[comp.sys.mac.hardware] Second hard disk in Mac II - power supply problem?

gangof4@violet.berkeley.edu (;;;;JZ46) (05/23/91)

Hi netters...

BACKGROUND: In the past I have seen discussion about putting 2 hard
disks into mac II boxes. Indeed, this is quite possible as I have
accomplished this feat with little or no difficulty. I used a SCSI
splitter and a power line splitter and jerry-rigged the bare Quantum
3.5" 105MB into the 2nd floppy drive bay with rubber bands, paper clips
etc. This was a temporary gig as the drive was on loan. Well, I had to
return the drive and am now in desperate need of another Quantum105 (I
have an old Seagate ST277N 60MB unit in the main HD slot). Oh, and I
have a standard Apple 8 bit video card in one slot as well as a 2 page
black and white video card in another slot (Ehman).

PROBLEM: When I tried to order the drive from APS the salesperson said
that it was *highly* inadvisable to place two hard disks in a Mac II
box. He said that regardless of their specific power consumption, that 2
drives would place too much stress on the power supply. He said that
Apple strongly advises against such practices also.

Well, this seems a bit silly to me considering the the Mac II (original
6 nubus slot unit) has a relatively big (230W?) power supply.
Furthermore, I can't believe that even 3 of these new low power drives
would draw anywhere close to the power that one of the older 5.25"
monsters would draw.

QUESTION: Do any of you netters know whether it is necessary to spend
the extra $90 and get the drive in an external box in order to save my
power supply? I would like to save the $$ and go with the internal unit
as well as having one less switch to turn on and one less fan to listen
to.

Thanx..... john steggall
gangof4@violet.berkeley.edu