How many hdd drives can be safely placed on a chain of power connectors?

[Ken]

Just out of curiosity, how many hdd drives can be daisy-chained to a
Molex power connector using y-connectors? What kind of power can be run
through the size wire used on the power supply connectors?

Thanks
Ken

 

[Rod Speed]

Just out of curiosity, how many hdd drives can be daisy-chained to a Molex power connector using
y-connectors?

There is no nice tidy number. The short story is that an extra molex pair
is fine with modern drives but its undesirable to get too carried away.

What kind of power can be run through the size wire used on the power supply connectors?

It isnt the wire that limits the current, its the molex pins.

 

[Ken]

Rod Speed said the following on 12/31/2006 2:42 PM:

There is no nice tidy number. The short story is that an extra molex pair
is fine with modern drives but its undesirable to get too carried away.


It isnt the wire that limits the current, its the molex pins.

Ah--hah! Thanks

 

[bob]

There is no nice tidy number. The short story is that an extra molex pair
is fine with modern drives but its undesirable to get too carried away.

Using Winxp SP2, isn't the limit 26? A-Z

 

[ShazWozza]

Using Winxp SP2, isn't the limit 26? A-Z

The issue has nothing to do with the maximum number of logical drives. It is
an electrical distribution problem. Eventually you will have insufficient
voltage for the load because each connector introduces a small resistance
into the line.

 

[Rod Speed]

Using Winxp SP2, isn't the limit 26? A-Z

No, its normally limited by what the controller can do well before that.

And even with addon controllers, by the number of free PCI slots etc.