HxC SD mods :)

[mfilos]

Hey peepz, I thought of sharing some mods I performed on my HxC SD Floppy Emulator (Rev.C).

1st one was mounting a tiny LCD 16x2 screen replacing the default.
2nd one was making it as slim as possible for future mods

http://www.mfilos.com/2013/04/hxc-sd-mounting-tiny-lcd-and-slimming.html

I hope you'll like it

 

[johnim]

nice mods there mate I might mod mine

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Great job on everything! I'd love for you to post information on the LCD and connector information or maybe eBay links that are BIN. I prefer non-destructive mods so I wouldn't cut the PCB, but yours looked very well planned and executed.

Heather

 

[roy_bates]

great stuff

 

[mfilos]

Thanks for the replies

Heather, the display is an MC1602C8-SYL and I got as BIN from eBay, but atm I can't find any auction about it :S (Where have they gone?)
It's the same display I guess that Lotharek is using on the Rev.F HxC. Before I got the one from eBay I emailed Lotharek if he was willing to sell me an LCD with the connector but told me he couldn't... so I searched the bay for alternatives.

It's not very easy to find but I guess you guys on US or UK with Farnel and endless electronic shops you can find a lot more easily than us guys here in Greece
Edit: I think it's something like this although I got it a lot cheaper, x2 and with the connectors.

If you need any assistance don't hesitate to PM or reply to the thread

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Thanks for the information! I'll do some searching to see if I can find one.

Heather

 

[Justin]

lovin' your work m8, just lovin' it!!

 

[Rakeim132]

Super, as always....
Do you plan to surface mount it on the Amiga ?

 

[salaxi54]

Nice mod as always Marios! Dare i say this could be the one? :
http://www.mdfly.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=201
They're made by Ocular, but no longer listed in their products list; probably discontinued. At least it seems the above business has an adequate stock, so whoever is planning to get one shouldn't worry..

 

[mfilos]

Rakeim mate I always plan to use what I mod on my Amigas. I just won't share extra info as what I'm thinking has low chances becoming what I have in mind.
If it does though... it will be AWESOME and ofc I'm gonna share it on my blog

Bill my good friend, this is the one. I also got it at this price but from eBay but the seller disappeared sadly.

 

[SkydivinGirl]

2nd one was making it as slim as possible for future mods

I just looked over your mod again. I was under the mistaken impression that you had trimmed the PCB in some way to make it smaller. I now see that you "made it as slim as possible" by minimizing the height of the components, like the LCD connector. I've been working on an HxC mod for my A4000D and thought about adding a right angle connector like you did. This would certainly make it easier to mount the HxC in a small area.

Again, nice job!

Heather

 

[mfilos]

Hehe yeah. I haven't touched the PCB tbh. If you read the article correctly you will see what I have removed, and what I have put in a different spot for the whole HxC height to be almost half!
It certainly gives a lot of opportunities for mods

 

[SkydivinGirl]

Took a closer look at the pics and you certainly did make it MUCH shorter. I didn't see that you had used hot glue on the PCB. I wouldn't have done that, because it might lift some tracks if you ever try to remove it. The Rev B and Rev C HxC devices certainly do have some height to them though!

Heather

 

[mfilos]

I never had a single incident with lifted tracks due to removal of hotglue.
I always check carefully though where to glue cause some areas are definitely riskier.
For example in one of the pics you will see a small veroboard PCB that I hotglued to the LCD header to keep the wires put.
Due to issue on LCD that I had without knowing where the fault is... I had to remove the hot glue but I haven't had an issue at all (and it was certainly a risky point).

I agree that better playing it safe than sorry, but I have no intention to ever remove either the LCD wires nor buzzer from my modded HxC

 

[SkydivinGirl]

It's great that you've never had trouble removing the glue. It's nice to know that it can be done.

I have no intention to ever remove either the LCD wires nor buzzer from my modded HxC

Then there's certainly no issue. Mods that you intend to be permanent are great for personal use. I've certainly though about modding mine a bit more.

Heather

 

[Rakeim132]

Haha, fair enough, mfilos.

In fact at the beginning I thought you wanted to install it in a tank mouse ! LOL