I recently got hold of a an external floppy disk drive, apparently from germany, labelled ddd-f35 on the bottom.
It has two switches on the back, a power connector and a standard ST external floppy cable, but it did not come with a power brick, the seller told me that it got power from the Atari itself, and it did not have any screw either...
Inside there seem to be a TEAC-FD-235HF drive.
So I tried it, and can't seem to get any reaction from the device, it definitely does not seem to be detected by the MegaSTe.
Does anyone knows these drives, do they actually work from the main machine power (and if not, do you know the polarity/voltage required), and more importantly, does anyone know what the two switches are for?
Here are a few photos:
ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
Does the regulator have power input and output ?
It also should be bolted down somewhere .. They run hot and die otherwise.
It also should be bolted down somewhere .. They run hot and die otherwise.
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viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
Do you have your negative probe actually on the tab / case probing the left and the right pin ?
You should have something like 12V on one side and 5V on the other.
You should have something like 12V on one side and 5V on the other.
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https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/ - All my hardware mods for sale - Please help support by making a purchase.
viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1585 Have you done the Mandatory Fixes ?
Just because a lot of people agree on something, doesn't make it a fact. ~exxos ~
People should find solutions to problems, not find problems with solutions.
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
What do you connect at the barrel plug? Should be something like 9-35V. Center pin positive.
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
I had the negative probe on the center pin and measured the left and right one with the positive probe.
I actually get 5V if I put the negative probe on the floppy disk metal shielding and the positive probe on the red wire that connects the floppy disk IDC connector to the rocker switch.
The double switch puzzles me.
I had nothing connected on the plug, wanted to check the statement of the seller who said he did not require anything, and since I did not know which polarity/voltage, I'd rather ask first
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
Center pin seems to be positive. The regulator can take up to 35V and it has a 2V dropout and output is 5V so 7-35V in.
Both switches seems to be for power. Right one, seen from back, closest to the FDD cable. If it is ON the barrel jack is used (left OFF). If left one is ON (and right OFF) then power is taken from FDD cable somehow.
Both switches seems to be for power. Right one, seen from back, closest to the FDD cable. If it is ON the barrel jack is used (left OFF). If left one is ON (and right OFF) then power is taken from FDD cable somehow.
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Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
I have a Datel unit with a 'similar' 7805 setup and feed it 9-12v for power. The 14 pin plug has no power on it, just control and data signals.
I'd also check for disk ID, it should be DS0.
According to the pinout for the 34 pin connector, pin 7 is what appears to be connected to that switch, but I don't believe it is used, so not connected. 1,3 & 5 are marked as 5v though.
Bit odd overall.
I'd also check for disk ID, it should be DS0.
According to the pinout for the 34 pin connector, pin 7 is what appears to be connected to that switch, but I don't believe it is used, so not connected. 1,3 & 5 are marked as 5v though.
Bit odd overall.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
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800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: ddd-f35 extern floppy disk drive questions
Ok, I tried with a 9V center positive, and the disk unit works properly as a B: drive.
Thanks \o/
So now, what I'm wondering:
- Could I just remove the drive and put a gotek inside
- What would be the easiest/cleanest way to modify a Mega STe to invert A and B so I could put on the external drive?
(Basically I want to be able to boot on the gotek for practical reasons, but still be able to run real software from disk if needed, and I would rather avoid modifying the outside of the Mega STe)
Thanks \o/
So now, what I'm wondering:
- Could I just remove the drive and put a gotek inside
- What would be the easiest/cleanest way to modify a Mega STe to invert A and B so I could put on the external drive?
(Basically I want to be able to boot on the gotek for practical reasons, but still be able to run real software from disk if needed, and I would rather avoid modifying the outside of the Mega STe)