Yottamaster PS400C3 4-Bay USB-C External Hard Drive Enclosure User Manual

1. Introduction

This manual provides comprehensive instructions for the setup, operation, and maintenance of your Yottamaster PS400C3 4-Bay USB-C External Hard Drive Enclosure. This device is designed to house up to four 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDDs or SSDs, offering a direct attached storage (DAS) solution for expanding your data capacity. It supports a total storage capacity of up to 64TB (4x16TB drives) and features a USB 3.1 Type-C interface for data transfer.

Figure 1: Yottamaster PS400C3 4-Bay External Hard Drive Enclosure.

2. What's in the Box

Please verify that all items are present in the package:

• Yottamaster 4-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure (USB-C)
• 1 x 12V 6.5A Power Supply
• 1 x Screw Kit
• 1 x Data Cable (USB-C to USB-A)
• 1 x User Manual (this document)

Figure 2: Package contents including the enclosure, power supply, cables, and accessories.

3. Product Overview

The Yottamaster PS400C3 enclosure features a robust aluminum body designed for durability and efficient heat dissipation. Key components are outlined below:

• Front Panel: Features a perforated design for airflow and an LED indicator for power and drive activity.
• Drive Bays: Four removable trays for 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA drives.
• Rear Panel: Includes an 80mm cooling fan, DC power input, power button, and a USB 3.0 Type-C port.
• Non-slip Pads: Located at the bottom for stability.

Figure 3: Labeled components of the Yottamaster PS400C3 enclosure, showing the aluminum body, LED indicator, non-slip pad, 80mm fan, DC input, power button, and USB 3.0 Type-C port.

4. Setup Instructions

4.1 Hard Drive Installation

The enclosure supports both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA HDDs and SSDs. Each drive bay is equipped with a removable tray for easy installation.

1. Open the Front Door: Press the push latch located in the middle of the right side of the front panel to open the door.


Figure 4: Pressing the push latch to open the enclosure door.

2. Remove a Tray: Gently pull out an empty drive tray from the enclosure.
3. Install Drive: Place your 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SATA HDD/SSD onto the tray. Secure the drive to the tray using the provided screws.


Figure 5: Installing 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives into the removable trays.

4. Insert Tray: Slide the tray with the installed drive back into the enclosure until it clicks into place.
5. Repeat: Repeat steps 1-4 for any additional drives you wish to install.
6. Close Door: Close the front door securely.

4.2 Connecting to Your Computer

1. Connect Power: Connect the provided 12V 6.5A power supply to the DC input port on the rear of the enclosure, then plug the power adapter into a wall outlet.


Figure 6: Connecting the 12V 6.5A external power supply to the enclosure.

2. Connect Data Cable: Use the provided USB-C data cable to connect the enclosure's USB 3.0 Type-C port to a compatible USB port on your computer (USB-A or USB-C, depending on the cable provided).


Figure 7: The enclosure connected to a laptop, ready for use.

3. Power On: Press the power button on the rear of the enclosure. The LED indicator on the front panel will illuminate.

4.3 Initial Drive Formatting

If you are using brand new hard drives, they may need to be formatted and partitioned before your computer can recognize them. Please follow your operating system's instructions for disk management and formatting. Remember to back up any existing data on drives that are not new before formatting.

5. Operating Instructions

5.1 Powering On and Off

• Power On: Press the power button on the rear panel. The front LED indicator will light up, and the cooling fan will start.
• Power Off: Safely eject the enclosure from your computer's operating system before pressing the power button on the rear panel to turn off the device. This prevents data corruption.

5.2 Data Transfer

Once connected and recognized by your computer, the installed drives will appear as individual storage volumes. You can drag and drop files, copy, paste, and manage data as you would with any other external storage device. The enclosure utilizes the SATA III protocol, supporting data transfer rates up to 5Gbps (MAX) via its USB 3.1 Type-C interface.

5.3 Non-RAID Functionality

This Yottamaster PS400C3 model is a non-RAID version. It does not support hardware RAID configurations. Each installed hard drive will be recognized as an independent disk by your computer. If you require RAID functionality, you can set up software RAID using tools available in your operating system (e.g., Disk Utility on macOS, Storage Spaces on Windows). The RAID Manager software provided on the official Yottamaster website is compatible only with RAID version enclosures and will not work with this model.

6. Maintenance

6.1 Cooling System

The enclosure is equipped with an 80mm cooling fan and a rugged heat-dissipating aluminum shell with front and rear ventilation holes. This design effectively accelerates air convection to maintain optimal operating temperatures for your hard drives.

Figure 8: The internal 80mm cooling fan ensures efficient heat dissipation.

6.2 General Care

• Keep the enclosure in a well-ventilated area to prevent overheating.
• Avoid exposing the device to extreme temperatures, humidity, or direct sunlight.
• Clean the exterior with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use liquid cleaners.

7. Troubleshooting

This section addresses common issues and provides solutions.

• Q: How do I know if a hard drive has failed?
  A: If one of the drives is damaged or failed, its corresponding indicator light will turn red, and the enclosure may emit a warning sound (beep).
• Q: How to replace a hard drive?
  A: If you need to replace a drive, or if one has failed:
  1. Identify the drive. Safely eject the enclosure from your computer and power it off.
  2. Pull out the drive. Format the new drive on another device first if it's new. Then, insert the new drive into the original position and power on the enclosure.
• Q: How to add a new hard drive into the enclosure?
  A: 1. Safely eject the enclosure from your computer and power it off.
  2. If the drive is brand new, format it on another device. Then, insert it into an empty bay. Do not change the order of existing drives.
• Q: Can I connect the device to the computer through a hub?
  A: It is recommended to connect the device directly to your computer. Connection through a hub may lead to instability or reduced performance.
• Q: What are the specifications of the fan?
  A: The fan has a diameter of 80mm, operates at 12V, and uses a 2-PIN connector. There is no current limit specified.

8. Specifications

9. Warranty and Support

For warranty information and technical support, please refer to the official Yottamaster website or contact their customer service directly. Keep your purchase receipt for warranty claims.