Can one adapt an Apple Lisa Widget drive to use in a Lisa 1?

From: John Lewczyk <jlewczyk_at_his.com>
Date: Sat Aug 5 14:27:27 2000

I have recently aquired an Apple Lisa Widget drive in ? working condition.
Upon examining it and the its schematics, it appears to have the same
logical [parallel port] interface that the Profile drives have. I would
like to try this drive in a Lisa 1(2), the only Lisa I have, but the Lisa
1(2) does not have the appropriate connectors for a Widget drive. I've
never seem a Lisa XL in person, but my guess is that its "parallel" port,
being internal, was brought off the motherboard in place of the "second
floppy" connector, into a 26 pin female connector that attached to the
Widget controller board. That's one connection (J1).

The other connection is the power connector (J2), which provides +5,+12,-12,
motor +12, motor Gnd, Power OK. This connector is also not present in the
Lisa 1(2). I am assuming that these voltages and connector were just added
to the wiring harness that connects the power-supply/ video/ motherboard/
softswitch/ floppy together. I don't understand what difference is there
between the +12V (J2-2) and +12V Motor (J2-5) is.


Can anyone verify these assumptions and questions? I think I can adapt the
Lisa 1(2) to use the widget with a bit of wiring. The external parallel can
be brought back inside and the Power connector wired up from the existing
wiring harness. Of course, I won't make any changes that would not be
easily reversable.


I have schematics for the Lisa 1 motherboard, but have never seem one for
the Lisa 2 motherboard. Having that would go a long way in answering my
questions. Anybody have one scanned?


Finally, I've read( from Larry Pina's book) that the 1.2amp power supply is
barely adequate for the addition of the Widget. I am looking for an 1.8amp
supply. Even a broken one that I would try to fix would be acceptable.
Anyone got a spare, working or broken to sell? I also need a soft power
switch assembly.

Thanks,

John

jlewczyk_at_his.com
Received on Sat Aug 05 2000 - 14:27:27 BST