SATA add activity LEDs

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  1. Posts : 297
    Win 10 - 21H1
       #1

    SATA add activity LEDs


    Hey, I currently have no disk activity LEDs on my machine and would like to add some. Ages ago, I found some info online about physically adding LEDs and resistors between the Tx and ground and Rx and ground. I have been trying to find the same page but cannot find it.

    Does anyone here have any info please on LED / resistor combinations suitable for this purpose?
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  3. Posts : 297
    Win 10 - 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank you for your input but I need it for when Windows is not running, I need a hardware solution. I used to have a HDD so I could hear it, now have SSD. I have been using my active speakers, which are close to the computer, I can hear the noise generated by the SSD. I would prefer a more elegant solution. This isn't technically the forum, as it's more software based but I hope for someone who might know hardware.
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  4. Posts : 9,765
    Mac OS Catalina
       #4

    Sorry but SSD’s do not generate any noise. There really is no need for a LED activity light since it tells you nothing of what is going on.
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  5. Posts : 23,014
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #5

    TidySean said:
    Hey, I currently have no disk activity LEDs on my machine and would like to add some. Ages ago, I found some info online about physically adding LEDs and resistors between the Tx and ground and Rx and ground. I have been trying to find the same page but cannot find it.

    Does anyone here have any info please on LED / resistor combinations suitable for this purpose?


    The HDD or SSD activity light is a function of the motherboard. In your specs I see Mac, and below your avatar it says Windows.
    I would assume a Mac motherboard will have a similar connector on the motherboard.


    This is from my computer's motherboard manual...


    SATA add activity LEDs-image1.png
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  6. Posts : 297
    Win 10 - 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hey Ghot, thank you for your help. Yes, I have an iMac, but run Windows only now. There are no internal pins like on PCs. The mother board (logic board) is essentially a laptop board. I will have a look and see if there's something.
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  7. Posts : 23,014
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #7

    TidySean said:
    Hey Ghot, thank you for your help. Yes, I have an iMac, but run Windows only now. There are no internal pins like on PCs. The mother board (logic board) is essentially a laptop board. I will have a look and see if there's something.


    Well, if you want to do it the way you mentioned in the original post....

    Get a multimeter and find the voltage and amperage on the tx line (for example), when there is SSD activity, then use Ohm's law (E = I x R) to find out what size resistor you need to lower the voltage down to the level required by the LED.

    I would think you could just find a few different LEDs and run a lead from say the TX and the GND wire and just try each LED till you find one that works, w/o the need for a resistor. There can't be that much voltage on the TX line.
    I know there are some really low voltage LEDs out there.

    If the voltage across the TX and GND lines is too low, then use a capacitor to raise the voltage enough to trigger the LED.
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  8. Posts : 297
    Win 10 - 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ghot said:
    Well, if you want to do it the way you mentioned in the original post....

    Get a multimeter and find the voltage and amperage on the tx line (for example), when there is SSD activity, then use Ohm's law (E = I x R) to find out what size resistor you need to lower the voltage down to the level required by the LED.
    Yeah, that looks like my best bet. I've been looking for the min / max volts of the data lines, some state it can be as low as 0.5 v and I've seen 5 v also. I don't want to pick an LED / resitor combo that will drag the power down too much. I have an old laptop with what I call the best connector ever on, SATA and USB in one. Looks like I'm getting an old drive out, same cables and tools. Thanks for help!
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  9. Posts : 23,014
    Win 10 Home ♦♦♦19045.4239 (x64) [22H2]
       #9

    TidySean said:
    Yeah, that looks like my best bet. I've been looking for the min / max volts of the data lines, some state it can be as low as 0.5 v and I've seen 5 v also. I don't want to pick an LED / resitor combo that will drag the power down too much. I have an old laptop with what I call the best connector ever on, SATA and USB in one. Looks like I'm getting an old drive out, same cables and tools. Thanks for help!


    Might just want to try to find an LED that will operate on that voltage... "range". Anywhere from .5 to 5v

    It's possible that the TX line, for example is only transmitting data when at 5v (binary 1), and at .5 volts it's (binary 0). Like a square wave. Then you could just use a 5v LED.

    If we assume that binary 1 is 5v, and any other voltage is binary 0, then just find an LED that has a low voltage cutoff at say... 4v.
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  10. Posts : 297
    Win 10 - 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Ghot said:
    Might just want to try to find an LED that will operate on that voltage... "range". Anywhere from .5 to 5v

    It's possible that the TX line, for example is only transmitting data when at 5v (binary 1), and at .5 volts it's (binary 0). Like a square wave. Then you could just use a 5v LED.

    If we assume that binary 1 is 5v, and any other voltage is binary 0, then just find an LED that has a low voltage cutoff at say... 4v.
    Turns out, it's done through the power lead. Found this:

    "The pin is also pulled low by the drive to indicate drive activity. This may be used to give feedback to the user through an led."

    SATA (Serial ATA) Technical Guide | Delkin Devices

    That seems much safer to me than getting into data lines. Thanks again for your inputs all.
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