InductorNoob,

I'm going to ask an obvious question. What happened to your inductor? Chances are, the regulator was over-driven and the inductor over-heated and fell of the pcb. Components can, at times, draw enough heat to melt the solder. I'm just curious if it's sitting inside your computer somewhere. We just have the "before" picture. Are there burn marks around the pads? I'm afraid you may have more damage, but it could be a simple matter of locating your inductor, meausuring it and putting it back on. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by rezer

Besides, he can't measure the 3.3uH inductor, it's missing. Read his first post.

Believe it or not, I also read the first post.

According to the photo I can neither discover any missing part, nor any burnt spot on the PCB. I suspect the missing part did not evaporate.

The OP didn't clearly describe where the part was located.

Concerning an assumption it is one until it's proved.

L. Chung had the prove.

Boncuk

Originally Posted by Boncuk

Concerning an assumption it is one until it's proved.

L. Chung had the prove.

Boncuk

That's true, but I made no assumption. What I said was accurate. People post all day long on this forum without giving proof for their opinion, and that's OK. But don't take what I say as the gospel truth. You can research it for yourself and if I happen to be wrong, then we both learned something.

Originally Posted by Boncuk

According to the photo I can neither discover any missing part, nor any burnt spot on the PCB. I suspect the missing part did not evaporate.
The OP didn't clearly describe where the part was located.

I was confused about that at the start too. My interpretation is that InductorNoob removed the inductor after taking the picture:

Originally Posted by InductorNoob

This is a close-up of the area which contains the (now missing) inductor:

I gotta admit that it's pretty cryptic.

According to his post, it was missing when he removed it from the bay after hooking up the wrong power. That's how I read it anyway. But one thing I haven't figured out is, why did he have a photo before it was damaged?

Originally Posted by rezer

According to his post, it was missing when he removed it from the bay after hooking up the wrong power. That's how I read it anyway. But one thing I haven't figured out is, why did he have a photo before it was damaged?

Maybe he has 2 matching Drives. Not the smartest thing to do but I Strip mine and all I would have to do is show the second one.


kv

Well, that should have been obvious.

No, not really. The little IC next to the inductor is most likely the switching regulator associated with the inductor. Can you read the number on the other IC next to the other 3R3 inductor? That might help also.

Originally Posted by InductorNoob

The code on the IC near the 3R3 inductor (the one located on the lower right hand quadrant) is as follows:

f PG7HT
FDFS
6*303

I don't know if that means anything. I'll be posting the info on the other IC's within the next 24 hours.

Thanks!

- Josh

This would be my first guess on what that part is: http://www.digchip.com/datasheets/pa.../FDFS6N303.php

A quick scan of the datasheet indicates that this might be a reasonable guess since it's a combined MOSFET/Schottky diode IC ideal for use in low-board-space DC-DC converters. It looks different from the IC near the missing inductor, though.

Disclaimer: I am in no way, shape, or form an expert on switchmode power supplies. I just like researching thing.


Good luck!

Torben

Originally Posted by InductorNoob

The close-up picture (with the inductor intact) is a zoomed-in view of the upper left-hand quadrant of the entire PCB. This inductor (labeled 3R3) is what is now missing. There is another 3R3 inductor on the PCB also, if that makes any difference.

Yes, it's understood which part was missing. Do you know what happened to your missing inductor? Floor, computer case, trash?

Originally Posted by rezer

Yes, it's understood which part was missing. Do you know what happened to your missing inductor? Floor, computer case, trash?

Presumably it can't have gone *too* far.


Torben

Originally Posted by Torben

Presumably it can't have gone *too* far.


Torben

Unless the trash has already been picked up. If it can be found, it would be worth seeing it its' salvagable. Since it fell off the board, we know it's not open, shorted is a different story. But I suspect if there is damage, it's in his regulator and not the inductor.