Re: laptop port - power

I'm thinking of trying my old laptop to see how it works. I have an
old IBM and an old Compac.

My question is about the 5V power.

For telescope use, it would need to run on battery power and for shop
machine control it could be plugged in to the AC lines.

That begs the question of the most apporprate place to tie in for
power.

It would see that todays laptops have usb, to that offers the 5V
simply.

Others have keyboard ports.....

Is there a better way ?

Dave







--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Campbell" <bob@c...>
wrote:

> For laptop users the Sound Logic breakout board is a good solution.

It provides buffered inputs and will accept the 3.5 volt signals
found in some laptop. The signals are then buffered and amplified
back to a five volt level. The four outputs are optically isolated as
well as the inputs from all limit sensors. If you are using Gecko
drives then the optical isolation in the Gecko drives will give you
the needed optical isolation for the step and direction signals.
This in effect isolates the parallel port ground from your controller
ground.

>
> Bob Campbell
> Bob@c...
> www.campbelldesigns.com
> Breakout board
> THC board sets
> CNC router plans
> Stepper Motors