HARD DISK ][: Now Operational

[sebugg@presby.edu (Stephen Buggie)]

6-4-94                                                   sebugg@presby.edu


                  "HARD DISK ]["  NOW OPERATIONAL
                   ]]][][][][][][][][][][][][][[[


"One small step for an Apple........ one giant leap for Applekind."   B-)



About six months ago, I announced my intention to install a hard disk
in a Disk ][ housing.  I had several junked Disk ][ casings, and noted that
most hard drives are 3.5" half-height----- a size that could fit inside
the Disk ][ full height casing.

It took about a month to gather the hardware:  a twin 50-pin SCSI hardness
from AllTech Electronics ($8.00), a mini-fan 12v, LEDs, switch, wire, etc.
For power, I used a junked power supply from a II+, which rests externally
on the floor under the computer table.  The hard drive is my "older"
drive: a Seagate 31 Meg 3.5" half-height SCSI drive.  This hard disk
was bought used on the net about a year ago for $50; similar used drives
now sell for about $40.  It works great except that it takes about 10-15 sec
to spin up to speed at power-up.  The HD is controlled by an Apple High-
Speed SCSI card installed in my platinum "flagship IIe."

BACK PANEL OF HARD DISK ][:
==========================

two 50-pin SCSI ports (not terminated, but seems to work o.k. so far without
a terminator;  toggle on-off switch;  mini 2" fan, inlet hole for power cord.

FRONT PANEL OF HARD DISK ][:
===========================

Standard black appearance of Disk ][.  Red "In Use" light operates as usual
to indicate when HD is read from or written to.  Two new LEDs were added
(yellow for +12v, green for +5v) to indicate when power switch is on. The
switch is a DPDT toggle switch, so the +5v and +12v are engaged or disengaged
similtaneously.    The front door of the Disk ][ has been sealed shut ---
with springs from ball point pens implanted in the hinge tracks.

To match the Hard Disk ]['s classic appearance, I plan to dust off my other
Disk ][ drives (stocky 5.25" floppies) and put them back to use, stacked
over the HD.

Success of this hardware hacking project now stimulates me to resurrect
a previously shelved project:  To install a IIc motherboard in a dead
Mac Plus/SE casing..............    B-)


            "Going boldly where no Apple ][ has gone before....."






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 ** Stephen Buggie  Psych Dept  Presbyterian College   Clinton SC 29325 **
 ** sebugg@presby.edu                 voice: (803) 833-8337 or 833-1632 **
 **    Douglas DC-3 ...... Volkswagen Beetle ...... Apple ][ forever!   **
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