In doing so it is dissipating approximately 0.5W when it should be dissipating nothing.

Ok, I will check that out...thanks for pointing it out.
Then they sell adapters with wrong voltage, and thats scary.

Can you show us photos of your adapter's electronics? Is it powered from the USB port?

Yep it's powered by usb. I will be in at office by monday, will get it then.

mr_spokk wrote:Yep it's powered by usb.

USB 3.0 allows for a maximum current of 0.9A. ISTM that an appropriate adapter should be powered from its own supply rather than drawing current from a USB port.

The adapter that been used is this one from OWC, designed for that SSD:
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other%2 ... 1520105353

It's only USB 2.0 (20 - 30 MB/s) and ...

0GB for Apple MacBook Air 2010 & 2011 Flash Drive (SSD)

I'd be very keen to see inside. Something is not right.

Yep it's usb 2.0, I'm not in a hurry ...and the 0Gb means that it's just an empty enclosure...no ssd included.
I have used it for years on maby 100's jobs, and it has always does it job...make me clone the ssd.

Specifically made for 2010-2011 MacBook Air SSDs, but when adapter is removed, will work with any 2.5" SATA hard drive or SSD up to 2.2TB in capacity and up to 12.5mm in size.

eSATA/FireWire 800/USB 2.0 Assembly Manual, Model # OWCMEPM944Q1B, OWCMEPM934Q1B:
https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/manuals/OWCMANMEPMQ.pdf
https://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=/manuals/item/mercminial.html

ISTM that the enclosure and its bridge PCB are OK, but the internal adapter is faulty or inappropriate.

Here is an adapter with a 3.3V (?) LDO regulator:




You should have something like that inside your enclosure, preferably with a switchmode regulator rather than linear.

mr_spokk wrote:Yep it's usb 2.0, I'm not in a hurry :wink:

USB 2.0 has an 0.5A current limit. ISTM that you should invest in a DC adapter for the enclosure.

For the frustration I went into the office today and checked the ssd with another adapter...and the incoming power on the ssd was 3.29v...so no problem there.
There is no power problem on that ssd, "only" firmware corruption.

Thanks for looking

In another thread (?) someone posted the following "test points". Could they be shorting points for safe mode?

fzabkar wrote:In another thread (?) someone posted the following "test points". Could they be shorting points for safe mode?

Yes they are.

I've recovered this model with PC3K, but getting to safe mode is trickier than one would want.

Firmware fixed, and drive now cloning.

lcoughey wrote:I've recovered this model with PC3K, but getting to safe mode is trickier than one would want.

Yep, very true.