hi to all
so now i have ordered my symbiface 2 like many of you have already i am now thinking mmmmmmm what is the best way to power it up,
so answers on a post card please lol :laugh:
as we all know there are many different ways in the sense of power packs out there good and bad so what do we recommend to power the symbiface 2 up in the way of a decent supply
it's a bit chunky but I use an old PC PSU. I'm sure there's a better method, so I'm curious too...
Grab one of these USB IDE Adaptors, they cost next to nothing and they have a tidy little PSU that supplies 12V and 5V on a standard Molex PC connector, really handy for stuff like this:
USB 2.0 auf IDE SATA 2,5 3,5 Festplatte Konverter Kabel | eBay (http://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-2-0-auf-IDE-SATA-2-5-3-5-Festplatte-Konverter-Kabel-/190684825235?pt=DE_Computing_Festplattengeh%C3%A4use_Docks&hash=item2c65b38693)
Bryce.
That is awesome Bryce! You've just saved me a major amount of desk space and such a small price too...
I've ordered a UK dispatch version:
New USB 2.0 to IDE SATA 2.5 3.5 Hard Drive Converter Cable #894541 UK | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-2-0-to-IDE-SATA-2-5-3-5-Hard-Drive-Converter-Cable-894541-UK-/150950642890?pt=UK_Computing_Drive_Cables_Adapters&hash=item23255c04ca&_uhb=1)
Unfortunately they don't supply enough juice to power a computer, but for something like the SF2 it should be fine. They're also not the best quality and die on occasions, but for €5 who cares. I've been using the same one for two years without a problem. The USB IDE adapter can come in handy too :D
Bryce.
Yes, I bought one of those a while back to try to salvage a crashed internal drive, but it looks as though the power supply is going to be more handy than the actual IDE-adaptor. :D
okay, so I dug out my SymbifaceII card, I packaged it up 2 years ago when I moved house. It still had the PC PSU with it and the IDE-->CF adaptor with a 2Gb CF card attached (I put the CF Card into laptop to check and all contents are fine). So, was about to enjoy a Sunday afternoon of firing SymbOS back up....when..I get hit issues >:(
I switched the CPC 6128 on by itself and it displays the familiar blue screen on the proper CTM644 monitor (I originally was using an LCD TV, but decided to rule out anything else being the problem by going back to basics.)
I have the SFII card powered from one set of cables from the PC PSU. I have the CF Adaptor powered from another set. I turn on the PC PSU, then I turn on the CPC 6128. A green light /led shines from the SFII board. I switch on the CPC and the red light /led shines now too. But, I get nothing on the monitor, no output at all.
Again, if I unplug the SFII from the expansion port and switch on the CPC, it boots up fine, accessing the disc drive no problems.
So, a quick question - how can I verify that the SFII board is still okay?
I do have another 6128, but I put the HxC in as a replacement disc drive and wondered if that would cause a conflict of some sort. I have a couple of 664's but don't really want to fry them by mistake if there is something faulty with the SFII. I did read that "new" SFII's are now available for a short while, but I don't really want to shell out another 120+Euros if this one just needs a tweak.
I don't believe the ROM switches should cause a problem? 1,7 & 8 are OFF the rest are ON. I'm at a loss.... (and I just ordered the new PSU too...)
UPDATE: as per here: http://www.nilquader.net/cpc/CFKartenSymbiface.pdf (http://www.nilquader.net/cpc/CFKartenSymbiface.pdf) I have 12v going to the SFII board and 5v going to the IDE-->CF adaptor. As I used this quite a bit a few years ago, I see that I'd done the pin 28 modification also.
Okay, I tested on the 6128 with HxC fitted. same result. I have a ribbon adaptor, so I tested on a 6128+ - exactly the same result. It's odd, because it looks like it should work. I notice there is a big battery on the SFII card itself and that the board has a date stamp of 2006, could it by chance have run out of juice and now it has "lost" it's memory (and the software that should be running on it) and is therefore a blank card now? Is that possible?
@Ynot.zer0: I don't think, that it's the battery. If there is a problem with the Roms you will at least see the first two lines of the start-screen.
But you can just try out this:
- deactivate ROMs 0-7 by deactivating all DIP-switches
- deactivate ROMs 8-15 by closing Jumper J2
If it still does not work, it's not the battery.
The expansion cable is connected correctly? (pin 1/2 is next to the power supply connector)
CU,
Prodatron
Bryce, that power solution is awesome...
Quote from: Prodatron on 19:00, 16 December 12
@Ynot.zer0: I don't think, that it's the battery. If there is a problem with the Roms you will at least see the first two lines of the start-screen.
But you can just try out this:
- deactivate ROMs 0-7 by deactivating all DIP-switches
- deactivate ROMs 8-15 by closing Jumper J2
If it still does not work, it's not the battery.
The expansion cable is connected correctly? (pin 1/2 is next to the power supply connector)
CU,
Prodatron
Hi Prodatron,
Tried all those things, no joy. I've attached a zip with some photo's. As you can see, picture#1 is all working fine reading a disc, then plugging the SFII in, then powering up the CPC, you see both SFII lights/leds come on, then nothing on the monitor.
thanks
Maybe the cable is dodgy, try it with the MegaFlash cable instead.
Bryce.
Usually the red LED is only active during IDE access (and for a short time, when you power it up). Seems, that it's glowing all the time.
Did you try to start it without an IDE cable connected?
CU,
Prodatron
Quote from: Bryce on 13:02, 16 December 12
Grab one of these USB IDE Adaptors, they cost next to nothing and they have a tidy little PSU that supplies 12V and 5V on a standard Molex PC connector, really handy for stuff like this:
USB 2.0 auf IDE SATA 2,5 3,5 Festplatte Konverter Kabel | eBay (http://www.ebay.de/itm/USB-2-0-auf-IDE-SATA-2-5-3-5-Festplatte-Konverter-Kabel-/190684825235?pt=DE_Computing_Festplattengeh%C3%A4use_Docks&hash=item2c65b38693)
Bryce.
nice piece of kit bryce so when you connect it to the sf2 for example do you use the cable with the molex plug on the end and cut the plug of the other end to use just two wires ?
the sf2 does only take 2 wires to power it up, is that correct and is this the red and black wires
IIRC red =+5V, yellow = +12V
Black = ground
But please get a confirmation from someone else ;)
Hi Ynot0! Maybe in your case the hard-disc does suck too much power. Try to disconnect the cable from the IDE port. Now switch on the SF2, then the CPC. You should get a picture on the CPC now. If yes, you just need a power supply with more Ampere.
Quote from: Prodatron on 15:56, 17 December 12
Usually the red LED is only active during IDE access (and for a short time, when you power it up). Seems, that it's glowing all the time.
Did you try to start it without an IDE cable connected?
Yep - just tried that. completely unplugged the cable from the board. red light/led doesn't come on, just the green one. but same result.
Quote
Maybe the cable is dodgy, try it with the MegaFlash cable instead.
Hmmm....I've been wondering if it might be SFII to CPC cable. I'll try the MegaFlash cable and let you know...@TFM/FS: I switch on the SFII card first and then the CPC, no output to the monitor at all- let me try another cable.
Good luck with the cable! I really hope it's just the cable.
darn it. okay, swapped cable for MegaFlash one..... and no difference. ???
Interestingly, if I do not have any power connected to the SFII and I just plug it into the CPC and turn the CPC on, I get the same behaviour, ie. nothing on the monitor. If I unplug it and switch on, nice blue screen. hmmmm...
UPDATE: I checked the battery with a multi-meter and it reads around the 3-4v range, so no problem there.
Please dont switch on Cpc with connected SF2 if this doesnt have electricity (at least not for a longer time)..
It could damage the CPC after a while (thats what I heard).
I think its the best thing to send it back, we will check it. Will send you another pm.
CU,
Prodatron
Quote from: buzby on 20:37, 17 December 12
nice piece of kit bryce so when you connect it to the sf2 for example do you use the cable with the molex plug on the end and cut the plug of the other end to use just two wires ?
the sf2 does only take 2 wires to power it up, is that correct and is this the red and black wires
I didn't cut the plug off! Otherwise I couldn't use it to supply HDs anymore. I just got an old Y-Cable from a PC CPU fan and cut the female socket off with about 5cm of wire and put a terminal block on the end. Then you can add whatever links you need for 5 or 12V without the risk of a short-circuit.
And yes, Red is 5V, Yellow is 12V and the two black wires are grounds.
Bryce.
I got one of these a few weeks ago, which is the same thing but without the USB->HDD interface, just the PSU: HDD POWER SUPPLY AC 12V+5V 2A FOR HARD DRIVE MOLEX UK | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320705061184)
I'm using it with a y-splitter to power the CPC6128 and a 3.5" drive. I'm hoping that when my symbiface arrives it'll have enough juice to power that and a pair of CF cards too.
Not bad for £5 posted, and from the UK so fast delivery (no waiting from hong kong/china...)
Quote from: Munchausen
I got one of these a few weeks ago, which is the same thing but without the USB->HDD interface, just the PSU: HDD POWER SUPPLY AC 12V+5V 2A FOR HARD DRIVE MOLEX UK | eBay
I'm using it with a y-splitter to power the CPC6128 and a 3.5" drive. I'm hoping that when my symbiface arrives it'll have enough juice to power that and a pair of CF cards too.
Not bad for £5 posted, and from the UK so fast delivery (no waiting from hong kong/china...)
Huh, what do you know, never seen one of these before... but it makes so much sense. I'd prefer more than 2A, but for the price it's alright I guess. Getting one! Does it have the wall outlet cable?
I found it by just searching "12V 5V power supply" on ebay...
No wall outlet comes with it I'm afraid, but it's a standard IEC/kettle lead.
I'd also like a bit more power, but note it's 2A on both the 5V and 12V lines, not in total (which wouldn't make much sense anyhow).
Quote from: Ynot.zer0 on 13:14, 16 December 12
That is awesome Bryce! You've just saved me a major amount of desk space and such a small price too...
I've ordered a UK dispatch version:
New USB 2.0 to IDE SATA 2.5 3.5 Hard Drive Converter Cable #894541 UK | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-USB-2-0-to-IDE-SATA-2-5-3-5-Hard-Drive-Converter-Cable-894541-UK-/150950642890?pt=UK_Computing_Drive_Cables_Adapters&hash=item23255c04ca&_uhb=1)
Thanks for the link. I ordered one as well and it arrived today. Will also be useful for transferring my games to the 160GB IDE HDD I bought for my Playstation 2 recently :)
Quote from: Munchausen on 22:33, 18 December 12
I got one of these a few weeks ago, which is the same thing but without the USB->HDD interface, just the PSU: HDD POWER SUPPLY AC 12V+5V 2A FOR HARD DRIVE MOLEX UK | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320705061184)
I'm using it with a y-splitter to power the CPC6128 and a 3.5" drive. I'm hoping that when my symbiface arrives it'll have enough juice to power that and a pair of CF cards too.
Not bad for £5 posted, and from the UK so fast delivery (no waiting from hong kong/china...)
Careful with that PSU, I had a couple and used them in exactly the same way you describe. The first one got too hot to touch then caught fire internally. The second one also gets excessively hot but I have not used it long enough to cause fire. I think the current ratings are a bit of fiction on them! Probably being so cheap there is a huge variation in their working range.
Agree with Xora, be careful with those...Mine went Pop very shortly after plugging it in and had melted down badly inside.
I mentioned it here a while back,
USB Mouse Batch. (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/usb-mouse-batch/msg38858/#msg38858)
and read deepfb's reply straight after...
Cheers,
Shane
Could it damage the board it's plugged into? I am worried about using mine now...
The early ones had a tendency to go pop, but the newer ones seem to be much more robust. But I still wouldn't recommend using them anywhere close to the amp rating they claim. Don't try to power a CPC with one of these. It will definitely get too hot and die.
@Beaker: Even when they go pop, they don't do anything that could damage the device connected, they just stop outputing anything at all.
Bryce.
Thanks Bryce, I was concerned it may fry the board :)
No problems so far... though it is quite under rating for powering the CPC alone. With a floppy drive on the 5V line I think you're close to 2A though. I'll see how it goes... if it does suffer meltdown it's not exactly breaking the bank anyway
What rating does it claim on the PSU?
Bryce.
OK I am probably being a dumbass but I plugged in my symbiface II and got a black screen. The green light is on. Any ideas? Picture attached below:
Is there a special guide for dummy's anywhere? :D
OK, scrap that, I realised one of my grounds wasn't grounded on the cable... hopefully I've not killed my symbiface :'(
Now the green light is on more strongly (which is encouraging) and the normal amstrad screen appears but when I load symbos it only sees 128k... I should probably stay away from electronics hey?
Hi Steve,
that's strange... Seems, that also the RTC doesn't work. What's about the mouse? Did you get the SymbOS-Rom-Message during startup?
CU,
Prodatron
Hi Prodatron,
Thanks for the quick reply. I've not got as far as installing any ROMS at the moment. I've just downloaded the Full CPC package from the website http://www.symbos.de/download.htm#marke0 (http://www.symbos.de/download.htm#marke0) and converted SymbOS.dsk and Sym-apps.dsk to hfe formats and ran them from the HxC floppy emulator. Not sure if I am doing something wrong there? Also when I boot up I just see the normal blue screen with no ROMs loaded.
I've not done anything stupid like put the flat cable in the wrong way?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
As far as I can see it on the pictures the flat cable is connected correctly as well as the PSU connector... But it seems, that the CPC doesn't see the SYMBiFACE II at all... I have to ask Dr.Zed, if he has some ideas so far...
CU,
Prodatron
Thanks Prodatron :)
I thought I would try Bryce's LowerROM and Megaflash using the cable to rule that and the expansion port out. Those seem to be working fine as per pictures. I hope that helps narrow it down?
Kind regards,
Steve
Hi Prodatron,
:-[
I am sorry you have to deal with the mentally challenged in regards to me.
I had some dinner and decided to disconnect everything, pushed down on the components on the board (which probably made no difference), reassembled it and the result is what you see in the pictures below. Even the mouse is working nicely.
I am really sorry for wasting Dr.Zed's and your time.
Thanks for getting back to me again.
Steve
Wow, my heart attack slowly gets better :) :)
That looks good!
So the 512KB RAM works as well?
Yup, it most certainly does :D
Next on the shopping list is a CF adapter:
Compact Flash CF an IDE/ATA Adapter 40 polig, female liegend, NEU | eBay (http://www.ebay.de/itm/140815327187)
I think the problem could be the big rat that is chewing on your cables :laugh: ;D
[attachimg=1]
Cheers,
Shane
Not my 2 little Australian friends... :laugh:
Nice spot :)
Quote from: Prodatron on 21:02, 17 December 12
IIRC red =+5V, yellow = +12V
Black = ground
But please get a confirmation from someone else ;)
It was fun
until Amstrad on the 664/6128 actually used a connector pinout and color scheme with orange/red inverted in comparison to the PC. :o Piles of dead drives tell the tale...
BTW, any SF2s left?
Aehm, never had the problem. A simple Volt meter tells you what's what. :)
I just received my CF adapter for the Symbiface 2 which is as below:
[attach=2]
[attach=3]
Looking at the PDF from a link in a thread from a couple of years ago (attached for reference) I need to disconnect pin 28. Unfortunately my German is non-existent and I don't want to just trust Google Translate so just to query; am I better desoldering that pin on the adapter or cutting the pin on the Symbiface board?
I'd recommend removing it from the adapter if possible.
Bryce.
I just bent the pin to the side... it puts a little groove into the IDE cable, so you get to know which is the right away around :-)
Thanks Bryce and Ynot.zer0 for the replies. I thought I'd try my hand at a little desoldering :'(
I think I got all the solder but not sure if I've done it right? Enclosed is a picture that may give those who know what they're doing a laugh(?). I guess if it looks like it may be a goer the next stage would be to plug it into the symbiface and use a continuity meter to make sure I don't have a connection, is that right?
Edit: or is that still a bit of solder on the bottom right?
:D You've torn the entire track off the PCB. You only needed to remove the pin. Once the pin is gone it doesn't matter how much solder is there. But it looks like the pin is still there? Why don't you pull it out?
Bryce.
:'( So I buggered up the whole thing? I don't think I've got anything small enough to get into the hole and pull out the pin and the other side is the socket.... do I have other options?
Pull it out with a small long-nose pliers? Otherwise you could drill into the hole if you have a 0.8mm bit (unlikely I assume).
Bryce.
Hey Bryce... I assume the pliers would only be useful if the pin was standing proud from the board whereas mine has recessed into the hole so would need to be microscopic to get in there and grip the pin. I do have some drill bits which wouldn't you know it aren't marked with a size and the instructions only describe them as HSS drills (rubbish I know). I've taken a photo with it on the board... should I go for it or order a proper bit from Farnell in Ireland?
Can you not pull it out from the other side?
Bryce.
Unfortunately I don't think so unless you want to tell me differently :(
Just an update. I managed to separate the pin from the board on the CF adapter :D
I carefully drilled down on top of the existing hole in many short periods so nothing overheated. Looked down and the pin was still in there. Tried to drill a bit on the other side to expose the pin more and the drill bit broke. Got out my hammer and smashed the board as hard as possible several times. I don't think the thing will work anymore but I feel a lot better ;D
Going to try again with this Brand New Compact Flash CF to 3.5 IDE ATA 39 PIN Adapter Converter 40 PIN | eBay (http://www.ebay.ie/itm/120821410047) and an IDE cable. One day I may be able to do more than solder a couple of wired together... ;D
Nothing like a good hammer(ing) to make you feel better :)
Now you know why I told you to do the experimenting on the adapter side instead of messing up your SF2.
Bryce.
:laugh: Yes, it was great shout, thanks Bryce (it's almost as if you knew how incompetent I would be) :D
Trying and failing on simple stuff does leave me in awe as to how you, and people in your profession, do what you do.
Hopefully I'll have more luck breaking up our old pine dining room table next weekend... I am thinking sledge hammer will be the most fun way to achieve it... ::)
Quote from: beaker on 17:43, 06 January 13
Going to try again with this Brand New Compact Flash CF to 3.5 IDE ATA 39 PIN Adapter Converter 40 PIN | eBay (http://www.ebay.ie/itm/120821410047) and an IDE cable. One day I may be able to do more than solder a couple of wired together... ;D
That looks different to your original device. Looks like you will need a 40-pin IDE cable between the SF2 and the new adapter. Should make it teasiker to just snip a wire, count the wires carefully.
So..... did I do it right this time or will it be 3rd time lucky? ???
Noooooooooo!!!! That's pin 26 you removed not pin 28!!!
Ok, only joking, looks fine to me :)
Bryce.
lol, phew (he says checking his underwear after reading the first line). Thanks Bryce :D
I'll try hooking it all up next weekend and see what happens, although I still haven't got around to getting a 3A power supply so there's a chance that not much will happen when I throw the power switch :laugh:
You can use a 1 A for the SF2 alone, without a hd connected. Could work.