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Author Topic: Hard disk in car question  (Read 6349 times)

Offline leegt5

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Hard disk in car question
« on: 24 November 2007, 17:29 »
Thinking about doing this...

Say I was to buy this External Hard disk that is powered off the USB from your computer:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=217918&TabID=1&source=1&doy=24m11

And buy this head unit with a USB input..

http://www.incarexpress.co.uk/view_product.php?partno=KDCW7537U

Would the head unit supply sufficient power from its USB input to power the hard disk, and would the headunit be able to read such a large volume as you'd normally only put maybe a USB stick into it !!

LEE
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Offline Dec

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #1 on: 24 November 2007, 17:31 »
thats a well good idea! ive got one of those hdds laying around so could be worth getting a usb hu to try it :undecided:
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Offline leegt5

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #2 on: 24 November 2007, 17:35 »
Quote from: Dec MK2 on 24 November 2007, 17:31
thats a well good idea! ive got one of those hdds laying around so could be worth getting a usb hu to try it :undecided:

I know I cant believe I never thought of it before, I was reading a review on ebuyer on a Hard Disk and some said they was using one in their car, don't know if thats what they meant though !!
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Offline Mikester

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #3 on: 24 November 2007, 18:24 »
Well, from my usb memory stick the head unit does get confuesed sometimes with only 200 songs. A harddrive needs more power than a memory stick, as its not flash memory its a disc being written onto, Normally a external HDD has a powersupply to power in the wall as far as the ones i have. So to be honest, im not sure if it would work, and if it did, you would want to have the top dollar head unit or i think it would just get confused and lagg. Plus im not sure it could power it, unless it only runs of the usb, and not another poer supply. But then when u are transfering songs, power will be less, and well

I just dont know but i wouldnt advise it. lol
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Offline Mikester

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #4 on: 24 November 2007, 18:25 »
Also you need to get a shock proof laptop hard drive, otherwise speed bums will break the disc. lol
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Offline Mikester

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #5 on: 24 November 2007, 18:25 »
And it needs to be in a cooled area, eg not a sealed glove box.
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Offline Dec

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #6 on: 24 November 2007, 18:34 »
Quote from: Mikester on 24 November 2007, 18:24
Well, from my usb memory stick the head unit does get confuesed sometimes with only 200 songs. A harddrive needs more power than a memory stick, as its not flash memory its a disc being written onto, Normally a external HDD has a powersupply to power in the wall as far as the ones i have. So to be honest, im not sure if it would work, and if it did, you would want to have the top dollar head unit or i think it would just get confused and lagg. Plus im not sure it could power it, unless it only runs of the usb, and not another poer supply. But then when u are transfering songs, power will be less, and well

I just dont know but i wouldnt advise it. lol

your thinking of desktop hdds but a 2.5" portable does not need cooling or external power
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Offline leegt5

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #7 on: 24 November 2007, 20:35 »
Found out all desk top pc's usb ports have a voltage of 5v so if that Hard disk can run off a pcs 5v supply then if the head unit usb output will supply 5v, and will allow the hard disk to pull the current it needs,in theory it should work and the head unit can read an 80g hard disk !
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Offline Dec

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #8 on: 24 November 2007, 20:37 »
Quote from: leegt5 on 24 November 2007, 20:35
Found out all desk top pc's usb ports have a voltage of 5v so if that Hard disk can run off a pcs 5v supply then if the head unit usb output will supply 5v, and will allow the hard disk to pull the current it needs,in theory it should work and the head unit can read an 80g hard disk !

that would be absolutely amazing. Might have to wait and save for a decent head unit rather than waiting til next week to get a £60 cheapo one!
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Offline BSCR

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Re: Hard disk in car question
« Reply #9 on: 24 November 2007, 20:39 »
im not 100% on this its just my $0.02

first of all i like the idea, iv got some rather extravagant ideas on a similar line.

Even if you did need powering from it, you could run say an external HD from an inverter? upto 500GB? more if ur really desperate for space! that would solve the need for power.

however a friend of mine had trouble with those USB stick HU as some USB sticks didnt work and it just couldnt read it, something todo with software clashes from the HU and the external device

also the flash unit wont require too much power to run it whereas a HD would?

another consideration would be to buy a large memory stick. 8GB? thats a fair amount of tunage?
http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?CSR-MS8GB

16GB will also be available soon ish

so yeh thats my thoughts
 :smiley:
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