Huge Mod Project

[ViciousMod]

The Task:

Design and build a full digital organ complete with stops and all. The organ, for the most part, must be solar powered to emphasize "a greener planet" and our high tech civilization, thus a DIGITAL organ.

Presentation will be held on June 11, 2008 in front of BP at the Johnson Space Center.

 

Constraints:

• $$$ spending limit
  
• Use as much solar power as possible
  
• A complete organ
  

Our Design:

A clear three keyboard body that , within itself, will contain a retrofitted Mac Pro. Two side mounted touchscreen monitors will control most of the organ functions. One standard monitor will be placed up top to read music. Electronic pedals attached to Base. All this will be powered through a 12V Deep Cycle battery. While the Mac will take care of the processing, it will output to the only non-solar powered device, the sound system.

 

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Now a little more casual.

 

Basically through numerous grants this project finally became a reality. We chose a the basic Mac Pro with some upgrades like 16gB of memory and another video card. For the most part the construction of the organ should not present a problem. But one major thing is standing in our way. With one week left, we are left with questions on how to fit the Mac into the case. Here is our status:

(I will post pics as soon as I can)

We have a lexan body and all the keyboards wired to controller boards that end up being USB's that plug into the mac. We are currently mounting the keyboards and should be done by tomorrow. On the Mac side of things we have decided to cut off the entire back panel where the logic board mounts onto and secure into the lexan body in order to save time. This will be much easier to see when I get some pictures.

 

As of now, the only thing that I'm having a hard time is the Mac Pro power button.I need to mount the button onto the lexan case. It seems like a standard momentary switch but I traced it back to some IC ( I think cause of its ability to act like the Power button and Reset). And then there is the problem of there being no indication of polarity amongst the cabling or connector. The quest (or googling) of an answer led me here. Before I went and got a momentary switch I wanted to look up and see if the PS Pinout existed. I discovered the "Bible Service Manual" link but didn't find what I was looking for. Im glad I found this place because from my initial observation, there are some very knowledgeable people here. I will be noting my progress leading up to the presentation and any issues I run into.

 

So my first problem: Replacing that power button?? Any Help

 

Thanks in advance.