CF in A590?

[alexh]

Never done the A590 mod but I did the GVP HD8+ one with SCSI->IDE->CF no problems even with 8Mbytes of FastRAM

[Eamoe]

Hi all,

I'm having no luck with this SCSI-->IDE stuff. I got an I-O Data R-IDSC-E/R SCSI-->IDE adapter, which I plug to the A590. Then I have two distinct memory adapters, one IDE-->SD, and one IDE-->CF. Both of them seem to get real trouble when connecting the A590 PSU. I'm not trying to plug both of them at the same time , but as the first didn't work, I've tried the second. See below.

*** IDE-->SD adapter ***
One chip on this little adapter's PCB heats up quick and bad, with both "SD" and "Power" LED's lighting up. There's a third "Active" LED which stays off. It has no jumper.

*** IDE-->CF adapter ***
It has no chip, but the CF card itself also heats up abnormally. The little LED on this one glows a strangely faint red. The board has one "Master/Slave" jumper.

The SCSI-->IDE adapter has no LED, but it doesn't heat.

Among the things I've fiddled with:

- I connect the SCSI-->IDE adapter using a self-made 50pin flat cable. I've bought a crimping tool on purpose for that, so the cable is clean. I don't see no reason for it to cause trouble. I've paid attention to pin 1 on both ends.

- I've sort of hacked the internal Molex power plug of the A590, picking up power to feed the secondary adapter (IDE-->CF or IDE-->SD, they both require power). I *think* these use 5V, and 5V is the red wire on these power plugs, isn't it (my knowledge in electricity is close to null)?

I won't test the A590 further before I can power it alone for a while without problem.

I'm really at a loss here, what's more, the A590 used to work fine with a real SCSI HDD in it.

Any help appreciated!


EDIT: added info

[alexh]

The A590 was shipped with both XT and SCSI drives. You sure you're connecting up to the SCSI connector and not the XT connector?

Have you tested the SCSI-IDE, IDE->SD & IDE->CF adapters in your PC?

If the answer is yes to all of the above then it's gotta be dodgy cables, no?

Why didn't you just use the data cable which came with the A590?
Why didn't you just use an off the shelf molex->floppy adapter for power?

[Eamoe]

Originally Posted by alexh

Yhe A590 was shipped with both XT and SCSI drives. You sure you're connecting up to the SCSI connector and not the XT connector?

Pretty sure.

Originally Posted by alexh

Have you tested the IDE->SD or IDE->CF adapters in your PC?

Erm... no. I will.

Originally Posted by alexh

Gotta be dodgy cables. Why didn't you just use the cables which came with the A590? Or an off the shelf molex->floppy adapter?

The original 50-pin flat was way too short to properly fit the whole adapter thing in the A590 case.

As for the Molex plug, I thought it would be cheaper to mod it myself: image of what I did. Do you think something's wrong here?


EDIT: Hah! Quoted you before you edited your post!

[Toni Wilen]

Originally Posted by Eamoe

I *think* these use 5V, and 5V is the red wire on these power plugs, isn't it (my knowledge in electricity is close to null)?

Always use multimeter to check voltages. Wire colors aren't always "standard" in old hardware.

[Eamoe]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Always use multimeter to check voltages. Wire colors aren't always "standard" in old hardware.

Well just went to buy one and tested. Indeed, red wire from the A590 gives 12V and yellow one gives 5V (swapped compared to modern standard). So I made the changes, double checked voltages at the ends of cables with multimeter, and the results are exactly the same. Heating up etc. I really don't know what to do.

EDIT: what with my modified power cable? It should work, no? It's reasonably well done, using solder, with modded connections isolated with shrinkwrap rubber (dunno how you call this material in english).

I've also checked the flat cable, looked with a magnifier if the crimping was well done, and everything looks alright. I've double checked pin 1 position on every connector and it's all correct.

Note: it heats up if I connect nothing but power (i.e. no SCSI adapter, no data connector, only power to the IDE-->CF adapter).

Last thing is to check the devices on the PC, but how could possibly both (new and from different manufacturer) be out? Will check anyway.

[alexh]

Possible they are all now dead due to supplying 12v instead of 5v?

[coze]

Originally Posted by Eamoe

Well just went to buy one and tested. Indeed, red wire from the A590 gives 12V and yellow one gives 5V (swapped compared to modern standard). So I made the changes, double checked voltages at the ends of cables with multimeter, and the results are exactly the same. Heating up etc. I really don't know what to do.

well if you fed them 12v instead of 5v previously, they're burned, you'll need to get new adapters.

[Eamoe]

Could they possibly still heat when burnt? I'm really asking because I have no idea.

[Jope]

That's one symptom of them failing due to the incorrect voltage.

[Eamoe]

Argh, just tested the IDE-->CF adapter in my PC and it does exactly the same. It heats up the CF card. You guys must be right, it's fried. Need to get a new one.

There's a difference between the SD and CF adapters: on the SD adapter, a chip on the adapter heats up, so I guess the whole adapter is dead (tested the SD card in my digital camera and it's still working fine). On the CF adapter, though, the card itself heats up, so it's possible that I only need to replace the card here.

Thanks guys, will update thread when I get to new things.

[alexh]

IDE->CF adapters are usually passive (just wires) and not possible to be destroyed by over-voltage.

The CF card is what will have been killed. Try it in a card reader.

The IDE->SD and the SCSI->IDE are active and have chips which are probably now dead.

[Eamoe]

Originally Posted by alexh

IDE->CF adapters are usually passive (just wires) and not possible to be destroyed by over-voltage.

The CF card is what will have been killed. Try it in a card reader.

The IDE->SD and the SCSI->IDE are active and have chips which are probably now dead.

OK. I had sort of guessed that, because you don't see any component on the IDE-->CF adapter, except one or two resistors. Out of curiosity: it means that CF memory handles data very much like IDE does, no? Or are all the active components inside the CF cards?

[Jope]

You guessed right. With the adapter you have, it emulates an IDE drive, all the intelligence is inside the CF card.

[alexh]

Yup, CF cards _ARE_ (for all intents and purposes) PIO IDE devices with a different connector.

[Eamoe]

Yeeeee-haw! Looks like it's working guys. Only partitioned and formatted the CF card for now, but everything looks all right so far.

Pics + further info soon.

[alexh]

You had to get a new SCSI->IDE adapter or just CF Card?

[Eamoe]

Just CF card. Your guesses were right.

Learning can be a pain, but now I know: always use your MULTIMETER

Originally Posted by deicidal

Please do, will probably give it a go myself when i get chance regardless.

Hey Deicidal, it does work. Just be sure to check where the 12V is output...

[deicidal]

Great work there mate, when i get chance i will have to try it with my scsi card in the a2000 and hopefully pick up a hdd for the a500

[Eamoe]

Originally Posted by Toni Wilen

Wire colors aren't always "standard" in old hardware.

Thanks everyone but I really just have to quote Toni on this one, you were right, man.