Need Assistance With Dual Hdd Relay Switch Using Demon Cr_en Point Options

[UberDeev]

I'm trying to install a relay to switch the 5v line to an HDD I've got set up with the internal memory mod. Pretty much the only information I've been able to find on how to do it is this picture. Obviously I'm only using the one relay, since the Demon takes care of the Coolrunner. I'm connecting the relay to the Demon at the CR_EN point, so the HDD will only have power when the CR is active.

The problem is that once I connect the relay to both CR_EN and ground, CR_EN drops from 3.3v to 1.94v. This doesn't happen when I use alternate power sources, and I can't figure out why it's happening. I'm also unsure of whether a 3.3v signal is enough to activate the relay. On the one hand, the Cygnos360 point used in the reference picture is supposedly 3.3v. On the other hand, the documentation for this relay states that the coil voltage is 5v.

Can anyone offer me any guidance on this? I'm not really sure what else to try.

[RDC]

3.3v isn't enough for a 5v Relay, and that 3.3v source wasn't designed to be used as a power source either, it's just a signal source.

Use an NPN Transistor as a switch (Google) and have that 3.3v spot turn it's Base on/off, then the Transistor can handle the 5v and current needed to turn your Relay on/off from some 5v power source. Don't forget the Diode on the Relay coil, unless it already has one built in. That circuit is one of the more common (Transistor turning on a Relay) and you shouldn't have any problems finding several examples of it online.

[UberDeev]

Thanks! If I'm understanding things correctly, these two should do what I need:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...oductId=2036268
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...oductId=2062609

Does that look right? Some info I've found says I'll need a couple resistors on the circuit as well; I'm not sure if that applies in this case, though, as I don't fully understand the circuit. What say you?

[RDC]

Those parts should work, but without knowing the specifics of that Relay there I wouldn't swear to it. You may want to use an MPS2222A instead for the Transistor. It's also an NPN, but it can handle more current.

The Transistor is just used as a switch here, it's one of more simple circuits there is. The 3.3v from the CR_EN turns the Transistor on, the Transistor turns the Relay on. The thing that might make it confusing is you're using a +3.3v source to turn the Ground on off, that's just how a single Transistor works as a switch, but for a Relay, light bulb or LED it makes no difference if you turn the + or - side on/off.

Yes a couple of Resistors should also be used here. They can be 1/4w power rated, no need for anything larger than that. Then for the wiring and the values of them..

Base to a 1k or so Resistor, then to the CR_EN spot.
Base to 10k to Emitter (this one just makes sure the Transistor turns off when the 3.3v is off and sometimes is not necessary, but should be used anyway)
Emitter goes to any Ground spot.
Collector goes to one side of the Relay coil.
Other side of Relay coil goes to a 5v source.

[UberDeev]

Okay, that makes sense. And according to various schematics I've found such as this, the diode is connected to both sides of the coil. Is that correct? Thanks again for your help!

[RDC]

Correct, just make sure you install it the correct way. That schematic is pretty much exactly what you'll be doing there.

[UberDeev]

Got it all working perfectly. Turns out 3.3v is enough to trigger the relay. I made this diagram for anyone else who wants to do this. Thanks again for the help, RDC.



This post has been edited by UberDeev: Oct 22 2012, 05:33 PM

[jery911]

just what i was going to do, thanks for doing all the hard work lol now i can get on with my xbox

This post has been edited by RDC: Oct 22 2012, 09:50 PM

[UberDeev]

Glad I could help!

I didn't mention it before, but this setup leaves the top left pin on the relay connected to 5v when the relay is off, and disconnects it when the relay is on. That means you can wire the 4GB daughterboard to the port along with the USB cable, power it by that top left pin, and have it switch on with the retail NAND and off with the Demon NAND. Have your cake and eat it too, basically.

This post has been edited by UberDeev: Oct 22 2012, 10:45 PM

[jery911]

Glad I could help!

I didn't mention it before, but this setup leaves the top left pin on the relay connected to 5v when the relay is off, and disconnects it when the relay is on. That means you can wire the 4GB daughterboard to the port along with the USB cable, power it by that top left pin, and have it switch on with the retail NAND and off with the Demon NAND. Have your cake and eat it too, basically.

ohh ok, nice but i dont have a 4gb slim aha im going to use two harddrives instead, it should basically be the same process right? i think i can figure it out, thanks

[Blargharg]

Got it all working perfectly. Turns out 3.3v is enough to trigger the relay. I made this diagram for anyone else who wants to do this. Thanks again for the help, RDC.

Awesome work, thanks for sharing. Could we possibly see the pics of your install just so we can get an idea how it all fits in the console itself?

[UberDeev]

ohh ok, nice but i dont have a 4gb slim aha im going to use two harddrives instead, it should basically be the same process right? i think i can figure it out, thanks

Yes, that's what the mod is for; I was just saying something you could do in addition.
Keep in mind that the internal memory port will be disabled on your 360, since it didn't come with the internal 4GB. From what I understand you can enable it on the RGH nand by editing the keyvault, but I couldn't tell you how.

Awesome work, thanks for sharing. Could we possibly see the pics of your install just so we can get an idea how it all fits in the console itself?

Here ya go. I velcroed the relay to the housing, as I didn't want it loose. Also, I screwed up and lifted the D+ pad, so there's an extra wire in that area where I repaired it.

[Blargharg]

Very cool, thx, I already ordered the parts

[panosvo]

Very nice work. I have a question about what I want to do. I have a trinity xbox 360 with a 250GB HDD and planning to install the DemoN. I want to make the setup so that when I am in original nand the HDD will be disconected and when i am glitch the hard drive will be on. Now for the live part when the HDD will be off, can I just use a 8 or 16GB memory stick in front of the xbox and there store game saves account info etc?

About the HDD I am planning to use the same configuration with you but instead of enabling- disabling the USB power, I will to this on the power of SATA connection. Is this possible?

So I want have to buy a new HDD to have all my glitched software in.

[panosvo]

Finally I have received everything and did the relay. I also have posted everything in Team xecuter

I used a 32 GB usb flash drive for my xbox live profile and for thr RGH profilr I used the internal 250GB HDD
The goal is when I boot in RGH mode the USB is off and when I boot in Live the HDD is off, in this way there is no way to accidentally boot your live profile in RGH mode and MS cannot see anything of the stuff I have in my RGH HDD.

For this I used the instruction in forum
http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=744513
thanks very much.

I installed my DemoN with Coolrunner get key with DGX




For the ground cable of DemoN I route it making a hole like in the picture






What I used are in the picture below



The relay I used is this one
http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Compone...VDC-1Z%20EN.pdf


The 5v from the motherboard to HDD




For the usb, I used a USB extension cable and cut the 5v red cable and connected a headset extension cable to give the 5v for the usb from my relay when hdd is off.




and this is the one that goes in the xbox and takes the 5v from relay




After everything is connected.




This is the final


Everything works grate.
Thanks for the help in these forums.