As you may know, we’ve setup a CF card database so you can see which CF cards work with the DivIDE. One of the columns is “requires power”. Basically, we included this column as it was discovered that some CF cards can be used without the need for an external power source.

Recently, one of our customers, Tim Fardell, asked “Why can’t we use the Spectrum’s +5v supply to power the CF card?”. Good question. Well, after some research, we found we can!

We’ve even come up with a simple solution that requires just one wire to be soldered to your CF card adaptor. Some CF card adaptors have an option to use either IDE pin 20 or an external source to power the CF card. Some are hardwired to a floppy power connector, others are hardwired to use IDE pin 20. So basically you’ll have to adapt the hack to suit your CF adaptor. The ones we sell in the labs shop are selectable.

The main problem with the DivIDE is that Pin 20 isn’t connected to +5v normally. In fact, on the DivIDE, it isn’t connected to anything (it’s missing as it’s a ‘key’ pin). But, the good news is that pin 38 of the DivIDE IDE connector IS connected to +5v. So a simple link from pin 38 to pin 20 or to the +5v pin of the floppy power connector of your adaptor should work fine.

Below is a pic of the CF card adaptors we sell with the simple one wire link in place (it’s a thin green wire very close to the IDE connector). Pin 38 is connected direct to pin 20. We’ve got a few CF cards in the labs that don’t work unless powered externally. They all worked fine with this simple hack.

So many thanks to Tim for coming up with the great idea. Something so simple, yet so effective

Please note that this hack is only valid for the DivIDE, other IDE connectors may not have +5v present on pin 38.