xBook Worklog (Now Powered via PicoPSU!!)

[hackmodford]

Well... according to the USPS my package from sickmods arrived yesterday. And since I didn't check the mailbox yesterday that is entirely possible.

So now all I need is the pico psu. My last question from the post above still stands.

[hackmodford]

Just ordered a pico psu and an atx extension cable.
At this point in my life I feel like doing stuff like this as clean as possible. So I'm not going to "hardwire" the pico psu.

Probably cost another $60-70 in alol

I guess now the only big thing I haven't told you about yet is the super awesome cool hinges that Bens uses. And now that I know what they are I'm buying some when the thing is nearly done.

I think next week is going to be interesting....

[hackmodford]

Forgot to tell you! My ATX adaptor did arrive.
And while I'm waiting for the PSU and Cable for the PSU I decided to wire the xbox side.

I grabbed the "old" "broken" xbox and compared it's PSU cable to the one in my good xbox. They were more or less the same. I just pulled out a couple pins and relocated them. All good so far...

Then I open me diagram from sickmods and begin soldering.

I end up with this.

Not bad...

Took me about ten minutes... I can't wait to try to run the screen + xbox on 12v DC 6amps...

Think it will work? If six amps don't do it the maximum the PicoPSU will go is 10amps.

[hackmodford]

I decided to leave the Den after I finished last post
I shower, become presentable, gather me bag of many things, go to the mailbox to find the inevitable paycheck so that I can eventually cash it, and BOOM!

Wouldn't you know it but the ATX extension cable arrived! Yay!

After I... face the world... I decided to finish the adaptor.

Another ten minutes and!



This is just too cool. Another few days and all I'll have to do is plug and play the PicoPSU and blow something Up!

[JariV]

I just read trough the COMPLETE thread, and I must say, it's looking very good. I'm looking forward to seeing it finished

[hackmodford]

Just checked my tracking number for the picopsu.
According to ups it will be here on monday

Thanx for reading my post JariV

[Harlequin]

looking good, but I was thinking that you may want to shorten the cable length a little bit once the PICO shows up... I got a feeling that the wires are a little long.. If you can avoid the long wires then do so.. otherwise, it is looking decent. I would maybe look into boxing the adapter or taping it so that it doesn't short against anything in the case..

[hackmodford]

It works but it can't power the HDD + DVD drive

[hackmodford]

It Works! I don't know why but I was all ready to try the 5V regulator idea and I decided to test powering my screen + The xbox at the same time and it worked! It had me puzzled because I happened to have the HDD plugged in also!? Then I realized I had the HDD plugged into the old PSU so just to be safe I plugged the HDD into the picopsu again and it worked!





Off to the right I have the power brick that is also powering the monitor.

But I don't think it's powerful enough. (or I'm just getting a bit of interfearence...)
The screen is kind fuzzy and has light waves going over it. Which I assume is because the power brick is straining to power everything. It gets quite hot...

I think I"ll measure amperage now.

[hackmodford]

So I fire up me multimeter with the xbox in series to rate the amperage guess what!

Just the xbox draws 4.5 - 5 amps
With the screen added it comes to a wopping 6.5-7 amps

I was one amp short

So I guess I'm just going to buy a 12V DC 10 amp Power Supply to replace it.

[Biased]

I like what you've got going on there, good luck with the new power source.

[hackmodford]

Thank! and to celebrate I actually grabbed a copy of advent rising the day before (when I thought it would work)

Wow! That game makes me feel like I'm in a movie

[hackmodford]

Is it more elegant to use this
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 4972wt_939" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
To power the entire unit

Or just use two power supplies?

By the way it was really hard to find something like that. The bult in fan kinda makes me wonder... It'll probably be really loud

[Harlequin]

Just a thought.... have you tried dropping the DVD out and checking how much power it takes?

alternatively (and I know you don't want to hear it again)

Power Requirements Idle Power Max. Power
1.8" 0.3 - 0.5 W ~ 3 W
2.5" 0.3 - 2.0 W ~ 5 W
3.5" 4-10 W ~ 20 W

I'm sure that will result in a lower Amp usage for the 1.8".. I've got to book it to work, so I cannot check into it any further for now, but if we are only talkinga bout 1 amp and it's likely going to peak at boot up, the difference between 1.8 to 2.5 could possibly be the trick...

[hackmodford]

Why would I want to? For your benefit? I can do that I guess but I don't see how it will help me since I've built the case and plan on having a DVD drive

I'm going to try to power my screen seperatley to see if there's a difference in the picture quality. If not. I probably have some interfearence going on

Update: I coated the ATX adaptor in hot glue. It will always work now