After getting a virus for the first time in 6+ years, and a failed stick of RAM, I decided it was time to move away from Windows and on to Linux. I’ve been using RedHat based distros for about 10 years in a server capacity, but never felt it was really ready to take over my desktop. I’ve used Ubuntu a few times, and regularly use SuSE at work, so I certainly have a high comfort level. After seeing the features in changes and F16, I decided to give it a shot (since I had to do a fresh OS install anyway). (more…)
Archive for the ‘Computing’ Category
Fedora 16 on My Dell Studio 1557 Laptop
Monday, January 2nd, 2012Universal Wall Wart
Thursday, August 11th, 2011I finished this project about a month ago, and decided it was time to share with the world. I noticed while I was consolidating my technology that even after getting rid of more than half of what I had, there was still a nasty little problem plaguing my desk… a jungle of cabling, all attached to wall-warts. It had gotten so bad, in fact, that almost an entire UPS was filled with them, plus a few outlets in the second, plus a few on a power strip.
It was ugly, a mess, and impossible to work with. I was constantly unplugging one to plug in another. Today this device needed to be charged, that device was needed for a project or another just for fun. Finally, I decided to do something about it. I got the clever idea to use an old (but only lightly used) ATX power supply. This had a high chance of success, since almost every device had either a 5v or 12v adapter. It didn’t take long either, and it accomplished a few goals:
- Cleaner; no more cabling jungle…
Every device which was using a wall wart is now run from the power supply. - More efficient…
- No more vampire-draw (switching power supplies only draw [slightly more than] what is necessary).
- More efficient (cheap small switching power supplies typically have lower efficiencies than ATX PSUs).
- Expandable (even with all devices running under full load, the ATX PSU has plenty of breathing room for more devices).
Here’s a quick rundown of what this bad boy is powering:
| WRT610N Router | 12v | 2.0a Max |
| 4-to-2 HDMI Matrix | 5v | 2.0a Max |
| Creative Extigy Sound Card | 12v | 1.0a Max |
| Belkin Multi-TT USB Hub | 5v | 3.5a Max |
| PS3 Controllers | 5v | 1.0a Max |
This is a grand total of 68.5w:
- 12v 3.0a Max (PSU can push 9a)
- 5v 6.5a Max (PSU can push 20a)
For finishing touches, I added a switch to activate the PSU, an LED to indicate power status, and 2 USB ports scavenged from a PCI bracket motherboard adapter. I used 220 Ohm resistors on the data pins (lets USB devices know they can safely draw 500ma). It was all pretty simple, just some simple wiring, a few solder joints and a little patience. Here are some pictures, enjoy!!!
Here’s a top-view. I used a spare 20-24 pin ATX adapter so I wouldn’t have to cannibalize the PSU. The terminal strip allows easily adding more lines if necessary. I stuck with the color coding of Yellow for 12v, and Red for 5v. The black electrical tape covers the resistors for the USB ports.
Here’s a front-view. I used a nibbler to cut the holes for the USB ports. The switch fit perfectly into one of the holes in the cube. A quick hole was drilled and a panel mount used to secure the power LED.
Here it is finished. I picked up some plugs at Radio Shack to connect the devices (router, HDMI matrix, sound card and hub).
Split-Loom Cabling Project
Monday, September 20th, 2010If you know me, you know I have enough electronic gadgets to kill a cow. After a while though, the rats nests of wires hanging all over gets annoying. I decided to buy a bunch of split-loom tubing to organize the vast network of cables floating around my desk. Here’s the result:
Here’s the PlayStation 3. From left-to-right, the power, optical audio, ethernet and HDMI cables fit perfectly into a 3/8″ tube.
My “Modified MyBook”… a 1/4″ split loom tube worked great for the power and USB cables.
This was the biggest improvement. The blue and black loose cables are the ethernet and HDMI from the PS3 (going to the monitor and router). The “conduit” (as I like to call them) on the bottom holds the wires for the center, left and right speakers, as well as the control pod; all routed down to the amp on sub (Logitech Z-5300e 5.1 THX). The “conduit” on the top has the power and DVI cables from the monitor, and USB cables from the remote transceiver and webcam. Altogether, 8 cables combined into 2 (going to 2 locations)… MUCH cleaner than before!
Not pictured, are the one which has the line and power cables to my phone, as well as the one which has USB and power to my scanner.
The velcro cable ties were used to hold the tubing along the rails of the desk. I’m very happy with the way this all turned out 