Two floppy drives on one port. A1200

loggio · 15 August 2013, 09:57

Hi guys,

First post here, thought I'd pick the brains of the Amiga community. I've just gone and bought myself an Amiga 1200 and hxc floppy emulator and had a little thought. I want to have the internal floppy drive still available when I need it and essentially keep it in the system connected to df0.

I don't want to run the HXC externally as Df1.
What I want to do, is get a straight 34 pin ribbon with two connectors for 2 drives, these are available on eBay. Normally they are twisted at one connector. I can just untwist and have both straight through on one circuit.

Now, because the power supplied to the disk drive is 12v and 5v I want to add a DPDT switch in the line to be able to power on and switch the drive that I'd like to use. ( of course you'd turn the amiga off before you throw the switch)

In theory this works, as the ribbon will be connected to both drives on the one circuit, simply the drive with the power would be the drive that's detected.

Would this work? Never really seen or heard of this done is all, thought it was interesting.

Loedown · 15 August 2013, 11:06

The HxC configuration lets you keep the last image you mounted and also to set the drive ( A / B )

I don't see the HxC overloading the rails but one issue you would come across is that the twisted cables provide signals for A / B ( DF0: DF1: ) based on the position of the drive on the connector so you cannot have 2 x DF0:

A two connector straight through cable should be ok though but they will be harder to come by I think because they're uncommon. and there may be a further issue with the disconnected drive causing impedance issues on the lines.

Jope · 15 August 2013, 11:24

Just keep both devices powered up and instead make the ds0 and motor signals switchable between the devices.

loggio · 15 August 2013, 11:29

Yeah, impedance is one thing i was worried about... Was hoping someone would be able to clear it up for me. Like i said, i would have to "untwist" the ribbon cable to make it straight through.

loggio · 15 August 2013, 11:31

which ones are the ds0 and motor ?

Jope · 15 August 2013, 12:36

10 and 16.

I let you off too easy, look at the schematics next time please. ;-)

loggio · 15 August 2013, 13:10

thanks for that, i actually did just after i asked. lol appreciate it

15 August 2013, 09:57	#1
loggio Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 18	Two floppy drives on one port. A1200 Hi guys, First post here, thought I'd pick the brains of the Amiga community. I've just gone and bought myself an Amiga 1200 and hxc floppy emulator and had a little thought. I want to have the internal floppy drive still available when I need it and essentially keep it in the system connected to df0. I don't want to run the HXC externally as Df1. What I want to do, is get a straight 34 pin ribbon with two connectors for 2 drives, these are available on eBay. Normally they are twisted at one connector. I can just untwist and have both straight through on one circuit. Now, because the power supplied to the disk drive is 12v and 5v I want to add a DPDT switch in the line to be able to power on and switch the drive that I'd like to use. ( of course you'd turn the amiga off before you throw the switch) In theory this works, as the ribbon will be connected to both drives on the one circuit, simply the drive with the power would be the drive that's detected. Would this work? Never really seen or heard of this done is all, thought it was interesting.

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15 August 2013, 11:06	#2
Loedown Precious & fragile things Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 1,946	The HxC configuration lets you keep the last image you mounted and also to set the drive ( A / B ) I don't see the HxC overloading the rails but one issue you would come across is that the twisted cables provide signals for A / B ( DF0: DF1: ) based on the position of the drive on the connector so you cannot have 2 x DF0: A two connector straight through cable should be ok though but they will be harder to come by I think because they're uncommon. and there may be a further issue with the disconnected drive causing impedance issues on the lines.

15 August 2013, 11:24	#3
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,864	Just keep both devices powered up and instead make the ds0 and motor signals switchable between the devices.

15 August 2013, 11:29	#4
loggio Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 18	Yeah, impedance is one thing i was worried about... Was hoping someone would be able to clear it up for me. Like i said, i would have to "untwist" the ribbon cable to make it straight through.

15 August 2013, 11:31	#5
loggio Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 18	which ones are the ds0 and motor ?

15 August 2013, 12:36	#6
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,864	10 and 16. I let you off too easy, look at the schematics next time please. ;-)

15 August 2013, 13:10	#7
loggio Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Australia Posts: 18	thanks for that, i actually did just after i asked. lol appreciate it

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