Project, Phases 1-2
My network music player briefcase project rolls along. While I await my speakers, amplifier, and cabling, I went ahead and did the power switch modifications to the laptop board (allowing for an external switch, shown in the upper-left of the picture hooked up with green and yellow alligator clips). That switch will be panel-mounted on the top of the case, near the handle.
The white USB cable has been chopped at the device end, pulling out the 5V DC supply coming from the USB port and using it to power an LED indicator (bottom-right), which illuminates when the laptop power is on. The breadboard in the bottom-left just handles the hookups for that and currently houses the resistor for the LED.
I picked up some tiny pre-etched circuit boards at Radio Shack today that will ultimately contain all the electronics to drive the switching and LEDs. I also have the panel mounts to attach all the lights and switches. The 1⁄8” stereo jack is ready to go, which will take an auxiliary input and pass it through to my speakers.
Later this week I can drill out all the panel mounts and go ahead and mount the switches, lights, and audio jack onto the metal plate.
