This BCR power solution keeps getting cleaner and cleaner!
On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 1:50 PM Brian K. White <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 <[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> 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:[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > *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 > > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>> > 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:[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > *To:* [email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > *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 > > > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>> 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 > > > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>> 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 > > > <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>> 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 > > > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > <mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> > > > > > > > > > -- > > bkw > > > > > -- > bkw >
