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Seagate Expansion external HDD power supply making a very faint alarm sound (self.datahoarder)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by otp to c/[email protected]

19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've got a fairly new 14tb Seagate Expansion. It works fine, and I've been using it for a month and a bit.

I don't know how long it's been doing this, but the power supply is making a very faint alarm sound. The power supply is plugged into a Belkin surge protector powered on and with the "protected" status light lit, and it is plugged into an outlet. The HDD is currently not plugged in to a computer.

It's not a beep or electricity. It's a distinct weewooweewoo. I couldn't even determine the source until I pressed my ear against it.

Googling just points me towards typical "my HDD is making a sound, how long do I have until it dies", but nothing pointed me to the alarm sound from the power supply.

I'll check again if it makes the alarm in other conditions, but in the meanwhile, I was hoping someone here might know something.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: The sound only happens when...

Power adapter is plugged into the HDD, AND the outlet
HDD is NOT plugged into the computer.

Plugging it into the computer stops the noise from the power adapter.

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[–] otp 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It's weird -- the sound happens when the power supply is plugged into the outlet and the HDD, but it turns off when the HDD is plugged into the PC.

I could look for a blinking LED, but it really does sound like a noise maker rather than something electrical. But I'm not an expert.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I suppose, when you plug the HDD to the computer, it spins up and start drawing more current from the power-supply and the noise disapears. This is because the PSU has a buck-converter, the switching frequency increase proportionally with the current drawn by the load. When the current it almost 0mA, the switching frequency can be audible (electromagnetic forces can make some components vibrate, e.g: coils). When the current is nominal, the frequency will be ultrasound and you won't hear it. I have observed this with many electronic devices. If you are worried, you can try another power-supply, after checking it has the same voltage and polarity on the plug, and can deliver at least as much current as the original one.

[–] otp 1 points 10 months ago

Thank you for the reassurance. I guess I'll just either let it be noisy or leave it fully unplugged when not in use.

First world problems... having to choose between barely audible noise, or having to plug TWO things in to access my 14TB, lmao