I can't seem to get a straight answer...

**Bob91403** · 04-14-2011, 06:48 AM

On a Mac Mini(older), there are three wires to the power cord. The ground(-)blk, +18.5v red, and now the sixty-four dollar question. What does the white wire do? How do I hook it up? I'm going to use a laptop car adapter for power. Your assistance please.

**OldSpark** · 04-14-2011, 09:58 PM

Strange....
I have no idea.
But I use google and find the answer pretty quick.

Amazingly enough, the best is probably on this forum from use johnsin on a thread to do a P1900 and something called a Mac Mini.

This may not be a straight answer, but is should enable straighter answers for you in the future...

**Bob91403** · 04-14-2011, 10:04 PM

What's so strange about that? You don't seem to have a clue. Most of what you wrote was incoherent. I don't even know what you said!??

**Project07MACry** · 04-14-2011, 11:15 PM

First up, welcome to the MacCar Forum!
Second, I notice through your prior posts that you are avoiding using the CarNetix regulators and are going forward with using a car adapter instead. If that's true, this link might also be of help, as well as this link.
I am interested in possibly having this option as a backup, so please do tell us if you were successful, and what you did (or should have done) differently.
Third, the white wire is 9/10 the iSense wire. Supposedly, it makes sure that the right power supply is used to power the Mac Mini. It works by putting an amount of resistance on the ground. It senses this resistance and tells the Mac if it is safe to turn on or not.

Best of luck!

**Bob91403** · 04-14-2011, 11:47 PM

Thank you. You've been quite helpful. I'll let you know how it goes.

**Project07MACry** · 04-15-2011, 08:34 PM

No prob. By the way, OldSpark was spot on about his answer. This is the info he was speaking of. This was done before, but I believe on a PPC Mac Mini. If the principle runs the same, then you should have little problems...

**OldSpark** · 04-16-2011, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Bob91403

I don't even know what you said!??

In summary: SEARCH!!!!!

---------- Post added at 03:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:01 PM ----------

And thanks to Project07MACry.
I went from knowing NOTHING to being spot on in what - 4 minutes? Less time than this thread?

That's the trouble with old people - they can't find anything on the net - they just ain't savvy enough.

**Bob91403** · 04-16-2011, 12:43 AM

First, I'd like to apologize if I offended anyone with my ignorance. I'm new to this. I did my build, it worked fine for about eight hours, then started rebooting over and over again, every five seconds. I unplugged it, checked the voltages, everything seemed okay. An hour later, same thing. I get the feeling that the 3.3K 1/2w resistor is overheating and failing. I don't know how to check it, or what to look for. Please, someone, help me out. I'll share my $20 build here, as soon as it's finished. Thanks