HELP Hard Drive Molex Pin Broke!!!

[FXGuy3369]

One of the four power pins on my hard drive broke it is one of the ones that connects to a red wire? Is there anything I can do as a quick fix just to make it work? Is it safe to bridge it to the other red one?

 

[FXGuy3369]

Someone please, any advice?

 

[Jeffyboy]

that's a toughie... maybe try soldering another pin on there carefully...then quickly ghost it over to a new HD. How far did it break in? Flush?

that's my 25 cents worth..lol

Jeff

 

[FXGuy3369]

Yeah pretty much flush, I am going to try to get a solder gun in there I guess.......

 

[JimPhelpsMI]

Hi, The two center black wires are grounds (-voltage). The two outers are usuall Red=+5v and Yellow=+12v. DO NOT jumper them together! I have successfully installed another pin, held in with Super Glue, and connected with a short jumper. I have also made a new pin from a nail and used that. I have a lathe to resize the pin, but an electric drill and a file will also do. Jim

 

[corkyg]

Try Jim's suggestion. Soldering will not work - not enough area to create a bond.

 

[Zepper]

Luckily the 5V on a hard drive doesn't carry much current. A piece of heavy copper bus wire would work and solder more easily than a nail or other substitute. Why not call your drive mfr to see how much it would cost to repair that. That would be the best bet as it would retain any warranty you may still have. Any of these so-called "quick fixes" will void your warranty in a heartbeat. In the meantime, you could use a dual alligator clip bypass wire...
.bh.

:moon:

 

[Insidious]

Buy a new connector (newark.com or Digikey.com) then simply de-solder the old one and replace it.

-Sid

edit: Here is a link to it a digikey

edit: Here is a BETTER link where you don't have to buy 3000 of them... sry

 

[Zepper]

Most of the connectors on HDs these days are integrated with the IDE connector, jumper pins and power connector all in one shell. You'll play havoc trying to find one and you'd have to desolder/resolder all those pins - ugh... But it might be possible to cut the shell away and just remove the power pins. That would be the best a "civilian" could do. While the mfr. could just swap PCBs, connectors and all...
.bh.

:moon:

 

[Insidious]

Zepper, you are right about it requiring some savvy to replace the connector.

I was thinking separate the power portion of the integrated connector with an exacto knife (it is soft plastic) then it would be a very simple connector swap and cost about $1 for a permanent (and reliable) solution.

I was going with the "more options => better final choice" thingy

:beer:

-Sid

 

[FXGuy3369]

Well I took it to a friend who builds micrchips for IBM he soldered a new molex pin end onto the hard drive on the bottom where the exposed computer chip area is. The solder bonds are solid, and well I am using the computer now to type this