Here's yet another option, instead of a special cable, an adapter that
just provides a usb jack, and you use whatever cable you might need.
https://github.com/bkw777/BCR_USB_PWR
I've already ordered the parts to try it.
I was worried about needing to figure out some kind of spacers and maybe
a 2nd small pcb just to get the usb jack a little further away from the
pcb surface to make room for the molding around the male usb plug, but I
measured several ordinary usb cables and at least by the numbers they
should all all just exactly fit. That dimension is probably part of a
standard.
The direction the usb cable exits is good for M100/102/200, And works on
a PC-8201/PC-8300 but the usb cable blocks the phone or sio2 port.
Pointing the other way is no good because that's the serial port. I
could make a version that points the usb cable straight up, which won't
actually stick up that far because the pcb can extend down to the base
of the machine and the usb plug can start pretty close to the table.
It could point directly away from the laptop but I personally just don't
like that because it's always a recipe for breaking plugs from the
leverage. But the connectors to do that exist and it would be easy to make.
--
bkw
On 7/13/20 2:44 AM, Gary Weber wrote:
After looking through all of that, I think my mind is kind of mush right
now...
> But after looking at all that, it does seem pretty practical to just run
> a cable from the bcr port or the battery compartment or something
I mean, it's really no different than one of the ways the BlueM product
could be used, powered from the BCR port. On the NEC at least the BCR
connector is right next to it, but yeah on the M100 it's definitely much
less convenient. Still thinking I may go for wiring up a +5v that makes
out to pin 9 on the DE9 and eliminate the "nasty" that Mike
highlighted. :)
So many options....
On Sun, Jul 12, 2020 at 9:33 PM Brian K. White <b.kenyo...@gmail.com
<mailto:b.kenyo...@gmail.com>> wrote:
I'd probably sidestep the whole backshell problem and use an IDC plug.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/assmann-wsw-components/A-DFF-09LPIII-FP/HHFP09H-ND/5400097
or the same thing with a cable pre-crimped, strain-relief included in
both cases.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/assmann-wsw-components/H7FXH-0906G/H7FXH-0906G-ND/998799
You'll need a usb plug that you can make as flat as possible...
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/hirose-electric-co-ltd/UX20-MB-5P/UX20-MB-5P-ND/1836470
But then you have a soldered plug with no backshell again, just on the
usb now... At least that is small enough you could just blob some
hot-glue or sugru or even just a piece of grey 3m foam tape to cover
those pins.
Next-best is you're cutting and splicing two different cable together
which is ugly and annoying. You could get a pre-molded right-angle
usb-mini cable and cut the wire and splice to the ribbon wire from the
9-pin.
http://www.yourcablestore.com/YCS-Basics-3-Foot-USB-20-Mini-B-Female-to-Right-Angle-Mini-B-Male-Extension-Cable_p_1304.html
Blech.
For myself, I think I'm going something kind of unnecessarily fancy. I
don't want any external cables, especially on a M100 where the bcr port
isn't right next to the serial. And I don't want anything sticking even
further out that inconveniently positioned usb plug.
So I found this neat combined lipo charger/manager + buck/boost power
supply. It has everything needed already integrated. A lipo
charger/manager to take in usb/4.5v-6v and properly & safely charge &
manage a 3.7v lipo cell, and a buck/boost module to take the battery
power which ranges from 2.5 to 4.2, and outputs both 5v and 3.3. It has
a micro-usb for charging input and a JST plug for the lipo cell. And
you
can buy the lipo cells in several sizes with a wire and JST plug
already on.
https://hhtronik.com/product/pgcpsu-duo/
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1570
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1317
So the only thing to solder is just 2 short wires for the output to
some
place on the WiModem.
The module supplies bothe 5v and 3.3v.
There is no good place to tap the 5v input on the WiModem, especially
not on the OLED version where the oled module covers up the back of the
usb plug, and it's soldered in too.
But there are at least 2 easy places to access the 3.3v rail. Assuming
the WiModem doesn't actually use the 5v from the usb anywhere except to
feed the 3.3v regulator, it should be fine to just run 3.3 & gnd right
to both sides of that yellow cap right behind the usb plug. Or backfeed
into the the pins for the oled. I'll have to test this to make sure it
doesn't maybe use the 5v to power the rs232 level shifter.
Glue or foam tape the module down and maybe use velcro for the battery
even though mostly you'd never remove it until a few years later.
Could even add a 5.5x2.1 dc barrel jack to the input to the module,
because the module can accept up to 6v in place of the usb, so you
could
charge it with the laptop charger instead of needing a separate usb
charger. Maybe add a diode to drop the input from the barrel jack a
little just to be safe.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/tensility-international-corp/54-00166/839-54-00166-ND/10459294
But after looking at all that, it does seem pretty practical to just
run
a cable from the bcr port or the battery compartment or something. An
external cable and plug is kind of hacky, but not having a separate
battery to charge is good, and a wire sure is simpler.
--
bkw
On 7/12/20 3:50 PM, Mike Stein wrote:
>
> Wow! That looks nasty ;-)
> I believe that like many RS-232 dongles the Firefly can draw its
power
> from pin 9 of the DE-9 connector, so adding a little wire inside the
> Model T would get rid of that BCR plug & cable... just sayin'...
> I'd also make a custom right angle adapter for the RS-232
connection;
> take an in-line DB25 connector, either PCB or solder cup:
> Add a right-angle DE9 connector:
> Join them together with a bit of perfboard, wire appropriately,
cover
> with some epoxy and Bob's your uncle.
> Something like this, but more compact and with a straight DB25 and
> right-angle DE9 (the pins on right-angle DB25s are on the wrong
side).
> Think I'll have to build a couple myself ;-)
> You can also get right-angle DE9 adapters:
> https://www.winford.com/products/adr9.php
> m
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Gary Weber <mailto:g...@web8201.com
<mailto:g...@web8201.com>>
> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>
<mailto:m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>>
> *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:48 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [M100] Slim style DB25/DE9 connectors
>
> Thanks, Mike. Yes that's about the size I was looking for. I'm
> using them to pull power from a BCR port, which is just 2 wires.
> The slimmer the better. Like this:
> https://www.web8201.net/images/Bluetooth_BCR_Powered.jpg
>
> Thanks for that link, that just may be the best one can get
today.
> Gary
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:38 PM Mike Stein
<mhs.st...@gmail.com <mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com>
> <mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com <mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com>>> wrote:
>
> __
> Not sure what your criteria are; are you talking about
the length?
> These any good?
>
https://www.electronicsurplus.com/md9-00j-vl-connector-hoods-for-db9-de9
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Gary Weber <mailto:g...@web8201.com
<mailto:g...@web8201.com>>
> *To:* m...@bitchin100.com
<mailto:m...@bitchin100.com> <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com
<mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>>
> *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:26 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [M100] Slim style DB25/DE9 connectors
>
> Thanks for the tip, Brian. About the best I've been
able
> to find is this:
>
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/cinch-connectivity-solutions-aim-cambridge/40-9709H/367-1139-ND/3830261
>
>
> Apparently those half-size hoods that I linked earlier
> aren't made these days.
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:08 PM Brian White
> <b.kenyo...@gmail.com <mailto:b.kenyo...@gmail.com>
<mailto:b.kenyo...@gmail.com <mailto:b.kenyo...@gmail.com>>> wrote:
>
> I don't know about 9 pin, but Mike Stein found a
really
> good 25 pin when I was trying to find something
good for
> tpdd cables.
>
>
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/09670250411/1195-2690-ND/3181274/
>
> If I wasn't on my phone I'd just try searching
"dsub" on
> digikey and filter by 9 pin instead of 25 and scroll
> through all of them.
>
> --
> bkw
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2020, 2:14 PM Mitch Parker
> <mbp...@gmail.com <mailto:mbp...@gmail.com>
<mailto:mbp...@gmail.com <mailto:mbp...@gmail.com>>> wrote:
>
> Gary,
>
> I may have some in stock. LMK if you want pics.
>
> Mitch
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:58 PM Gary Weber
> <g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>
<mailto:g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>>> wrote:
>
> Anyone know where you can source this
style of
> D-sub connector anymore? I like how slim
they
> are. The only connectors I can find
these days
> are quite a bit larger.
> https://www.web8201.net/images/db9_hood.jpg
> https://www.web8201.net/images/db25_db9_hoods.jpg
>
> Thanks for any info,
>
>
> --
> Gary Weber
> g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>
<mailto:g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>>
>
--
bkw
--
bkw
