HDD Activity LED – Internal to the 360 using the standard connector.

 

 

Expanding on from Xbox-Scene’s tutorial for the HDD Activity light (Xbox 360 Hdd Activity Led - Scenyx Entertainment Community), this tutorial shows you how to extend Pin 11 from the HDD, though the standard HDD connector and into the 360 main console itself !

 

The tutorial is not for beginners as it involves some tricky cutting, soldering and cutting traces on the 360 m/b.

 

How does it work ?

 

The HDD unit uses a connector (below) with 14 contacts – 7 for the SATA and 7 for the Power connectors.  However, for the power connection (red) one if the connectors is not actually connected inside the HDD unit – I will use that connector to extend Pin 11 (the activity signal) from the SATA HDD to the Xbox 360 Motherboard.

 

 

Unfortunately, this n/c Pin (pin 14) on the HDD connector IS used on the 360 Motherboard (+5v standby) so we need to isolate it from it’s connection and use it for what we want !  (It’s obviously not used, as there is no connection the other end !)

 

Can I use the HDD in a normal unmodified Xbox ?

 

Yes you can – I have designed it so you put the limiting LED resistor in with the HDD Pin 11 wire.  This limits the current from a normal Xbox 360 (+5v) through Pin14 (see below) via the resistor and safely to ground – exactly the same as your modified Xbox will do but without the LED .. J

 

You will need :-

 

  1. A 360 HDD (doh) (disassembled of course..)
  2. A 360 Motherboard (again, disassembled..)
  3. 60cm or so of fine guage wire.
  4. A standard 2v LED
  5. A 1K (1000 Ohm) Resistor (2 if you want to invert the Activity light)
  6. A scapel or fine craft knife …

 

 

  1. Fine bit soldering iron, solder etc

 

There are two stages to this tutorial – Part 1 is modifying the HDD unit itself,  Part 2 is modifying the Motherboard to accept the new signal.

 

Part 1 – The HDD

 

We will need to get to Pin 14 inside the Xbox 360 HDD connector, remove the SATA connector from the HDD cage - then :-

 

1.Remove the shield around the connector – this is not connected to anything – bend the anchor legs straight and pull it out…

 

 

2. Take your sharp knife and ‘slowly’ cut around the seems of the connector.  It’s just plastic welded on but needs a bit of leverage to make it come away…  It is important that you do this equally around the whole connector – otherwise you’ll bend the legs ….  Once done, pull the connector apart …

 

The connector & it’s legs…

 

 

The top of the connector & leg guides …

 

Note, no wires are exposed in this part of the connector, so it’s minimal risk to use some force when opening it … (but be careful of that knife!)

 

3. We need to solder a wire directly onto Pin 14 – I didn’t want to risk opening the rest of the connector, so I soldered directly onto pin 14 as low as I could …

 

 

4. I cut the plastic away from the connector (there is a small ridge) so the wire would not get in the way when we put the top back on.  I suggest a quick continuity check to make sure you have a good connection here .. J

 

5. Put the top back on, cut more plastic away if it fouls the top …

 

 

6. I re-glued the top back on with some plastic glue around the seems …

 

  1. Is is very important that you connect a 1K resistor inline with this wire as follows (ignore the fact that the other end is already attached to the HDD, I did the pics in the wrong order …)  :-

 

 

IMPORTANT !

 

The resistor is here rather than at the ‘LED’ end for one very important reason.  If you connect the HDD into a console that has NOT had the trace cut (see Part 2) then you will short the Activity with +5v = Bad.  The Resistor limits the current and makes this safe to do – It also acts as the limiting resistor for the LED in the modified console that has had the trace cut .. J

 

  1. We now need to connect the green wire to Pin 11 on the HDD … (tricky..)

 

  1. Locate Pin 11 on the HDD here …

 

 

 

  1. I cut away the plastic behind the pin using a sharp scapel so that the wire had somewhere to go when the connector is pushed back on …
  2. I then tinned the pin, I then used a soldermop to soak up any excess solder so the pin had no bumps on it (perfectly tinned)
  3. I then tinned the wire – left about 1-2mm of wire showing with a healthy amount of solder on it…
  4. I then pushed the wire into the slot I had created in (a) above and heated the wire, this then created a good connection with the pin without solder flowing over the pin (not what we want).
  5. I then secured the wire with some tape and small cable ties around the existing wires just encase it got snagged… J

 

  1. Before proceeding, make sure the SATA connector fits snug on the HDD…

 

 

  1. Put the HDD back together again when you’ve tested it (!)

 

Part 2 – The 360 Motherboard

 

  1. Remove the motherboard …
  2. You are looking for the HDD connector (J1E1) here :-

 

 

 

3. We need pin 14 (which connects to the n/c pin that we have now connected !) – but we unfortunately need to disconnect the +5v Standby connection (that is not used…)

 

 

 

  1. Plug in your SATA connector and CHECK that you have continuity between the new green wire (in Part1) and Pin 14 before proceeding.

 

  1. Take your scapel and cut the trace shown below – CAUTION – Ensure you have the correct trace (!), and be careful the knife does not slip.  It is best to make two parallel cuts very close to each other across the trace, then pick out the middle bit .. J

 

 

 

  1. When you have made the cut, check that the continuity has been cut – ensure Pin 14 does not have a connection with the first pin on J1F1 (the Southbridge LED header).
  2. Solder a 60cm length of thin guage wire to Pin 14 …

 

 

  1. Route the wire though one of the Southbridge heatsink holes, secure with tape  …

 

 

  1. Wire the LED as follows (remember the HDD already has the limiting resistor for the LED) …

 

 

 

  1. Finished & working (testing both Activity and Inverted Activity …)

 

 

10. I’m going to remove the ‘Ethernet Link’ LED (see the Ethernet/Live Tutorial) and mount an amber or red HDD Activity one there instead J

 

Disclaimer – By doing ANY of the above, you will be voiding the MS Warranty – I cannot be held responsible by any damage  caused to yourself or the console.

 

Thanks,

 

RBJTech (Richard)

 

26 Jan 07