m1-atx: no hd power

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 03:05 AM

I finally got around to installing my carputer and now it looks like my m1-atx psu isn't working right.

I made all the connections and when I start the car, the motherboard powers up but the harddrive does not. I connected a regular atx psu and it worked fine. I looked at the m1 and everything looks fine (nothing melted,no burnt fuse, etc.). Then I tried different jumper settings and that did nothing.

I don't know what else to try, so if any of you have ideas, I would love to hear some. I am just about ready to break the m1 into little tiny pieces just for fun.

Also, I found this thread but I didn't find it very helpful because at the end neon_eddy says he fixed it by getting a new "power trench thingy", which I have no idea what he is talking about.

Thanks,

steve

kyrenia · 03-06-2005, 11:45 AM

try using a volt meter on the hard drive connector to measure the m1-atx output red = +5 , yellow = +12 black 0v. the voltge levels must be ok on the mother board connector for it to boot. might be a cable problem . try measuring the resistance between the hard drive wires and the motherboard wires . should be 0 ohms ( shorted)

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 05:06 PM

I bought a volt meter and tested everything. All my connections seem to be working perfectly. The +5 and +12 on the molex hd connector measured perfect. Then I tested the resistance and it was about 2 ohms, is this bad?

Also I didn't test 20-pin motherboard connection, should I?

I don't think it is a cable problem because the power output is fine, so the psu connections look good. I connected a regular atx psu and everything worked fine including the hd, so its not any cables for the comp.

I feel like I've tried everything, is there anything else I can try/test?

rando · 03-06-2005, 05:39 PM

What are the voltages on the 4pin molex when it's plugged into the hard disk (i.e. under load)?

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by rando

What are the voltages on the 4pin molex when it's plugged into the hard disk (i.e. under load)?

I'm sorry I'm pretty new to this. How do I check the voltage while it is connected. Should I cut the covering and check?

rando · 03-06-2005, 06:57 PM

you should be able to touch the pin contacts from the back side of the connector.

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 08:04 PM

Ok, I did what you said and tested the harddrive power while it was running. First I connected the meter and then I turned the comp on. So as soon as I booted the comp the meter went from 0v to 12v right away, and the same with the 5v.

Does the motherboard control how the hd is turned on or is it the psu?

This is very confusing because I figured if the hd has power then it should turn on.

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 08:47 PM

Alright, I just took some pics of my setup. Maybe if you see my connections it will help you see what I looking at. I tried getting some good pics of the m1-atx but with my setup it is kinda hard to see, mainly because the motherboard is on top of it.

http://geocities.com/carputerion/

blasterguy128 · 03-06-2005, 09:54 PM

Oh and I forgot to mention that I am pretty sure I'm not overloading the psu because I have disconnected everything except for the mobo and the hd.

Epia V 1ghz mobo
3.5" 30gig hd

One thing I was thinking about was that I spliced into the remote turn on for my amp and ran an 18 guage wire from it, to the switched power on the m1. Could this be causing a problem?

Other than that I have just ran straight 10 guage wiring from the car battery to the m1-atx.

drait · 03-07-2005, 12:16 PM

When I first put together my CarPC it was doing the exact same thing as yours (no HD power). Turns out it was a bad IDE cable. Probably not an issue on yours though, since it works fine w/ a regular PSU.

Have you checked your car battery to make sure it's providing at least 12V? The M1 should still work up until it drops to 11V, but if it's close it might be wigging out. The smaller gauge ignition wire shouldn't affect it too much, since it doesn't draw its power from that line (or at least shouldn't).

rando · 03-07-2005, 04:56 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by blasterguy128

Ok, I did what you said and tested the harddrive power while it was running. First I connected the meter and then I turned the comp on. So as soon as I booted the comp the meter went from 0v to 12v right away, and the same with the 5v.

Does the motherboard control how the hd is turned on or is it the psu?

This is very confusing because I figured if the hd has power then it should turn on.

If you measured +5V and +12V right at the HD power connector, it should come on. Pull the IDE cable and recheck -- it should power up. If not, then you HD is defective or something is shorting out its conntroller when mounted

When you powered it with a standard PSU, Was it installed just like in the pictures, or did you remove it and use a different mounting/cables? Also I can't tell from the pictures, is that a 3.5" or 2.5" drive? If 2.5", check your adapter too.

blasterguy128 · 03-07-2005, 05:51 PM

Ok, I took off the ide cable and still nothing. So I grabbed a few ide cables and a brand new 80gig hd that I had. I first tried switching the ide's and still nothing. But then I tried the new hd. When I turned on the motherboard it started to make a consecutive sound every 2 sec or so. It almost sounded like it was gonna start but then lost power, and then it kept trying every 2 sec. So I immediatly thought its gotta be losing power. I took out the volt meter and checked the +12. Everytime the hd made the noise the voltage went from +12 to +11 and then back up. I checked the +5 and it stayed steady the whole time.

Im going to test the voltage coming from the battery now. :I checked and it has a solid +12v, the needle didn't move when I turned on the mobo.

If I get a new m1-atx, do you think it will solve the problem or do you think it is something other than the psu?

Change · 03-07-2005, 07:11 PM

Sounds like the power supply is producing insufficient power for all your devices. Check the hard drive specifications and the specs of all the other devices attached and add up their power requirements.

Blinky13 · 03-07-2005, 07:50 PM

Hi blasterguy.

I like your computer set up. Now on to your problem.

This may be something that you have tried, but I would like you try it again and tell me what you find.
Hook up ONLY your hard drive. Your hard drive should spin even without any IDE cables and such attached to it. You will hear it running.\
If you hear nothing, I want you to do this: While your hard drive is hooked up and the power supply turned on. Take your voltmeter, and jam the negative lead into the black wire at the back of the white connector that powers the hard drive. Don't actually poke through the outer coating of the wire, there will be a little space where the wire goes into the back of the connector, stick your lead into there. Put the positive lead into the space where the red wire goes in and read the voltage. Then stick the positive lead into where the yellow wire goes into the connector and read the voltage. Report back here with the voltages you find.

Good luck.

Pilt · 03-07-2005, 08:57 PM

Have you measure the voltage across the input to the M1?

Coz if that isnt high enough, it could cause such a problem

Do you test it with your car running?

Your using 10 gauge wire which should be fine, but it does sound like the m1 isnt getting enough power, check that its grounded proper, or just connect the m1 directly off the battery (with short wires) and see if that works

Otherwise it sounds like it may be faulty

P.S I just put one of these into an xbox and it works great!

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