Power Cable Connector?

ShaneFK · 07-08-2005, 10:13 AM

Just got my mini last night and I'm almost ready to install. Is there any place I can get the power cable connector that plugs into the back of the mini without buying a new brick?

TxMazda3 · 07-08-2005, 11:55 PM

how are you powering your mini? the p1900? If so- nope. There isn't a replacement power connector. You're going to need to cut up your power cable. Check out carnetix.com for info on that- they have pictures and a forum on there as well with lots of information.

If you're using another way to power your mini there isn't anyone who sells another powerconnector that I know of. Check google. google can find pretty much anything if you use it right.

hope this helps
Michael

ShaneFK · 07-10-2005, 04:35 PM

I will be using a p1900.

I asked at the Apple Store near work and they sent me to some different stores that I will check out next week. I'm not sure if they really understood what I was asking for.

tom@kartboy · 07-10-2005, 07:30 PM

I see that your gonna do one too

Congrats. email me if you have any Q's

Tom

macXterra · 07-30-2005, 11:18 AM

Using the P1900 requires you to cut your power brick connector, rendering your brick useless from then on out.

This presented a huge problem for me, as I wanted to be able to use my mini in the house as well as the car. I called Apple customer support to pick up another brick to keep indoors... they quoted me over $70!! No way was I going to pay that.

Then I had a pretty good idea. Get a couple of plastic interlocking connectors with wires on either side to solder to (any cheap connectors will do). So basically, instead of soldering the mac mini and P1900 wires together (as the Carnetix instructions tell you to do), you solder your mac mini wires to one of the plastic connectors (I chose the male end). Then you solder the P1900 wires to the corresponding connectors on the other (female end) connector. This lets you can easily connect and disconnect your mac mini from your P1900. Then solder the power brick wires to the female end of another connector. Now you can connect your mac mini to either your P1900 in the car or the power brick in your house (without having to fork over $70 to Apple for another power brick).

For reference, this is the connector I used. It is an ATX power connector found in your computer. This was definitely overkill, as you can probably use the four-pin disk drive connectors, but I wanted to run the power button wires through my connector (a total of 5 wires), so I bought this and cut off the excess plastic/wires I didn't need.

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0181619

macXterra · 07-30-2005, 11:24 AM

This would probably work just as well (and much cheaper)

http://www.microcenter.com/single_pr...uct_id=0059045

Just cut the wires and you've got the three connectors you need for $2.99 (one male and two female).

TxMazda3 · 07-30-2005, 11:45 AM

Well, I've cut my cable and what I'm doing is using a four pin Molex interlocking conector. I saw a guy do it on a website http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/astramac/power/. The connectors can be picked up from radioshack for like $1.50.

hope this helps.

macXterra · 07-30-2005, 01:42 PM

Nice website. That's probably the best way to do it. They didn't have the 6 pin connectors I wanted in the actual Radio Shack store when I went (but they are online).

raceer · 07-30-2005, 07:28 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by TxMazda3

Well, I've cut my cable and what I'm doing is using a four pin Molex interlocking conector. I saw a guy do it on a website http://www.kennettnet.co.uk/astramac/power/. The connectors can be picked up from radioshack for like $1.50.

hope this helps.

check out the connector for the 1900 thats avail at the mp3store
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...roducts_id=108

HTH

DerekICT · 08-02-2005, 06:33 PM

This may not be where this goes, but I have a question.

Using the Carnetix P1900 with the Mac Mini set to 19V and the other output set to 5V driving a USB hub.

I have my Mac Mini in an area that needs ventilation. I picked up a standard 12V PC fan, and would like to have it hooked to the same power/ground wires as the PC, so when the mini comes on, so does the fan.

Is it possible for this to happen? How can I get from 19V to 12V to run the fan?

Thanks!

Bugbyte · 08-02-2005, 09:34 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by raceer

check out the connector for the 1900 thats avail at the mp3store
http://www.mp3car.com/store/product_...roducts_id=108

HTH

That's for the power button, not the power cable. It lets you quick disconnect from the car.

They're talking about the actual power cord that supplies the power to the Mini from the brick.

Since I've embedded mine inside my dock, I don't have one either so the Mini can't be run inside the house. I'll either have to shell out the $70 or find one on Ebay or something.

I don't get the impression that Apple is all that understanding when it comes to service. I may try talking to the store manager at the Apple store and pleading for a dead power brick if they have one, but don't hold much hope for something like that.

@DerekICT - You could add a relay that can handle that power and connect the relay to the 12 volt power. Or you could use a LM317T and set it for 12 volts.

macXterra · 08-02-2005, 09:54 PM

I'm no expert or anything, but besides using a relay (19V on one side that triggers 12V battery line on the relay contact side) you could probably tap off the 19V line and put in a 12V voltage regulator in line to your fan. Or you can even go the cheap route and add a voltage divider (2 resistors).

For what it's worth, my Mac Mini is enclosed on all side except for the front and a little on the top, and it tends to keep itself pretty cool (the internal fan rarely even needs to come on). Of course, adding a fan never hurts. Is your mini in your trunk or something?

DerekICT · 08-02-2005, 10:16 PM

I just moved the mini from my Bug to the console between the seats on my Olds Bravada. There is NO air in there at all and the Mini gets VERY VERY hot. The metal sides make it difficult to pick up it gets so hot.

The internal fan runs all the time, so an external fan is a must.

Bugbyte · 08-03-2005, 12:51 AM

Go here for examples of how to script certain applications.

Looks like the QTMovieView is new as part of Quicktime 7. I don't have it on my computer although I do have QT7. Perhaps I need to update XCode.

I was able to find out that it gives you more control over video than NSMovieView did. A lot more commands and stuff.

Playback of DVD's appears to take place within the DVD Playback framework. All the examples there were in Objective C. Not sure if you can get at them with Applescript.

gizmomkr · 09-01-2005, 02:42 AM

Just curious - on my quest to install this thing before NOPI... Did the mac store stock the power supply ? I don't really min the 70.00 bucks if I can have it instantly.... Im just not patient enough to wait for it to ship.

Or has someone found a source for this freaking hunk of cutsey mac-plastic.