3 Jul
2006
3 Jul
'06
2:25 a.m.
On 7/3/06, Jules Richardson <julesrichardsonuk at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
Lack of power on the parallel port's a strange one
- I always found it hard to
believe that the implementors didn't forsee the use of the port as a
general-purpose output port and provide it with a couple of power pins. It's
not like there aren't several grounds available so that couple could have been
given up for +5V pins.
The Amiga 1000 has a power pin just for powering external devices. It
was unpopular because one needed a custom cable to avoid frying
devices that weren't expecting it or to avoid frying the Amiga in case
the pin was shorted to ground. The A500 and A2000 have PC-compatible
parallel port connectors.
I used to power external gadgets from the PC keyboard
port because I happened
to have the right connectors to hand in order to tap power from there - that
was at least portable until everywhere went to ps/2 type keyboards.
I have done that, too, even with PS/2 keyboard connectors.
One of my other machines just had one of the internal
drive power connectors
fed out of the back of the case though for a useful point to take power from.
Done that, too... I've used DIN-4s for it because C= had a line of
disks (1541-II and a few others) that used a DIN-4 for +5, +12 and
GND).
I was just hoping to upgrade my dodgy ladder with a more precise one
without resorting to additional cables and powered circuits. I seemed
to have opened a can of worms.
-ethan