MAIWO 4-Bay RAID External Hard Drive Enclosure (Model K35274D-MJ) User Manual

1. Introduction

This manual provides detailed instructions for the installation, operation, and maintenance of your MAIWO 4-Bay RAID External Hard Drive Enclosure (Model K35274D-MJ). Please read this manual thoroughly before using the product to ensure proper functionality and to prevent data loss.

2. Safety Information

• Ensure the enclosure is placed on a stable, flat surface to prevent accidental falls.
• Do not expose the device to extreme temperatures, humidity, or direct sunlight.
• Use only the provided power adapter to avoid damage to the device.
• Avoid opening the enclosure or attempting repairs yourself, as this may void the warranty and cause electric shock.
• Always back up important data before performing any RAID configuration changes, as these operations can erase data.

3. Package Contents

Verify that all items are present in the package:

• 1x MAIWO 3.5" SATA Hard Drive RAID Enclosure
• 1x 12V/7A Power Adapter
• 1x USB-C to USB-A 10Gbps Data Cable
• 1x USB-C to USB-C 20Gbps Data Cable
• 1x Screwdriver
• Screws (for drive installation)

4. Product Overview

Familiarize yourself with the components and features of your enclosure.

4.1. Front and Rear Panel Diagram

Figure 1: Rear panel of the MAIWO 4-Bay RAID enclosure, highlighting the Reset button, Type-C port, HD TV port, Fan Switch, Power Switch, DC Power In, and RAID Mode Switch. Dimensions are also indicated.

4.2. LED Indicators

Figure 2: The LED indicators on the front panel of the enclosure, showing the status of each HDD bay (HDD1, HDD2, HDD3, HDD4).

4.3. Cooling System Design

Figure 3: An exploded view showing the aluminum alloy case, honeycomb heat sink, dual fans, and fan switch, all contributing to the enclosure's cooling design.

5. Setup and Installation

5.1. Hardware Installation

This section guides you through installing 3.5-inch SATA HDDs into the enclosure.

1. Pull out the hard drive tray from the enclosure.
2. Insert a 3.5-inch SATA HDD into the tray, ensuring the SATA connectors align.
3. Secure the HDD to the tray using the provided screws and screwdriver.
4. Slide the loaded tray back into the enclosure until it clicks into place.
5. Secure the tray to the enclosure using the provided screws.

Figure 4: A 3.5-inch SATA HDD being inserted into one of the enclosure's drive bays.

5.2. Connecting to Your Computer

Connect the enclosure to your computer using the appropriate USB cable.

1. Connect one end of the USB-C to USB-A or USB-C to USB-C data cable to the Type-C port on the enclosure.
2. Connect the other end of the data cable to an available USB port on your computer.
3. Plug the 12V/7A power adapter into the DC 12V port on the enclosure, then connect it to a power outlet.
4. Turn on the power switch on the enclosure. The HDD indicators should light up.

6. Operating Instructions

6.1. Disk Initialization and Formatting

After connecting the enclosure, new hard drives must be initialized and formatted before use. This process varies slightly between Windows and macOS.

Important: Initializing or formatting a disk will erase all data on it. Please back up any important data before proceeding.

For Windows:

1. Right-click on 'This PC' (or 'My Computer') and select 'Manage'.
2. In the Computer Management window, navigate to 'Disk Management' under 'Storage'.
3. Locate your new disk(s) which will likely be marked as 'Unknown' or 'Not Initialized'.
4. Right-click on the disk and select 'Initialize Disk'. Choose either MBR (Master Boot Record) for disks smaller than 2TB or GPT (GUID Partition Table) for disks larger than 2TB. GPT is recommended for modern systems.
5. Once initialized, right-click on the 'Unallocated' space and select 'New Simple Volume'. Follow the wizard to create a new partition and format it (NTFS is recommended for Windows).

For macOS:

1. Open 'Disk Utility' (Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility).
2. Select the external disk from the sidebar.
3. Click the 'Erase' button in the toolbar.
4. Choose a name for the volume, select 'ExFAT' as the format for cross-platform compatibility (or APFS for Mac-only use), and 'GUID Partition Map' as the scheme.
5. Click 'Erase' to format the disk.

6.2. RAID Mode Setting

The MAIWO K35274D-MJ supports multiple RAID modes (Normal, JBOD, CLONE, RAID 0/1/3/5/10). The RAID mode is set using DIP switches on the rear panel.

Warning: Changing RAID modes will erase all data on the drives. Always back up your data before changing RAID configurations.

1. Shut off the power to the enclosure.
2. Using a small tool (like the provided screwdriver), adjust the DIP switches on the rear panel to the desired RAID mode configuration. Refer to the diagram below for specific settings.
3. Press and hold the 'RESET' button.
4. While holding 'RESET', turn on the power switch.
5. Continue holding 'RESET' until you hear a 'Di' sound, indicating successful RAID mode setting.
6. Release the 'RESET' button.
7. After setting the RAID mode, you will need to re-initialize and partition the disks in your operating system's Disk Management utility (as described in Section 6.1).

Figure 5: Visual representation of the DIP switch settings for Normal, RAID 5, Clone, RAID 3, Large, RAID 1/10, and RAID 0 modes.

6.3. Cooling Fan Control

The enclosure features an intelligent dual-fan cooling system with a 3-speed switch (High, Low, Off) to manage heat dissipation.

1. Locate the fan switch on the rear panel of the enclosure.
2. Toggle the switch to select 'High' for maximum cooling, 'Low' for quieter operation with moderate cooling, or 'Off' to disable the fans.

6.4. 4K HDTV Output

The enclosure supports 4K HDTV output, allowing you to connect directly to a display for high-definition playback of media.

1. Connect an HDMI cable from the 'HD TV' port on the enclosure to your 4K Ultra HD TV, computer monitor, or tablet.
2. Ensure your device is powered on and set to the correct HDMI input.

7. Maintenance

• Keep the enclosure clean and free from dust to ensure optimal airflow and cooling performance. Use a soft, dry cloth for cleaning.
• Regularly check cable connections to ensure they are secure.
• Perform regular data backups to prevent data loss, especially before making any significant changes to the drive configuration.

8. Troubleshooting

• Drive not recognized: Ensure the power cable and data cable are securely connected. Check if the hard drives are properly seated in their trays. Verify that the drives are initialized and formatted in your operating system's Disk Management (Windows) or Disk Utility (macOS).
• Slow transfer speeds: Ensure you are using the correct USB 3.1 Type-C cable and that your computer's USB port supports USB 3.1 Gen 2 speeds. Check for other devices consuming bandwidth on the same USB bus.
• RAID configuration issues: If you encounter problems after changing RAID modes, ensure you followed the reset procedure correctly (holding the RESET button while powering on until a 'Di' sound is heard). Remember that changing RAID modes erases data, so re-initialization and partitioning are required. Some users have reported issues with RAID 0 stability with certain chipsets; ensure your drives are compatible and consider alternative RAID modes if problems persist.
• Overheating: Ensure the cooling fans are set to an appropriate speed (High or Low) and that the enclosure's vents are not obstructed.

9. Specifications

10. Warranty and Support

For warranty information and technical support, please refer to the product packaging or contact MAIWO customer service directly. Keep your purchase receipt as proof of purchase for warranty claims.