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Reply With Quotetry using a lower gauge wire maybe? the less resistance, the current you will loseOriginally Posted by c0rrupti0n
DVD Drive Horror!
Ok Have 4 drives and many many moons later. I almost have my CD-Drive working! However I recently ran into a new hurtle. I will describe my setup real quick.
Im running an Opus 150watt, that powers pretty much everything
I have 15 foot power/usb/monitor cables all running from the rear to the front console. Im using a slot loadable DVD/CDRW laptop drive converted to IDE then to USB.
My issue is that my cd-rom drive need 5 volts and can only be powered from the opus with a length no more than 5 feet. However I need atleast 12 feet for it to reach the front console.
It seem current or amperage or what have you(im no electrician) drops enough after 5 feet for the drive to seize operation.
Tomorrow after Hurricane Jeanne, I plan to pickup a DC 12 to 5 volt converter from Radio Shack. Then tap into the 12volt line of the Opus rather than the 5 then connect the converter to drop the voltage to 5. Im hoping this will work. Not sure what else I could try aside from taping into the cars ignition (which i want to avoid outside power sources).
Could anyone give me a hint as to why this is happening? Or maybe a better alternative? I'd really appreciate any input... Thanks (soon pics will be posted)
try using a lower gauge wire maybe? the less resistance, the current you will lose
Voltage drop is probably a more likely culprit than power loss, though I'd be surprised if 12' of wire is causing that big of a drop. Like mikevsgeek said, try using a lower gauge. Use a web calculator to estimate what your current loss is, and what gauge you'll need to bring it to a < 5' equivalent of your current wire.
Was thinking of that, but as it is the guage is matching the PC's standard guage... Which I believe is 10 or so. Thanks for the input..
Funny web calculator reads at 5 volt I have a max of 5772 feet before a drop ocurres...http://www.pelco.com/support/tools/wiregacalc.aspx
"This calculator is for 24 volt equipment only" -- From the linked site
I have extended the 5v and 12v line from the Opus over 12 feet with 22g wire. Off that one (5v) wire I'm powering three different things. My slot-load slimlime DVD-ROM, the USB -> IDE converter, and a 4 port USB port that is full. I highly doubt your problem is a voltage drop due to wire length or gauge.
So then wouldn't it just be half? If so, that's still a hell of a lot long than 15'.
Yeah something is harry, Because I can run my USB active hubs off the 5volt line just fine... However the dvd-drive is very sensitive... I cut the wire in 5 sections and same senario, anything passed 5 feet(give or take a lil) the drive has a hard time holding a spin when rotating the CD. BTW i verified and Im running 18 guage wire... I came from radio shack and they only have converters that drop to 4.5 or 6 volts. None were 5V. So i bought a 24 guage spindal and am going to give that a try...
I will post my results. Thanks for input...
Why are you using higher guage wire??
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