Comments on: Multi-bay eSATA enclosure http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/ What will he do next? Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:54:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: TedH http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-4989 TedH Tue, 16 Dec 2008 02:17:37 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-4989 I also have had a T5 for about 1.5 months using with Vista x64. Very easy to set up but I've had a couple of issues since. Twice it has stopped working. The included software will talk to it and it see's the drives but Vista only see's one and it has a communication error. The first time I reseated each drive and monkey'd around with it and it up and started working again. A couple days ago it did it again. This time it was much more difficult to get working again. I tried all the latest drivers, bios updates on the Sil card, etc. Long story short I had to flash the bios in the 4726 manager (the T5 itself) with the same version that was in it and bada-bing she started working again. The only other thing I will say is that I do turn it off at night as the cost of electricity in CA is very high. I.e. with my current tiered rate it costs over $500/year if I left it running 24x7. That is based on actual wattage and not nameplate... I also have had a T5 for about 1.5 months using with Vista x64. Very easy to set up but I’ve had a couple of issues since. Twice it has stopped working. The included software will talk to it and it see’s the drives but Vista only see’s one and it has a communication error. The first time I reseated each drive and monkey’d around with it and it up and started working again.
A couple days ago it did it again. This time it was much more difficult to get working again. I tried all the latest drivers, bios updates on the Sil card, etc. Long story short I had to flash the bios in the 4726 manager (the T5 itself) with the same version that was in it and bada-bing she started working again. The only other thing I will say is that I do turn it off at night as the cost of electricity in CA is very high. I.e. with my current tiered rate it costs over $500/year if I left it running 24×7. That is based on actual wattage and not nameplate…

]]> By: DanW http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-3577 DanW Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:03:04 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-3577 I have one of these and the sound is a little bothersome. Kevin I think it is cool that you modified your t5. I want to do the same. So a 20mm fan with which type of connector do you think would work? I do not know a thing about fans so any help is greatly appreciated. Also did anyone think that the esata express card runs a little hot? I have one of these and the sound is a little bothersome. Kevin I think it is cool that you modified your t5. I want to do the same. So a 20mm fan with which type of connector do you think would work? I do not know a thing about fans so any help is greatly appreciated.

Also did anyone think that the esata express card runs a little hot?

]]> By: D.Kwan http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-2508 D.Kwan Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:38:28 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-2508 Thanks for that info Kevin. Thanks for that info Kevin.

]]> By: Mike in NC http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-2500 Mike in NC Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:42:13 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-2500 Kevin, thanks for the info. It's disappointing that enclosure mfgrs think noise doesn't matter -- and also that they use oddball fans and connectors! I changed the 40mm fan in my smaller external case (Sans Digital MobileSTOR MS2UT+) It was quite a disassembly job, & then I had to solder their oddball connector onto the new fan. The unit works fine but gives error messages occasionally -- possibly because I replaced a 3-wire fan with a 2-wire one. The ironic thing is, the Sythe fan cost me $5 at retail! It would have cost them nothing to design the unit with a quieter fan! Kevin, thanks for the info. It’s disappointing that enclosure mfgrs think noise doesn’t matter — and also that they use oddball fans and connectors! I changed the 40mm fan in my smaller external case (Sans Digital MobileSTOR MS2UT+) It was quite a disassembly job, & then I had to solder their oddball connector onto the new fan. The unit works fine but gives error messages occasionally — possibly because I replaced a 3-wire fan with a 2-wire one. The ironic thing is, the Sythe fan cost me $5 at retail! It would have cost them nothing to design the unit with a quieter fan!

]]> By: Kevin Gearhardt http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-2499 Kevin Gearhardt Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:16:47 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-2499 I now have 3 of these enclosures running on a Windows (sorry! :) PC in my study. So as you might imagine having all 3 running at the same time creates a lot of fan noise, even with the speed set at low. So I thought I'd replace the fans and ordered myself 6 Scythe Kama Flow 80mm fans. But when I went to do the installation on the first of my 3 DS2350 enclosures I ran into 2 problems. 1) The original fans are 20mm thick whereas the Scythes are 25mm. That creates a very tight fit in the enclosure and the fan connectors actually interfere with one of the fans. Might have to cut off one corner of the fan case to get it to fit, or possibly mount the fans on the exterior of the enclosure (not the best look). 2) Just when I decided I could make the 25mm thickness work I discovered that the fan connectors on the OEM fans are NOT the same as the 3-pin connector on the Scythe (or other) case fans. That was a show stopper for me the other evening. So to make it work I'll have to cut/solder the original connectors to the Scythe fans or possibly try moving the connector sleeves from the Scythe 3-pin molded connector to the OEM connector. Just a heads up if you're considering replacing the fans in one of these enclosures. Other than the fan noise I'm reasonably satisfied with these boxes, especially for the price. I now have 3 of these enclosures running on a Windows (sorry! :) PC in my study. So as you might imagine having all 3 running at the same time creates a lot of fan noise, even with the speed set at low. So I thought I’d replace the fans and ordered myself 6 Scythe Kama Flow 80mm fans. But when I went to do the installation on the first of my 3 DS2350 enclosures I ran into 2 problems.

1) The original fans are 20mm thick whereas the Scythes are 25mm. That creates a very tight fit in the enclosure and the fan connectors actually interfere with one of the fans. Might have to cut off one corner of the fan case to get it to fit, or possibly mount the fans on the exterior of the enclosure (not the best look).

2) Just when I decided I could make the 25mm thickness work I discovered that the fan connectors on the OEM fans are NOT the same as the 3-pin connector on the Scythe (or other) case fans. That was a show stopper for me the other evening. So to make it work I’ll have to cut/solder the original connectors to the Scythe fans or possibly try moving the connector sleeves from the Scythe 3-pin molded connector to the OEM connector.

Just a heads up if you’re considering replacing the fans in one of these enclosures. Other than the fan noise I’m reasonably satisfied with these boxes, especially for the price.

]]> By: D.Kwan http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-1077 D.Kwan Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:53:06 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-1077 Ok Ben I've posted pics <a href="http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/06/13/more-pics-of-ams-venus-t5/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. But really though, when I copied stuff for hours the unit didn't even get warm, so I don't think there should be any heat issues. Ok Ben I’ve posted pics here. But really though, when I copied stuff for hours the unit didn’t even get warm, so I don’t think there should be any heat issues.

]]> By: More pics of AMS Venus T5 | The Adventures of Daniel Kwan http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 More pics of AMS Venus T5 | The Adventures of Daniel Kwan Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:47:42 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-1076 [...] more photos of the AMS Venus T5 to show the fans and sides and stuff. Go here for my previously posted pics and general [...] [...] more photos of the AMS Venus T5 to show the fans and sides and stuff. Go here for my previously posted pics and general [...]

]]> By: D.Kwan http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 D.Kwan Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:19:11 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-1064 Yeah those are pretty much it. The sides and top of the unit are removable panels so I guess you could open them up for a little more air. I'll take some pics later. Yeah those are pretty much it. The sides and top of the unit are removable panels so I guess you could open them up for a little more air. I’ll take some pics later.

]]> By: Ben http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-1057 Ben Mon, 09 Jun 2008 09:12:53 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-1057 Where are all the front ventilation holes located? I only see a thin horizontal slit thats integrated on the bay door handles. Is that enough to feed fresh air air into the case? It looks like it needs more vents. Where are all the front ventilation holes located? I only see a thin horizontal slit thats integrated on the bay door handles.

Is that enough to feed fresh air air into the case? It looks like it needs more vents.

]]> By: Mike in NC http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/comment-page-1/#comment-881 Mike in NC Thu, 22 May 2008 00:33:02 +0000 http://dkwan.com/blog/2008/03/20/multi-bay-esata-enclosure/#comment-881 Thanks, Daniel. That does help. Thanks, Daniel. That does help.

]]>