So even though this is something I don't want to do, how exactly would I use a multimeter to test all this? Is is possible to describe the process step by step to someone who knows less than nothing about electricity and has never held one of these in hands?
I guess I'll see what's in there at least out of generic curiosity.
Oh I completely forgot these cards have a BIOS you can enter before the machine itself boots.I don't know how relevant this manual is to your controller, based on my search for Avago SAS3224, but there is an interesting feature mentioned on page 15 called "Dimmer Switch Features". https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/t...4385-00_RevF_12Gbs_MegaRAID_SAS_SW_UserGd.pdf
It suggests there is a Dimmer mode (Dimmer Switch I) which spins down unconfigured disks. It can be disabled. Page 84 makes mention of this. Maybe try that first?
I guess I'll see what's in there at least out of generic curiosity.