Looks great. Might be worth adding one more hole that goes to the BCR data in pin for those interested in using it for input.
Great work! Kurt On Mon, Jul 13, 2020, at 2:35 PM, Gary Weber wrote: > 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
