Tapping into power.

[jrt1]

Is there anywhere inside the mini to tap into power without cutting wires? I was thinking about using a Y-adapter and coming off the power for the optical drive. Does it use a standard PC power connector like this one?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=588532&sku=C184-03166

I have a mod in mind!

[Susurrus]

No, if you check out the pictures of the Mini's logic board, all of the power conversion is done on the board. There are no power wires internally that are normal "wires." If you look at this pic you can see the silver square farthest to the bottom right is the slot for the Mini's power cable. It goes straight into the logic board.

For any mod using power you can either try and find room for a 9V or AA battery, leech off of the CMOS (forgot the real acronym for the Mac version) batter, or split the wires.

Hopefully you aren't going to make your Mini glow with LEDs because that's my idea!

If you don't want to share you mod idea with everyone, PM me and I may be able to help you out some more about possible ways to solve your power problem.

Edit: Grr, I'm normally meticulous about my url tags.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano

[jrt1]

There's no reason to hide it. I'm going to do a red or blue glow. I'm working on getting the top piece of plastic knocked out. I see the metal bracket holds it from underneath. The top piece of plastic will need to be supported by something once the metal is removed. That's what holding me up... more than power. I can always tap into power near the power switch.

[jrt1]

Are you working on the LED mod? If so, how are you getting the top out?

[Susurrus]

I'm working on a LED mod, but I don't think my goal is quite like yours. I plan on projecting the light out of the bottom ventilation holes.

For your project you may want to remove the metal brackets completely. I assume what you want to do is make the top glow, right? If my assumption is correct, you should be able to take the top plastic part out by breaking all of those little white circle things; they're what's keeping the plastic attached to the metal, they're basically plastic rivets what don't need to be driven into the material. If you just cut all of those you can remove the brackets. Then just superglue the top to the casing; you should be able to do that.

Disclaimer: Not my fault if the transition of my ideas from theoretical to practical.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano

[jrt1]

So your glow is going to come out the bottom vents?

For a top glow I think you'd have to cut out the metal and fasten little brackets to the inside corners of the case for the top to sit back down on. Maybe you can sneak a small light between the metal and plastic. I'm going to bring the case over to my uncles this week to take a look at. He's an excellent machinist. I wonder how much light the top piece of plastic will let through. I pointed a flashlight down on the case and it looked like it would.

I'm surprised no one has done this! I haven't seen one case mod yet.

[Susurrus]

No, you just remove the brackets and superglue the plastic itself to the metal. Or epoxy it. So just throw those away.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano

[jrt1]

There should be nothing behind the top if you want it be evenly illuminated. He might be able to cut out a hole the size of a CD in the metal. Then glue the top back down to the what's left of the metal. I was thinking about mounting the light or lights on top of the optical drive.

[Susurrus]

The plastic should be stiff enough so you can cut out practically all of the metal. I'll take a closer look at the top of the casing tomorrow. I already messed up my Mini taking it apart so many times today in my youthful exuberance (read stupidity). Hopefully I'll be smarter after I sleep on, well, my bed tonight.
_________________
Computer Engineer
Junior, Brown University
15" NC8430 HP Laptop
1.42Ghz PPC Mac Mini, 1Gb RAM, 1st Gen
40GB G4 iPod
2GB Black iPod Nano

[jrt1]

I left the top at my uncle's shop this week. I asked him to take a look at it and see what he could come up with. Hopefully he'll come up with something. Gotta Tupperware bowl over the top of my Mac mini to keep the dust out until I can get it back.

[iMav]