Keyrah mounting ideas

ElectroBlaster · 18 April 2012, 13:38

I have finally got a Keyrah board. Im looking to get this fitted into an old a500 case which im currently converting into a mini-itx atom based machine.

Has anyone got any pictures of solutions? I dont want to tape this thing down, would rather mount it properly with screws and spacers. I am also stuck with the length of the a1200 keyboard ribbon and the small psu im using to power everything.

Also I did notice one thing, the keyrah board seems bowed/bent? it does not sit flat... is that normal?

Retrofan · 19 April 2012, 18:10

Hi: Which is the model of keyrah for the A500? I thought there weren't, but you could use an A1200 keyboard.

Edit: This guy is selling an A500 with a mini ITX and an A1200 keyboard... but he missed the keyrah: http://www.ebay.es/itm/Amiga-500-UNI...item3a7327f403

About mounting the keyrah you could use a perforated aluminium sheet and screw it (I don't know where the screws are in an A500). Then you can use spacers and screw the keyrah to it, but it depends where you will put it. I would like to make this, but I don't have the money so I will stay with my mini ITX-C=64 (posting on it).

ElectroBlaster · 20 April 2012, 23:57

I have a breadbin C64 here, it does not have the original board and could do with a few things sorting. I did think about using that to do the mod but I couldnt bring myself to hack it up.

So I decided to do an A500 instead. I have sourced nearly everything now:

Atom dual-core board
A500 case
A1200 keyboard
Keyrah
PSU
Low profile memory
40gb laptop drive

All I need now:

A500 floppy drive
A500 keyboard

I plan to mount the keyrah under the A1200 keyboard plate, I really did not want to do this as I want the keyrah's joystick ports poking out the back. I might rip the psu apart and see how to mount that somehow and address the cooling.

Retrofan · 21 April 2012, 01:28

I would install an slot Dvd drive in the floppy drive place if it fits. The psu should be pico psu, and better more Gb's in the Hd. What do you need for the A500 keyboard? The keyrah is mapped for the A1200, and I believe they have the same keys in the same places.

ElectroBlaster · 21 April 2012, 20:22

Ok I plan to do this:

A1200 membrane
A500 keyboard with old membrane removed
A1200 membrane installed
A500 keyboard controller disconnected from membrane but still attached to metal frame (will allow original a500 leds to sit totally normal as before)

I plan to take the A1200 membrane and fit it in place of the A500 one and then somehow wire the A500's power and disk drive leds up to the mini-itx for power and drive access. I could just make life much easier by hot gluing some A1200 or A500 leds directly to the top case but that would mean a trailing wire.

Retrofan · 21 April 2012, 21:39

It's difficult for me to understand, as I don't have an A500. I just see it has the same keys. If it's the measures of the A1200 keyboard frame you just can cut it. For the leds you just buy them (very cheap, more than a keyboard) and you connect them to the mini ITX. One for HD activity and another for power.

Do you mean the leds in the A500 are in the keyboard frame? Just do what you say, hot glue and that's all, but ... it's your project

ElectroBlaster · 21 April 2012, 22:10

I can hotglue common garden leds but it will look messy and rushed or I can hot glue amiga leds in. I could take some project board and then make a led adaptor just like the A1200 has then glue some mounting posts onto the A500 case lid. It would fit much batter (in my mind anyway lol)

When I do something I will go at it 100% and try many different things. Those A500 and A1200 keyboards are the same size and nearly compatible in such a way that what im planning should work.

I have stripped and rebuilt many amiga's back in the old days and still remember how things fit. My only problem is how much voltage these amiga leds need... if they take standard volts the wiring will take minutes.

Retrofan · 21 April 2012, 22:32

I don't know about the A1200 keyrah, but I know about the C64 one. It has a connector for the Power led of the C=64. I'm sure the A1200's one will have at least a connector for it (perhaps another for Hd activity?)

Surely Tony (Airey36 in Ebay) can supply you A1200 leds, and I don't know if they are the same, but if you glue them I'm sure you can use them.

Does an slot Dvd drive fits (openning it) in the floppy drive place in an A500? (it doesn't in an A1200, it hasn't more room).

Edit: Btw, my mod is this (posting on it): Retrogaming multiplatform machine in C64 case

Photon · 21 April 2012, 22:36

I took a spare A600 case w/ keyboard, cut the back 6 cm off behind the joyports, stuck the Keyrah in them, and hotglued the mofo. Perfect.

Also did the same with an A500 case and an A1200 keyboard (and the joyports out the back, cos of the reach of the flatcable). But they both came to the same end - I simply didn't use WinUAE enough with them so I sold them.

They joyports did work with WinUAE and I played some games with them. But I've mostly "played all the games" so it simply didn't see enough action (if you know what I mean). This was before the single-buffering WinUAE though, recent WinUAEs should be fine to game with.

Photon · 21 April 2012, 22:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElectroBlaster

Also I did notice one thing, the keyrah board seems bowed/bent? it does not sit flat... is that normal?

Likely you have bent the PCB with the keyboard strip bolts? It was a mechanically bad solution, so don't hesitate to replace it with a good one (M3/M4 bolts etc are just pennies).

Retrofan · 21 April 2012, 22:46

If you've got enough Usb connectors in your mb you can use this too Amiga Joystick to USB Adapter Cable instead of the keyrah ones.

Photon · 21 April 2012, 23:45

Yeah, that could allow you to place the KeyRah board within the span of the keyboard flatcable maybe? Of course, with some wire and DSubs you could make 2x joystick-cable elongators if you want to use the Keyrah ports.

As for proper fastening, I would place the Keyrah at its place, drill through its bolt holes and the case, and use longer bolts.

Use plastic spacers under the board if there are components or solder points under it making it "not flush to the case".

If you put too much weight on the A500 case it may sag in the middle, fix it with more rubber feet.

ElectroBlaster · 22 April 2012, 01:22

Nice ideas guys

The keyrah is bowed and I have not even used it yet... I am hoping this will not cause any trouble! I have plenty of bits that I can use to mount it, I even have 9pin extensions already made up somewhere but will run into problems mounting them.

I have spent a few hours sorting a few boxes of rubbish out and have found 7 amiga leds, a bare a1200 led board, an a600 led board and loads of resistors. I cannot get over how much stuff I manage to hoard over the years lol.

I even found atari st parts and some amiga disk drives, sadly no a500 ones tho.
Im going to crack on tomorrow morning as its too late now.

I should really get some pictures up aswell

18 April 2012, 13:38	#1
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 38 Posts: 1,180	Keyrah mounting ideas I have finally got a Keyrah board. Im looking to get this fitted into an old a500 case which im currently converting into a mini-itx atom based machine. Has anyone got any pictures of solutions? I dont want to tape this thing down, would rather mount it properly with screws and spacers. I am also stuck with the length of the a1200 keyboard ribbon and the small psu im using to power everything. Also I did notice one thing, the keyrah board seems bowed/bent? it does not sit flat... is that normal? __________________ A1200 3.1roms WB3.1 CF IDE 200w psu Catweasel Mk4 Twin Sid Chips Registered WHDLoad

19 April 2012, 18:10	#2
Retrofan Ruler of the Universe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lanzarote/Spain Posts: 2,740	Hi: Which is the model of keyrah for the A500? I thought there weren't, but you could use an A1200 keyboard. Edit: This guy is selling an A500 with a mini ITX and an A1200 keyboard... but he missed the keyrah: http://www.ebay.es/itm/Amiga-500-UNI...item3a7327f403 About mounting the keyrah you could use a perforated aluminium sheet and screw it (I don't know where the screws are in an A500). Then you can use spacers and screw the keyrah to it, but it depends where you will put it. I would like to make this, but I don't have the money so I will stay with my mini ITX-C=64 (posting on it). __________________ AmiKit for Real Amigas Released, Click Here A1200 1D1, 8Gb SSD Hd, ACA 1231/42. A1200 2B, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd. ACA1230/56, Fast Ata MKII, Indivision MkII with Hdmi. A1200 1D1, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd, Clockport expander, Delfina, Subway, IDefix, BPPC, BVision, Acard with lateral slot for Scsi Cf HD... C=64 with ITX inside. Posting with it. Last edited by Retrofan; 20 April 2012 at 00:37.

20 April 2012, 23:57	#3
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 38 Posts: 1,180	I have a breadbin C64 here, it does not have the original board and could do with a few things sorting. I did think about using that to do the mod but I couldnt bring myself to hack it up. So I decided to do an A500 instead. I have sourced nearly everything now: Atom dual-core board A500 case A1200 keyboard Keyrah PSU Low profile memory 40gb laptop drive All I need now: A500 floppy drive A500 keyboard I plan to mount the keyrah under the A1200 keyboard plate, I really did not want to do this as I want the keyrah's joystick ports poking out the back. I might rip the psu apart and see how to mount that somehow and address the cooling. __________________ A1200 3.1roms WB3.1 CF IDE 200w psu Catweasel Mk4 Twin Sid Chips Registered WHDLoad

21 April 2012, 01:28	#4
Retrofan Ruler of the Universe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lanzarote/Spain Posts: 2,740	I would install an slot Dvd drive in the floppy drive place if it fits. The psu should be pico psu, and better more Gb's in the Hd. What do you need for the A500 keyboard? The keyrah is mapped for the A1200, and I believe they have the same keys in the same places. __________________ AmiKit for Real Amigas Released, Click Here A1200 1D1, 8Gb SSD Hd, ACA 1231/42. A1200 2B, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd. ACA1230/56, Fast Ata MKII, Indivision MkII with Hdmi. A1200 1D1, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd, Clockport expander, Delfina, Subway, IDefix, BPPC, BVision, Acard with lateral slot for Scsi Cf HD... C=64 with ITX inside. Posting with it. Last edited by Retrofan; 21 April 2012 at 21:40.

21 April 2012, 20:22	#5
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 38 Posts: 1,180	Ok I plan to do this: A1200 membrane A500 keyboard with old membrane removed A1200 membrane installed A500 keyboard controller disconnected from membrane but still attached to metal frame (will allow original a500 leds to sit totally normal as before) I plan to take the A1200 membrane and fit it in place of the A500 one and then somehow wire the A500's power and disk drive leds up to the mini-itx for power and drive access. I could just make life much easier by hot gluing some A1200 or A500 leds directly to the top case but that would mean a trailing wire. __________________ A1200 3.1roms WB3.1 CF IDE 200w psu Catweasel Mk4 Twin Sid Chips Registered WHDLoad

21 April 2012, 21:39	#6
Retrofan Ruler of the Universe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lanzarote/Spain Posts: 2,740	It's difficult for me to understand, as I don't have an A500. I just see it has the same keys. If it's the measures of the A1200 keyboard frame you just can cut it. For the leds you just buy them (very cheap, more than a keyboard) and you connect them to the mini ITX. One for HD activity and another for power. Do you mean the leds in the A500 are in the keyboard frame? Just do what you say, hot glue and that's all, but ... it's your project __________________ AmiKit for Real Amigas Released, Click Here A1200 1D1, 8Gb SSD Hd, ACA 1231/42. A1200 2B, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd. ACA1230/56, Fast Ata MKII, Indivision MkII with Hdmi. A1200 1D1, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd, Clockport expander, Delfina, Subway, IDefix, BPPC, BVision, Acard with lateral slot for Scsi Cf HD... C=64 with ITX inside. Posting with it.

21 April 2012, 22:10	#7
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 38 Posts: 1,180	I can hotglue common garden leds but it will look messy and rushed or I can hot glue amiga leds in. I could take some project board and then make a led adaptor just like the A1200 has then glue some mounting posts onto the A500 case lid. It would fit much batter (in my mind anyway lol) When I do something I will go at it 100% and try many different things. Those A500 and A1200 keyboards are the same size and nearly compatible in such a way that what im planning should work. I have stripped and rebuilt many amiga's back in the old days and still remember how things fit. My only problem is how much voltage these amiga leds need... if they take standard volts the wiring will take minutes. __________________ A1200 3.1roms WB3.1 CF IDE 200w psu Catweasel Mk4 Twin Sid Chips Registered WHDLoad

21 April 2012, 22:32	#8
Retrofan Ruler of the Universe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lanzarote/Spain Posts: 2,740	I don't know about the A1200 keyrah, but I know about the C64 one. It has a connector for the Power led of the C=64. I'm sure the A1200's one will have at least a connector for it (perhaps another for Hd activity?) Surely Tony (Airey36 in Ebay) can supply you A1200 leds, and I don't know if they are the same, but if you glue them I'm sure you can use them. Does an slot Dvd drive fits (openning it) in the floppy drive place in an A500? (it doesn't in an A1200, it hasn't more room). Edit: Btw, my mod is this (posting on it): Retrogaming multiplatform machine in C64 case __________________ AmiKit for Real Amigas Released, Click Here A1200 1D1, 8Gb SSD Hd, ACA 1231/42. A1200 2B, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd. ACA1230/56, Fast Ata MKII, Indivision MkII with Hdmi. A1200 1D1, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd, Clockport expander, Delfina, Subway, IDefix, BPPC, BVision, Acard with lateral slot for Scsi Cf HD... C=64 with ITX inside. Posting with it. Last edited by Retrofan; 21 April 2012 at 22:51.

21 April 2012, 22:36	#9
Photon Oldskool Demo Coder Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hult / Sweden Age: 41 Posts: 3,680	I took a spare A600 case w/ keyboard, cut the back 6 cm off behind the joyports, stuck the Keyrah in them, and hotglued the mofo. Perfect. Also did the same with an A500 case and an A1200 keyboard (and the joyports out the back, cos of the reach of the flatcable). But they both came to the same end - I simply didn't use WinUAE enough with them so I sold them. They joyports did work with WinUAE and I played some games with them. But I've mostly "played all the games" so it simply didn't see enough action (if you know what I mean). This was before the single-buffering WinUAE though, recent WinUAEs should be fine to game with. __________________ Henrik. Programs Amiga demos, iPhone apps, websites, etc. A1000/512k - A500 2.0/040@28/4M/.5M slowmem/8M/SCSI/CF - A600 portable II 3.1/ACA630/WiFi/CF - 'A1700' 3.1/68060@80/64M/IDE-Fix Express/CF - etc."The difference between PC and Amiga is that 10yo PCs are worth $0. 20yo Amigas are worth a lot, and Amigas that are only 15yo cost a fortune!" If you like Portal 2, try my >> single player and cooperation maps <<

21 April 2012, 22:46	#11
Retrofan Ruler of the Universe Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Lanzarote/Spain Posts: 2,740	If you've got enough Usb connectors in your mb you can use this too Amiga Joystick to USB Adapter Cable instead of the keyrah ones. __________________ AmiKit for Real Amigas Released, Click Here A1200 1D1, 8Gb SSD Hd, ACA 1231/42. A1200 2B, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd. ACA1230/56, Fast Ata MKII, Indivision MkII with Hdmi. A1200 1D1, Lateral slot for Cf Hd's, Tray system Dvd, Clockport expander, Delfina, Subway, IDefix, BPPC, BVision, Acard with lateral slot for Scsi Cf HD... C=64 with ITX inside. Posting with it.

21 April 2012, 23:45	#12
Photon Oldskool Demo Coder Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hult / Sweden Age: 41 Posts: 3,680	Yeah, that could allow you to place the KeyRah board within the span of the keyboard flatcable maybe? Of course, with some wire and DSubs you could make 2x joystick-cable elongators if you want to use the Keyrah ports. As for proper fastening, I would place the Keyrah at its place, drill through its bolt holes and the case, and use longer bolts. Use plastic spacers under the board if there are components or solder points under it making it "not flush to the case". If you put too much weight on the A500 case it may sag in the middle, fix it with more rubber feet. __________________ Henrik. Programs Amiga demos, iPhone apps, websites, etc. A1000/512k - A500 2.0/040@28/4M/.5M slowmem/8M/SCSI/CF - A600 portable II 3.1/ACA630/WiFi/CF - 'A1700' 3.1/68060@80/64M/IDE-Fix Express/CF - etc."The difference between PC and Amiga is that 10yo PCs are worth $0. 20yo Amigas are worth a lot, and Amigas that are only 15yo cost a fortune!" If you like Portal 2, try my >> single player and cooperation maps <<

22 April 2012, 01:22	#13
ElectroBlaster Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Exeter, Devon, UK Age: 38 Posts: 1,180	Nice ideas guys The keyrah is bowed and I have not even used it yet... I am hoping this will not cause any trouble! I have plenty of bits that I can use to mount it, I even have 9pin extensions already made up somewhere but will run into problems mounting them. I have spent a few hours sorting a few boxes of rubbish out and have found 7 amiga leds, a bare a1200 led board, an a600 led board and loads of resistors. I cannot get over how much stuff I manage to hoard over the years lol. I even found atari st parts and some amiga disk drives, sadly no a500 ones tho. Im going to crack on tomorrow morning as its too late now. I should really get some pictures up aswell __________________ A1200 3.1roms WB3.1 CF IDE 200w psu Catweasel Mk4 Twin Sid Chips Registered WHDLoad

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