Hippo
Still Fresh
I'd been toying with the idea of putting a flash drive inside the GP2X, but eventually decided against it for reasons of space and complexity. However I still wanted a HDD on the move, there were other options out there but theres nothing like making it yourself
The first thing I had to do was to bring the USB Host port out to a USB connector. I have seen the mods where people wire leads and little circuits there, but I thought I could do better than that!
Once I had received my EXT Port connector I got to work. After much plastic modding and filing I was ready to make the electronics. By using surface mount components and kynar wire I managed to fit a female USB connector into the EXT Port connector shell. This meant if I wanted a USB host connection all I had to do was plug it in! (I originally planned to have this port powered but my GP2X doesnt provide 5V at the EXT Port, a mod for another day h34r: )
Here is a picture of the connector.
Now I had the USB Host port I could work on the battery powered HDD. The first thing I purchased was a cheap USB HDD enclosure for 2.5" drives. I then got to work modifying it so that it could not be powered from the USB connector. This meant lots of track cuts on the PCB and some links. Once I had done this I tested it and it worked great from a remote power supply.
The next task in hand was to provide battery power. I toyed with the idea of using AA NiMH batteries but I found a better solution. I was browsing ebay for batteries and I found a Li-ion external battery for a PSP. This had a 5V output with a rating of 3200mAH, it also charged from a USB port. This was perfect, I ordered it right away!
After a little super glue and some drilling I married the battery pack and the USB HDD to created this..
The flying lead and connector shown powers the USB HDD and connects to the output of the battery.
Here are a couple of shots showing the whole thing connected up and working (Im using the double headed lead that came with the HDD enclosure until I can get a USB male to male lead)
According to my rough guesstimates I should get at least 5-6 hours usage with the small HDD I have connected at the moment, more with a newer larger disk.
The first thing I had to do was to bring the USB Host port out to a USB connector. I have seen the mods where people wire leads and little circuits there, but I thought I could do better than that!
Once I had received my EXT Port connector I got to work. After much plastic modding and filing I was ready to make the electronics. By using surface mount components and kynar wire I managed to fit a female USB connector into the EXT Port connector shell. This meant if I wanted a USB host connection all I had to do was plug it in! (I originally planned to have this port powered but my GP2X doesnt provide 5V at the EXT Port, a mod for another day h34r: )
Here is a picture of the connector.
Now I had the USB Host port I could work on the battery powered HDD. The first thing I purchased was a cheap USB HDD enclosure for 2.5" drives. I then got to work modifying it so that it could not be powered from the USB connector. This meant lots of track cuts on the PCB and some links. Once I had done this I tested it and it worked great from a remote power supply.
The next task in hand was to provide battery power. I toyed with the idea of using AA NiMH batteries but I found a better solution. I was browsing ebay for batteries and I found a Li-ion external battery for a PSP. This had a 5V output with a rating of 3200mAH, it also charged from a USB port. This was perfect, I ordered it right away!
After a little super glue and some drilling I married the battery pack and the USB HDD to created this..
The flying lead and connector shown powers the USB HDD and connects to the output of the battery.
Here are a couple of shots showing the whole thing connected up and working (Im using the double headed lead that came with the HDD enclosure until I can get a USB male to male lead)
According to my rough guesstimates I should get at least 5-6 hours usage with the small HDD I have connected at the moment, more with a newer larger disk.