External HD - Best Practice?

**joesan** · 06-15-2007, 05:18 AM

As mentioned elsewhere I am running an external HD (contains my Losslessly ripped CD library for iTunes) in tandem with my Mini. The HD is in an external enclosure and is 12v powered since it is a 3.5" disk.

At the moment I am manually switching the HD on and off as required using the power switch on the HD enclosure.

Is there a safe way to integrate the power switching of the HD with the Mac Mini switching i.e when the Mac sleeps the hard drive turns off also? I am powering the HD wired in parallel with the Screen power output from my P2140.

**blown_mx5** · 06-16-2007, 01:41 AM

here's one option
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/ministack/

auto power off, but supplying power for it is another thing. it looks like a standard power brick and the connector looks like one of the ones carnetix sells for their power integration kits, for the xenarc I think.

**joesan** · 06-16-2007, 08:16 AM

Nice find - looks good and it is a nice match to the Mini too. The power is not a problem as I have worked out how to supply it via the Carnetix Screen connection (See my post elsewhere in this forum).

The other option I am considering is the Western Digital My Book...

**kandyman676** · 06-18-2007, 11:40 PM

You could go to a 2.5" laptop harddrive...they can easily be USB powered and can stand the more harsh environment of a automobile. Otherwise, you are kind of stuck relying on clean 12v power from one of your computer devices or inverter.

**joesan** · 06-19-2007, 05:11 AM

Kandyman - I considered a 2.5" drive for the reasons you mentioned but the problem is that they are too low in capacity. I have about 500Gb of tunes because I ripped my Cds full-fat at native bit rates. I am looking at buying a 500Gb drive because this doubles as a mobile back-up of my music so it becomes quite cost effective.

I don't have a problem with the power since I have spliced out in parallel with the screen output of the P2140. If the 2.5" drives were big enough I agree that would be the way to go though.