damaged molex connector + Mac pro optical drive

Paul P · 10-28-2012, 03:00 AM

Hello all,

I have a Mac Pro 2.1 with two optical drives fitted. I inadvertently pulled on the molex connector for the lower drive, and pulled out one of the four wires. This molex connector is now damaged (as shown in the pic), and hence the lower drive bay is now unusable.

I'm just wondering if anyone out there would know if there are optical drives that I could install (SATA for example) that do not need the molex connector ? Or is the only option to fix the molex connector ?

I'm not very handy with soldering and what not, so I would have to get someone to do it.

Many thanks in advance.

wendell · 10-28-2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul P


	"...I'm not very handy with soldering and what not, so I would have to get someone to do it….' Many thanks in advance.

It should be a fairly easy fix for someone familiar with soldering. In the old days, the guy at the TV repair shop could have done it for $20.00. These days…not so much.
Is there an independent computer servicer in your area?
It would be a shame to discard a good drive just for this.

Good luck!

macosnoob · 10-28-2012, 09:45 AM

It's a bit difficult to make out detail in the photo, but you may be able to repair the connection without solder. If you can reinsert the wire AND an electrical connection is made--that is, the drive works again--it's possible to use hot glue (or maybe even super glue) to bond the wire's insulation to the connector. It's not the best solution, but it's cheap and solder-free.

It's also probably possible to pull that connector apart (often they just snap together/apart) and reinsert the wire, but if you're "not very handy," let's leave that option off the table for now.

chabig · 10-28-2012, 10:58 AM

You could also just buy a new wire assembly, from this connector to the connector on the other end. Another option would be to buy a Y connector and branch both drives off of the working connector.

DeltaMac · 10-28-2012, 02:33 PM

The molex connector should be simple to repair.
That would be a strip-n-crimp job (no soldering necessary)
But a "Y" connector is probably easier to find.

Paul P · 10-29-2012, 03:56 AM

Thanks to all of you :

wendell
macosnoob
chabig
DeltaMac

@chabig : the y cable did the trick. I contacted my local electronics place, and for the very princely sum of $2.85 AUD, I bought a Y shaped molex splitter cable, and connected up to the working molex connector - bingo ! I'm back in business ! 2 fully functioning optical drives.

Thanks to all of you. macosxhints forums ROCK !!

10-28-2012, 03:00 AM	#1
Paul P Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 94	damaged molex connector + Mac pro optical drive Hello all, I have a Mac Pro 2.1 with two optical drives fitted. I inadvertently pulled on the molex connector for the lower drive, and pulled out one of the four wires. This molex connector is now damaged (as shown in the pic), and hence the lower drive bay is now unusable. I'm just wondering if anyone out there would know if there are optical drives that I could install (SATA for example) that do not need the molex connector ? Or is the only option to fix the molex connector ? I'm not very handy with soldering and what not, so I would have to get someone to do it. Many thanks in advance. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Paul P; 10-28-2012 at 03:04 AM.

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10-28-2012, 09:45 AM	#3
macosnoob MVP Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1,751	It's a bit difficult to make out detail in the photo, but you may be able to repair the connection without solder. If you can reinsert the wire AND an electrical connection is made--that is, the drive works again--it's possible to use hot glue (or maybe even super glue) to bond the wire's insulation to the connector. It's not the best solution, but it's cheap and solder-free. It's also probably possible to pull that connector apart (often they just snap together/apart) and reinsert the wire, but if you're "not very handy," let's leave that option off the table for now.

10-28-2012, 10:58 AM	#4
chabig Hall of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,930	You could also just buy a new wire assembly, from this connector to the connector on the other end. Another option would be to buy a Y connector and branch both drives off of the working connector.

10-28-2012, 02:33 PM	#5
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,949	The molex connector should be simple to repair. That would be a strip-n-crimp job (no soldering necessary) But a "Y" connector is probably easier to find.

10-29-2012, 03:56 AM	#6
Paul P Triple-A Player Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 94	Thanks to all of you : wendell macosnoob chabig DeltaMac @chabig : the y cable did the trick. I contacted my local electronics place, and for the very princely sum of $2.85 AUD, I bought a Y shaped molex splitter cable, and connected up to the working molex connector - bingo ! I'm back in business ! 2 fully functioning optical drives. Thanks to all of you. macosxhints forums ROCK !!