Can anyone help with a technical query?

[unixronin]

I need to find some hardware specs — specifically, the connector pinout with supply voltages — for a Dell internal LTO-2 SCSI Tape Drive Module 1-00743-05 for a Dell Powervault tape library.  (I want to tap into the chassis connector to supply power to it directly so that I can use the module housing as an external case for the LTO-2 drive.  This is partly because the power supply in the Dell LTO-1 external tape housing I have seems to be a little marginal for an LTO-2 drive, and partly because the tape library module looks so much cooler and more industrial than the Dell external case.)

Can anyone assist with this?  So far, the STFW method has failed.  If no-one can point me at a spec, I'll have to see if I can extract one from Dell somehow tomorrow.

Comments

[ithildae]

Do you happen to know the OEM for the unit?

[unixronin]

The drive is IBM. The only manufacturer identification decals on the housing are Dell. No other manufacturer identification is visible internally above the level of individual components. The housing fan is a 12VDC Sanyo unit, and the connector to the housing looks rather like an ATX motherboard connector except two pins shorter, suggesting that the housing is fed standard 12V/5V system power ... but then why would it need an internal power supply at all?

[suzilem.livejournal.com]

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/manuals?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/my_systems_info/manuals?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&~ck=anavml

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

I did not find it. I can in most cases trace power lines. If you have photos of the connector, powersupply, mother board etc it can help.

Is this a connector that has both the voltages and scsi all in one like IDE? It should be a standard but ...

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

Unless Dell went bugnuts on wiring that proprietary something similar to this or this should do.

http://www.thefind.com/computers/info-internal-scsi-power-cable

http://www.buy.com/prod/cables-to-go-cables-to-go-internal-scsi-3-68f-to-scsi-3-sca80f/q/loc/101/10285441.html

DETAILS: The SCA (Single Connector Attachment) interface combines the Data, Power, and SCSI ID connectors into a single 80-pin connector. For these SCA drives to be used in a standard system or subsystem enclosure requires an adapter to convert the 80-pin connector back into separate Data, Power, and SCSI ID connectors. With SCA Adapters from Cables To Go, you can make this conversion with ease. The SCSI-3 to SCSI-3 adapter is designed to adapt an existing 68-pin ribbon cable to a SCSI-3 SCA80-pin connection. The SCA80 adapter includes an onboard power connection and termination/id jumpers. Product Description Cables To Go SCSI internal adapter Type: SCSI internal adapter Connector(s): 1 x 80 pin Centronics (SCA-2) - female Connector(s) (Other Side): 1 x 68 pin HD D-Sub (HD-68) - female Package Type: Retail Manufacturer Warranty: 1 year warranty ALTERNATE ITEM #: 15833 UPC: 0757120158332

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

It's not an IDE-type or SCA type connector. The module has three connectors: 68-pin SCSI-III in and 68-pin SCSI-III out on the back panel, and an 18-pin keyed Molex type connector protruding from the side such that it auto-mates when the module is inserted, very much like an ATX motherboard power socket except with two fewer pins. The third of these is the one I'd like to figure out how to either feed into or bypass.

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

OK that sounds like something compaq would do. I can do it. I'm not sure I can guide someone how because I have to see it and make several hundred measurements. Failing that I'd start disassembling things and tracing circuits in the power supply. I'll keep looking as I can.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, worst case I guess I get to try to strip the power supply out of the chassis and start tracing. Unless I can figure out where to go at Dell to find someone who can get me the information.

Given that there IS a power supply in there, however minimal, the inference is that it does receive 120V power ... if I just knew on which pins it expects it. If it was fed standard internal +12V/+5V, there'd be no need for a power supply in there, the connector could just have a pigtail direct to the drive.

[mrmeval.livejournal.com]

http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html