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LEAD TO CONVERT A 3 INCH 180K DRIVE TO WORK AS DRIVE 'B'.

After fitting a 3.5 inch disc drive as Drive 'A' in your PCW what do you do with your old 3 inch drive? --- well with the use of the following lead you can use a 180K 3 inch 'A' disc drive as a Drive 'B' in a 8256, 8512 or 9512 (and probably other models of PcW that have provision for a second drive), but you will need to upgrade your software so as the machine knows what drives are available. The requirement of upgraded software, of course, depends on what version you are already using but you will need to add a B180.FIB file to your operating software. Locoscript 3 and CP/M 1.15/2.15 seem to be suitable, although other versions may or may not work. The permutations are endless so you will need to experiment!

Twist in lead
Fig: 1		Parts required.
  • 26 pin IDC Female plug.
  • 26 pin Male floating socket.
  • Short length of 26 way ribbon cable.
complete lead
Fig: 2


Place your ribbon cable on a suitable surface and cut back up the cable for 1.5 inches between wires three and four (count in three wires, from the side with the Red or Blue strip, as this is the wire that goes to pin 1). Then do the same between wires 6 and 7. Now twist the three wires (numbers 4,5 and 6) so that wire 6 is next to wire 3 --- your ribbon cable should look like illustration Fig:1.

Now clamp the 34 way IDC female connector onto the Ribbon Cable, then the 34 way IDC male socket and your end results should look like illustration Fig: 2. Due to the cost of the 34 way IDC male socket, 4 to 5 Pounds Stirling (should anyone know of a cheap source for these sockets - please let me know), you might just wish to alter the existing lead in your machine by removing the 'B' drive connecting plug, putting the twist in the Ribbon cable and then fitting back the connector. Due to the fact that there has been many different issues of 34 way IDC Female connectors, you could need to remove external lugs on this plug so that it will fit into the socket.

 

© J.R.P.King.
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