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USB to 12v Molex external adapter/converter

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6 comments

Jul 1, 2010. 10:23 PM

LifeWarrior says:

You would need to build a step-up circuit to get the 12v from a 5v source, here's a really good diagram of the circuit at: http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronics/lm2577-switching-regulator.php Without digging into it much more, screw around with the config of your circuit to get the 5 and 12 and the two ground on the 4 wire molex... I'm not sure if it would stay real reliable but that should get a drive to spin up! Not that it's real useful to me right now to build one but would be cool to see the results in your v2. I say cool start, might replace my bulky wall plug one for your v2 if it works!

Jun 20, 2010. 3:06 PMBerserk87 says:

the only use for this cable would be to run some fans off of usb.

Jun 20, 2010. 7:48 AMBongmaster says:

since you are only using the 5v lines on the molex the mentioning of 12v should be ommited really.. since you will never get 12v from 5v usb. and u wont be powering a hdd from it unless its a laptop hdd (5v) since a 3.5" hdd uses and needs both 12v and 5v lines.

Jun 20, 2010. 7:59 AMMaruaderFox (author) says:

yeah... I have no idea what you said and remember It's a V1 in development and I'm a noob

Jun 20, 2010. 10:40 AM

lemonie says:

You only get 5V from USB: that's half a Molex and pretty much useless, because 5V cabled-devices tend to be USB anyway.

L

Jun 20, 2010. 5:57 AMHarveyH44 says:

Where does the 12 volts come in. Little let down, that this is just the 5V coming off the USB, but then again, didn't see getting much current @12v if there was a boost converter involved, maybe 200 mA.