Finally got hold of some 4 and 6 pin DIN plugs to make up the cables for my 1581. I found a transformer which outputs both 12v and 5v simultanously, so I connected the 5v to pin 1, the 12v to pin 4 and the GND to pin 2. But when I power the drive up it doesn't switch on - at least the power LED doesn't come on. I have checked for shorts and checked the voltages coming from the pins.
Does the drive have to be connected to the C64 to power on? Also, the connector on the schematic I linked to above has its pins numbered from 1 to 4 starting from the bottom right pin, going anti-clockwise, but the connector I have got is numbered from 4 to 1 going anti-clockwise starting from the same pin. I followed the pin *numbers*, because I'm assuming the picture is of the connector from the other side. But I'm wondering if this is wrong, and I have got the connector backwards?
[EDIT]
Update - I tested continuity between what I think is the ground pin and something inside the 1581 which should connect to ground (in fact it was the metal housing) and I did get a connection. In other words, this proves that the pinout is correct and I didn't wire it up backwards!
[/EDIT]
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moto