68k Soft/Hard Power and ATX conversions . . .

[techknight]

You dont use FreePCB? its free and its a PCB layout editor. compatible with just about all PCB prototype manufacturers. Hard to get used to, because you have to do netlists and route ratlines to complete the layout, but if you had a schematic, it could be imported and all the routing done automatically. (something I havent done yet.)

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

No need in my case, I roll my own!

If Compaq "started with a drawing on the back of the place mat . . . " I think this process will suffice. Besides I doodle this stuff at work when I get bored.

Final layout in Illustrator -> EPS -> Signmaking CAD/CAM Package -> Roland CAMMjet -> knife cut vinyl mask -> weeding table ->

two sided Copper Clad FRP PCB Blank from Radio Shack -> etchant from same -> drill press -> soldering station -> finished prototype = in house protoboard a/o short run production.

PCB Layout programs don't nest 3-D objects on PCBs mounted to the inside a tiny box facing one another . . .

. . . my brain does 3D with ease and I can print the revisions in Illustrator for fold-up visual aids and post .jpeg exports of the unit after fine tunin's finished! [] ]'>

PCB work in Illustrator is a far cry from routing a pair of NuBus Card sized double sided boards, a Short ISA card and an adapter board the same size by hand 23 years ago! Each trace started out as a rectangular pad that had to be turned into a trace by adding points and moving them around until they met the target pad which was the deleted. After a while I had a nice little library of trace shapes to modify, but the process was worthwhile, given the ability to cut silk screen stencils and print short runs of mask with enamel SS inks.Even he Edge card connector worked like a charm!

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

First sketch:

Second sketch:

Third rev is posted above.

Illustrator 3D visualization aid & documentary illustration:

The top view is mirrored as though you'd be looking through the PCB.

The flipped side, with the illustrated connector, would be as if viewed through the sheet metal on the opposite side of the box.

Same for the "side view at the top.

I like to print out boxes so that they can be folded and viewed for the outside as if looking with X-Ray Vision. )

Cooling will be accomplished by mounting a largish fan undernearth the FDD, blowing out the bottom of the case.

Standard galvanized ductwork will lead from the fan to the spot noted on the front of the PSU's sheet metal.

The PSU's PCB solder side will be facing up, with an airflow re-dirtect vane causing the air drawn in the top vents to flow toward the back of the IIsi's PSU sheet metal. It'll then be pulled down across my adapter board and back through the ATX PSU, then pulled out the front by the ducted fan. The entire assembly will be just about as stealth as possible for getting 250W of continuous power in there, with gonzo 5V to run the Rocket and as many NuBus/PDS cards as I can address and cram inside and under the lowly IIsi's case. [}] ]'>

 

[techknight]

I hope it works out. I would like to see pics when completed.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Thanks, it's working nicely so far, now I just need to find the wire to wire color coding matchups again . . .

. . . I seem to have misplaced them . . .

Anybody got some linkages to good info handy?

 

[barana]

@trash80

any news yet mate?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Not yet, I'm trying to get the a boot drive sorted out to test the Rocket in the IIsi as the next step.

The PSU's been sorted out, I just need to build & test it. But, I've got another NIB HP-PSU that's a bit smaller that I want to give a good look see before barreling along with development based upon the original line of research as well.

Some day this spring or early summer the SuperIIsi™ PSU will work, catch fire or explode, depending upon the whims of the gremlins and my soldering skills. )

 

[barana]

i have seen an old utube a few years ago, someone running sys 6.0.8 with a 030 mac with a 040 accellerator. it was fast.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

IIRC, I Ran 6.0.8 on my IIx/Rocket33 until after the tuneup was released for 7.0.1. I'd have to check the date of release against the receipt to be sure, but the SE/Radius16 ran 6.0.8 until it was retired from plotter server duty by the IIx/Rocket33 when software compatibility forced me to make the jump to PPC. I bought a refurbished Duo 2300c which was eventually replaced by a refurbished 6360 that was slated for Sonnetization.

I don't remember much of a performance hit, because it was an Illustrator upgrade which forced me into System 7, making the comparison an apples & oranges thing

I had never run an unaccelerated NIB Mac until the day I got the G4/466 DA.

Windows 3.0 was the only OS I've ever run before a bugfix version release, but that was because I needed a Windows Box to run CorelDraw without messing around with Win286 . . .

. . . I'm a just a tad conservative when it comes to production machines and the OS under which they run. )

 

[Bunsen]

Some day this spring or early summer the SuperIIsi™ PSU will work, catch fire or explode, depending upon the whims of the gremlins and my soldering skills. )

If I may make a small suggestion - perhaps it would be a good idea to make up a straight pin-pin extension cable between your board and the Mac, so that testing can proceed outside the Mac's case?

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I've already got a Q700 PSU sticking out the top of the SuperIIsi ATM, as soon as I can get a Boot Drive set up (I just found all my old HDT versions and OS media) the Rocket will ride again.

After I test the setup with mine, IIfx's loaded Rocket will go in there and I'll hook up the VideoVision Studio Array box of SCSI II RAID Goodness! [}] ]'>

These may be overkill, but they may work, the price was right and they arrived a couple of days ago! :approve:

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

OlePigeon just asked me about this project in PM, so I thought I'd resurrect it to ask for help again with the Soft Power aspects. This feature isn't necessary for a IIsi ATX PSU Conversion, but it is for his IIci project, and I'd really like my PCB to be able to handle both applications. It has been long enough since I've looked at this that I'm starting over from scratch on the Soft Power revision for the IIsi PCB, so . . .

. . . Help! )

 

[olePigeon]

Thanks! I tried the Quadra 700 power supply, but even that one wasn't powerful enough to run my RadiusRocket. I tested all three of my Rockets in my Quadra 950, and they worked perfectly, so I know the cards are good. I'm guessing these old power supplies just aren't powerful enough.

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I'm betting you're right, I should check my paper docs on that. Check the ReadMe files in your software/driver installation files.

I just found a related, and very interesting, blurb in the VideoVision Studio 2.0 ReadMe.

 

[olePigeon]

So do I just connect Pin for Pin from the ATX to the IIci pinout? The 24 pin ATX obviously has a lot more wires, does it matter which of the three 5v wires I connect? Any of the 3 will work?

If so, then according to this wikipedia pinout, I would do:

ATX...IIci
1.....NC
2.....NC
3.....5
4.....2
5.....6
6.....3
7.....7
8.....9
9.....NC
10....1
11....NC
12....NC
13....NC
14....8
15....NC
16....10
17....NC
18....NC
19....NC
20....NC
21....NC
22....NC
23....NC
24....NC

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

Got links to the pinouts? Have they got the voltages/functions labeled? :approve:

I'll need to reread this thread and check out the 'fritter links especially before saying how setup will work out. Maybe one of our Boffins can be of assistance?

HELP!!!!!!!!!! :?:

 

[olePigeon]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX_power_supply#Power_supply

 

[olePigeon]

Found this on Google Groups. Looks like this guy just wired them up so the voltages match.

I'm not sure how relevant it is, but I've been able to do this with a IIsi. I don't have a way to use it anymore though, my screen went walkabouts. The modification was a simple matter if wiring an ATX extension loom to the psu socket, making sure voltages matched. It could be worth trying for yourself.

 

[olePigeon]

DERP! So I finished my conversion, and it works... so long as I hold the power button down on the keyboard.

I looked at the YouTube video, and the guy says to install an ATX power supply with the switch on the back. Mine doesn't have one. :/ So I guess it only completes whatever circuit when I hold the power button down. Sigh.

I used wire nuts, so it shouldn't be too hard to take apart again. Other than that set back, it looks like it's going to work. Maybe I can modify the one I currently have. Anyone have an idea where I would install the on/off switch? Or should I just get a different ATX power supply?

 

[olePigeon]

Something I learned: you may have to get a slightly thinner fan. The one in my IIci's power supply was too thick to fit with the new ATX power supply. Luckily I found a thinner 12v fan of the same dimensions, so I could screwed that in and it fit perfectly.