Extending Floppy Power

hybridmedia · Post by **hybridmedia** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:45 pm

I have search through these forums and found none regarding to extending the floppy power cable. If I were to cut my existing floppy cable, connect longer wires and tape it together would this be ok? I am looking at extending it to about 2-3 ft. Would this be possible?

Amazingly enough the path I wanted to go was to buy an extender cable, but there are none to be found for the floppy connector head? Anyone done this?

Also, anyone can provide pictures as to how to enable the floppy cable power supply? I know you have to solder Jumper 1, and remove
Jumper 2 to allow for power to be supplied externally. I am not really confident in these things, and it would be really good if there were pics for me to follow because I don't know what it means? I own a LK 204-24-WB-USB BTW.

Thanks

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:32 am

Hello...

From the pictures you have sent me via email, the module has been updated to the latest version and will not require you to remove or solder any jumper points. Your idea on extending the floppy power cable is a good idea, however you must ensure you follow a couple of guidelines. If I were to do this I would use 18 AWG wire and solder the connection points.

hybridmedia · Post by **hybridmedia** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:42 am

Hmm so basically I don't have to do anything to enable the floppy power supply?

Alright 18 AWG got it. I will go search for it tomorrow. I was thinking more of using electrical tape to connect the points. hmm...

Thanks for your help!

Paradigm · Post by **Paradigm** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 9:43 am

I saw what you said:

If I were to cut my existing floppy cable, connect longer wires and tape it together would this be ok?

and cringed. In electronics, tape should only be used to cover live ends, not for holding them together. I have to agree with Miles and strongly reccommend that you solder them. If you don't have a soldering iron, then I would at least use wire nuts:

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN ... p_code.jsp

Taped connections will eveutally give. I don't care how well you do them. And when they give you will have live bare wires at 5V and 12V floating around your case. And like miles said, 18AWG minimum.

hybridmedia · Post by **hybridmedia** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:17 pm

heh sorry if I scared you, like I said, I am not really good at these sort of things. Don't get me wrong though I am not trying to be lazy, its just that the last time I soldered something was about 10 yrs ago and that didn't go to well either.

What I am trying to do is actually extend the floppy power cable out of the case and on to the case door which I will mount the display, so the final cable should be as thin as possible.

I have thought about it, and what I am now thinking of doing is this :
1. Cut the longest possible strand of wires for the floppy power cable from my old and unused pentium 100 PSU.
2. I will hunt and buy a 4 pin connector and attach it to the cut-off floppy power supply
3. Finally I will connect this new wire to my current computer's PSU.
This way I don't do any damage to my new computer and should I change the power supply it will be easy for me to change the floppy power as well. Its a more modular approach I think.

I tried searching the web, I couldn't find anyone selling or doing extend connectors for floppy power cables; a real pity.

Anyway I was pretty affected by what you said, did a search and so for the benefit of other readers who are also new to this, here is a link to teach you how to solder wires :

http://www.explosivelabs.com/articles/soldering.shtml

Guess I will experiment later. Thanks!

Thommo · Post by **Thommo** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 8:40 pm

Don't really see why you need 2-3ft of cable to go from the psu to the case door, but anyway....

One choice could be to obtain a floppy cable to 4 pin (like those used to power hard drives or cd drives) connector. Most good online stores sell them. You can find extension cables for the 4 pin cables too.

hybridmedia · Post by **hybridmedia** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:19 am

well i intend to line the wire up against the walls of the case, to keep it out of sight, thus the length has to be pretty long.

hmm i couldn't find any websites that offer the extension, any ideas? thanks

spin-dizzy · Post by **spin-dizzy** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 2:42 pm

Here's a 12" extension for a 4 pin molex:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/CPWEX12.htm

And here's the adapter to make it a floppy power cable:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/CPWLS.htm

hybridmedia · Post by **hybridmedia** » Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:58 pm

spin-dizzy wrote:Here's a 12" extension for a 4 pin molex:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/CPWEX12.htm

And here's the adapter to make it a floppy power cable:

http://www.mycableshop.com/sku/CPWLS.htm

Actually I was talking about extending directly from the floppy power connector, but thanks anyway