I Plugged in the Wrong Adapter for My Portable Hard Drive & Now it Doesn't Work
If you plug the wrong adapter into your external hard drive, you may set actions into motion that could result in irreparable damage to the drive's delicate internal components. Like all electric components, external hard drives are rated to safely handle a narrow range of voltages. By learning more about how adapters work, you can gain a better understanding of why they are not interchangeable between devices.
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How Adapters Work
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When you plug your external hard drive's adapter into the wall, it goes to work converting alternating current into direct current. The adapter not only converts the current, it also changes the voltage level to something safe for the external hard drive. This type of a device is known as a "transformer." At around 110 volts, the current entering an average home is much too high for delicate electrical equipment like an external hard drive. Digital devices that require an adapter, such as laptops, hard drives and printers, usually operate between 12 and 20 volts.
External Had Drive Power Requirements
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Most external hard drives operate at 12 volts. You can confirm this for yourself by looking at the back of your hard drive's power adapter. You will see the necessary voltage listed as "Output." Unfortunately, larger digital devices, such as laptops, netbooks and printers typically operate at 19 volts. If you plugged an adapter that powers one of these devices into your external hard drive, chances are good that you have damaged its motherboard. The motherboard consists of a series of capacitors, and they cannot safely handle more energy than what is listed on the hard drive's adapter.
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The Data
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Even if you have inadvertently damaged the external hard drive's motherboard with a voltage higher than it is rated for, your data may still be safe. Hard drives store data on a solid-state disk called a "platter." The term "solid-state" refers to the fact that the platter will retain data even if you don't have the device connected to a power source. It is unlikely that a power surge of only a few extra volts would damage the platter.
Options
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If your external hard drive is completely unresponsive, and you need the data it contains, you may be able to bring it back to life by transplanting the motherboard from an identical model into it. This procedure is complex, however, and you should only undertake it if you feel qualified. Failing this, data recovery firms exist that may be able to retrieve the data for you, though this option can be costly.
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