ml powerbox alternative

32 replies
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Gold
1008 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 04:17 GMT
#1643534
Hello all, Would you think a 5V USB to RJ45 cable could do the trick too? A long time wish of mine is to get some sound im my garage. I already bought a BeoLab2000 for that reason. I like the idea that I can control source and volume without a remote or app. The only problem is that I cannot elegantly bring an ML cable to my garage. So my plan B is to use an Airport Express (as a wireless client), connected to a BLC, connected to the BL2000. Until I realized I need to power the ML network with an A. Master. I do have a spare 1611 that could do that, but I like the idea to use the BLC's USB for that (and to keep the chain of boxes limited to two). (OK I admit, that is a third box. And they are rare and/or expensive to various level of craziness!) Reading the text, I was hoping that I could fabricate a cable that just brings the 5V USB of one socket to the correct RJ45 pins of the RJ45 ML socket of the BLC. Or am I seeing this way too simple? Has anyone done this? I am doubting myself, as the ML handbook says: - supply voltage: -7 V to -15V, in standby -3V to -15V + supply voltage: +7 V to +15 V, in standby +3V to +15V Hope someone else has been wondering about this also :-) Peter Pan is missed... Regards, Johan

Location: Netherlands

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovision-10.png Beovision-10.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-H8i.png Beoplay-H8i.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
Beomaster.png Beomaster.png
MA
Madskp
Gold
2142 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 05:30 GMT ? Edited April 5, 2024 at 05:30 GMT
#1663896
Just found this old thread about the ML Power box /forum/general-discussion-and-questions/new-ml-power-box#post-2045853 There is especially on post that mention this: Where the last part I have underlined with red might be a dealbreaker.  

Location: Denmark

MA
Madskp
Gold
2142 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 17:11 GMT
#1663906
link
Hope someone else has been wondering about this also
I have been wondering about that powerbox indeed, and would very much like to know how much there is in it. It migth be that it has to generate both the positive and the negative voltage to support the systems that need both. However the Beolab 2000 among others only has connections for the positive voltage according to the specifications in the servicemanual for it: And on the diagram   So it might be that by supplying the postive voltage to pin 12 is enough. In some of my testing with the BL3500 this was not enough for stand alone operation, but in this case where you also has the ML data signals from the BLC it might be that could be enough. Looking at one of the other diagrams for the BL2000 I can see that the positive voltage fromt the ML connector is used to activate a transistor that activates a conenction called ML CON, which I assume is a way to tell the BL2000 that it is connected to ML. I don't know if it is this simple, but If you have some pieces of ML cables that are cut on the middle you could probably try to make an adapter. I can also try some testing with a BL3500 but might not be before next week I have the time for it

Location: Denmark

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1008 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 17:59 GMT
#1663907
Hi Madskp, nice to have a fellow wonderer! When I will get my (5th) BLC I will produce a USB to RJ45 5V cable and test it. Trusting I will not brick the BLC with that! I read somewhere the thought that the BLC is mainly developed to bring ML sources to NL and not vice versa. This explains there was no need to provide ML power. I also believe there is more going on inside the ML Power Box than just put 5v into ML. If someone has one, could open it and share a photograph of its magic content, that would help a lot I reckon. A mini flux capacitor could be in it? Who knows? Regards, Johan

Location: Netherlands

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovision-10.png Beovision-10.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-H8i.png Beoplay-H8i.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
Beomaster.png Beomaster.png
B3
B3OHACK3R
Bronze
158 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 18:21 GMT
#1663909
Hi Johan, to be able to switch on and communicate with e.g. a BL2000 via ML following conditions must be met:
  • DATA+ must be pulled up to around +0.25 V
  • DATA- must be pulled down to around -0.25 V
  • POWER+ must be at least powered with 5 V
In a standard ML system the master device will take care of that. I don't know what the BLC misses out. Probably all of those conditions but you could measure that. 5 V is easy to apply. I recommend a series resistor and a diode for current limiting and reverse protection. The supply to the data lines is a bit more complicated and not easily achievable. If you have a negative supply you might get away with a few resistors and diodes. I could probably build a few MDT boards with just the ML power circuit. That would more or less be a direct replacement for the power box.
MA
Madskp
Gold
2142 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 18:34 GMT
#1663910
Just to see what the BLC supplies I took mine out and connected it to power and a ML cable with loose ends. On the the data + and - lines I can meassure 0.2-0.3V and - 0.2-0.3V so I would say that might be 0.25V (when taking my shaking hands into account ;-) ) On the pink vire I measure 10.8V and on the blue wire -10.8 V So the BLC seems to have all the voltages coming out of it. Now I am really confused what the ML power box does?  

Location: Denmark

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1008 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 18:54 GMT
#1663912
Hi B3OHACK3R, very nice to have you on board too! Could it be the BLC only fails to supply the POWER+? My ideal solution would be a ‘cable’ going from the USB socket to the MasterLink RJ45 socket of the BLC. I can then use the ML socket for the BL2000. Anything that comes close to that would be great! Regards, Johan  

Location: Netherlands

My B&O Icons:

Beoremote-Beo4.png Beoremote-Beo4.png
Beovision-10.png Beovision-10.png
Beosound-5.png Beosound-5.png
Beoremote-One.png Beoremote-One.png
Beoplay-H8i.png Beoplay-H8i.png
Beoplay-A1.png Beoplay-A1.png
Beomaster.png Beomaster.png
B3
B3OHACK3R
Bronze
158 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 18:57 GMT
#1663913
Oh, okay. That is strange. I neither have a BLC nor a power box here currently. So can't test. Maybe there are different revisions of the BLC? From the electrical standpoint I can say for sure that it's only the termination of the data lines as well as power on the Power+ pin that is needed.
B3
B3OHACK3R
Bronze
158 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 19:01 GMT
#1663914
MA
Madskp
Gold
2142 posts
Posted April 5, 2024 at 19:13 GMT
#1663916

Location: Denmark

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