On Thu, 1 Feb 2018, Ali via cctalk wrote:
Anyone know how easy it is to adapt one of these to work with an IBM PC
compatible class machine? I have one sitting around here somewhere and
if I recall correctly the drive is a bog std. YE-DATA DS 8" drive so it
should be just a matter of making sure the cabling is ok.
If it is a 50 pin edge connector, then it is LIKELY that it follows the
Shugart 800/850 pinout. BUT, it is still a good idea to find and check
the pinout of the specific model drive, since some added additional
signals and/or repurposed pins for other purposes.
And, check the drive specific pinout for power connections!
5.25" drives had a standardized power connection.
8" drives do NOT have standardized power connections. Not all used the
same power nor connector nor pinout as Shugart. In addition to
5VDC, you may need 24V or 12V, and maybe even -5VDC, or even AC.
If it IS SA800/850, then FPADAP,
http://www.dbit.com/fdadap.html
is an easy way to handle the cabling.
The website say that they have 5 in stock,
so order immediately if you need it!
If you are reading ONLY, and not writing to the drive, then you do not
need the TG43 signal and circuitry, in which case it is trivial to make
your own cable. The majority of the 5.25" (SA400) signals are even in the
same order, so you can start with a 34 pin flat cable, peel out a small
handful of the wires, and crimp them in a 50 pin IDC edge connector.
YMMV.
