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Mod idea, need suggestions!!!

N

n64man120

2[H]4U
Joined
Jan 11, 2004
Messages
3,498
Alright, I'm planning a mod which will essentially make a "control panel" separate from the system. Its going to be a 4"x6" wooden box roughly we'll see (dimensions tentative) that is going to be really well make and fancy looking. Anyways I want to add 2 USB ports, a firewire port, and 4 buttons (2 toggle for CCFL) and (2 push for remote optical drive controll). The CCFL and optical drive buttons seem simple as long as it will work with the few feet long wires (correct me if i'm wrong). What i'm especially concerned about is if the USB cables would function. I'm thinking of them maybe being 3 ft long or so and having them plug right into the mobo headers. Any suggestions on if this will work and where to get the parts for USB and firewire?

//Edit
Heres a pic of how i'm picturing the box to look from a head on view
proto.bmp
 
Are you planning on running seperate cables or just getting a firewire hub and a USB hub, and modding them together into a single box? That way you get the status lights, etc. The 4 buttons sound easy enough - would probably run over a hacked up Cat 5 cable quite well - and if you wire in using Ethernet connectors, it will be "quick release" as well (just don't mix up what you are plugging where).
 
Token User said:
Are you planning on running seperate cables or just getting a firewire hub and a USB hub, and modding them together into a single box? That way you get the status lights, etc. The 4 buttons sound easy enough - would probably run over a hacked up Cat 5 cable quite well - and if you wire in using Ethernet connectors, it will be "quick release" as well (just don't mix up what you are plugging where).
Click to expand...

wow awsome idea on the Ethernet... i'm planning on having the USB cables goin straight into the mobo headers, no hubs involved. Its really sleek and good finished wood with square buttons that are flush with the piece.
 
I'm looking more into this ethernet cable idea, how would I install the jack and run the wires from it to the buttons internally? I found ehternet jacks but can I just plug in or solder the wires that go directly to the switches? Or must I crimp them on some how? If so is the crimer for jacks and connectors different?
 
Go to Home Depot or Lowes, and find their "modular" wiring section. Your find some push down style jacks that you can assemble with no special tools. Get some regular cat 5 cable (without the plugs - cut up an old Cat 5 cable if necessary), and push that into the blocks (you'll understand when you see them), and solder the other end of each wire to a switch (for your control panel) or device (on PC end). Then put the patch cable between the two jacks. You now have a quick disconnect type solution. I actually used a similar idea for a fan bus in the past, putting all my fans onto RJ11 (telephone) plugs, which I then plugged into a hacked up multidevice telephone device I found at RadioShack that I wired into my fan bus. I could then plug and unplug me fans from the controller real easily. Times have changed - I'd do it differetnly now, but the idea is still good for what you are trying to achieve.

If you are going to do it nicely, you might want to use a relay to do the switching ... but that could be "Son of Control Panel".

Experiment and have fun :)
 
Thanks a ton for the suggestions, helps alot. What do you mean by using a relay though? I've heard of them for turning WC pumps on/off but idk wut you mean here.
 
Another question, regarding the open button on optical drives. Its a basic circuit with + and - wires touching, anyways woudl there be a way to do like a dual switch? So i can have 2 switches in the circuit and it opens if either of them are hit? I know this works with like household lighting.
 
n64man120 said:
Another question, regarding the open button on optical drives. Its a basic circuit with + and - wires touching, anyways woudl there be a way to do like a dual switch? So i can have 2 switches in the circuit and it opens if either of them are hit? I know this works with like household lighting.
Click to expand...
Run them in parallel. It will require more 2 more wires but that will guarantee that either switch you hit will cause the drive door to open.
 
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