Ok nobody answered in the DIY PROM section - I seem to have trouble getting questions (Even simple ones) answered in there, whats the deal? Anyways, here's the question:

I need to get power to my cable, I'm assuming but I dont know how. I ordered the kit and made the converter from AKM Cables and am using the guide here: http://www.akmcables.com/assembly.htm

I don't fully understand what's going on after the instructions for building the converter. I have a 92 TPI 350 speed density - do I need to use a cigarette lighter adapter or can I wire the power into my laptop or something? The pictures he shows of the completed cables suggests I can wire the power into the laptop or the car somewhere, but I don't understand how from the directions given. What do I do? Thanks.

 

sorry if i sound dumb.... but i didnt know the aldl cable needed power? i thought you just needed power for the laptop..

 

I dont really understand why either, but on some cords they draw power from the laptop and on others they use a cigarette lighter adapter - it shows one with an adapter on that site i put the link to. I just need to know how to do it with the schematic given.

 

The power is to run the serial interface circuit.

I have a scanner that plugs into the ALDL and it has a plug that pulls it off the cig lighter.

The scanner is nice but I really would like to use a 'real' computer to hook into the ALDL, do you have a program you are using?

 

There are a bunch I'm trying, but I cant get any of them to work - I think its a problem between my cable and Windows XP, though. I went ahead and got a cigarette lighter adapter and wired it up. It looks really professional in completion, I just wish I could get it to work!

 

Im working on getting a lap top to fock around with... maybe off ebay or maybe ill ask for a old used one at work? we will see.

 

I power mine from the cig lighter...are you sure your ground is correct?