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

From: Louis Schulman <louiss_at_gate.net>
Date: Sat Aug 5 16:44:17 2000

Hi John,

OK, I can answer most of this. First, your nomenclature.
A Lisa 1 has two "twiggy floppies", or in most cases has
been converted to use one 400K drive, making it, in effect,
a Lisa 2 or 2/5. The only difference between a 2 and a 2/5
is the latter was sold with a Profile external hard drive.

The Widget was used in the Lisa 2/10. Since the Widget was
internal, and the Profile external, the 2/5 and the 2/10 do
not use the identical boards. As you have noted, on the
2/5 the parallel connector is external, on the 2/10 it is
internal.

Having said that, you can run a Widget off the external
connector. It will work fine. I test widgets on a 2/5,
using the external connector, and an external power supply
borrowed from a ProFile. The power supply wiring is
different, as you have noted.

What you propose will work. However, please note that
widgets require that the cage have an internal fan, and the
power supply upgrade.

Finally, if you really have a complete Lisa 1 with Twiggy
drives, to NOT modify it at all. Just pack it up
immediately, and send it to me. I will be happy to send
you a Lisa 2 and all the widgets you want in return.

And, if you really can't come up with a 1.8 amp power
supply, I might be talked into selling one (with the proper
incentive.)

Louis

On Sat, 5 Aug 2000 15:27:27 -0400, John Lewczyk wrote:

>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 - 16:44:17 BST

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