Require simple circuit to convert IDE to USB laptop dvd writer - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Vijayshankar
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:09:32 pm
content: Dear All,Hi,I have a HP laptop DVD writer which has an IDE connector & is now unused. I want to use that writer as a portable dvd writer to my PC.So i want to make a circuit which converts IDE to USB. Mini USB type port & can use 5V USB voltage to write any DVD.Kindly suggest.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:17:13 pm
content: Quote from: Vijayshankar on September 23, 2012, 04:09:32 pmYou can't make a 'simple circuit' to do this. Go buy an adapter.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:28:36 pm
content: the circuit is simple enough and mostly 1 ic.the problem is getting that ic....simplest way is to buy a usb enclosure for a harddisk and get it from there.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:31:23 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 23, 2012, 04:28:36 pmIf he has to post a thread like this, he'd never manage to put together a reliable board himself..There are ready made enclosures for doing this. They are cheap. There is no way to do it cheaper.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:37:20 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on September 23, 2012, 04:28:36 pmdisagree with respect sire. powering up 12V device from 5V supply? IDE is big device isnt it? circuit to ensure its stable? connectors? cable? casing for lesser water-unproof and ease to carry portable? 1 ic? i dont think so.Quote from: free_electron on September 23, 2012, 04:28:36 pmlet alone the problems i mentioned above. but you getting there sire.Quote from: free_electron on September 23, 2012, 04:28:36 pmthat one i agree sire, just as monkeh suggested. its like what? 30 bucks or less? (depending on geographic) and no need "happy time" tinkering circuit?

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:42:20 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on September 23, 2012, 04:37:20 pmWhat 12V device? It's a laptop drive. There is no 12V.He's not wrong about one IC, though. I have a few of these boards, one main IC, a 3.3V voltage regulator for it, and a transistor for the LED strips down the sides (of this example), a clock crystal, oh, there's an EEPROM too. All passives otherwise. So only one difficult part.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 04:45:07 pm
content: ohh that! i'm looking at my 3.5" IDE external right now!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:28:12 pm
content: External drive enclosure for hard drives are cheap at the OHL shop, around $20. Comes with a power supply and a USB cable as well, and handles IDE and SATA drives. Add a cheap converter board ( 2 connectors and nothing else really) and away you go. Otherwise a USB to IDE/SATA portable dongle will work as well, as it will most likely be able to power the laptop drive as well.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:37:46 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on September 23, 2012, 05:28:12 pmNot that any of those will be able to connect to an optical drive.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:47:28 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on September 23, 2012, 05:37:46 pmHowever, you could buy a cheap external USB DVD-RW drive and cannibalize that for parts to make the adapter...

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:49:17 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on September 23, 2012, 05:47:28 pmOr just buy the drive and use it. Or buy a purpose made enclosure for such a drive (they take a little finding).

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:54:03 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on September 23, 2012, 05:49:17 pmI think you missed the smiley after my comment (it was a joke of course)

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:55:57 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on September 23, 2012, 05:54:03 pmEh, you yanks, crappy sense of humour.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 05:58:52 pm
content: Quote from: Monkeh on September 23, 2012, 05:55:57 pmNot quite a Yank, though. Born and bred in Hertfordshire

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 06:05:56 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on September 23, 2012, 05:58:52 pmI know.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 07:15:36 pm
content: i dont understand the Hertfordshire joke but, yes the better option is buy the external USB DVD-RW that is meant for laptop (not mere adapter) and you can put your old HP laptop DVD writer under your car tyre and crash it just for fun or you can put firework inside and witness it goes BANG! (smile and laugh are good for your health)

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 07:21:50 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on September 23, 2012, 07:15:36 pm"Yank" is used outside America as a nickname for Americans. Monkeh was implying that I was, or had become, an American. Hertfordshire is a county in England, one of the so called "Home Counties" surrounding London. I am therefore English, although given my current residence I am an Englishman abroad.

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 07:24:47 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on September 23, 2012, 07:21:50 pmYou're a bleedin' yank now, almost as bad as a northerner!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 07:33:39 pm
content: ic, @Ian: if you are married? with a yank, so your children will be half blooded yank, but it depends on which he or she more prone. if he/she talk more like american accent, then it will be 75% yankfor more detail i suggest you get "the origin of the universe" book. if you understand my joke, i may have been influenced by yank culture, if not then thats normal.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2012, 08:17:31 pm
content: As long as you are not an Englishman in New York..........http://youtu.be/d27gTrPPAyk

author: ptricks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2012, 09:02:02 pm
content: IDE is a simple enough interface, can even be done with parallel ports and a few 74xxx chips, the voltages are easy as well, the problem is the connecting of all this to USB , that requires a lot more work and as other said, get an adapter .