Case modding an iMac "Tangerine" G3

[MrKnisely]

Richard Colbert Jr wrote:

>"The voltages around the picture tube are lethal"
>
>You should told me that 30 years ago, or 20 years ago or hell even 10 years
>ago.....I've been hit by 700,000+ volt TV's so many times I lost count. When
>I was a kid, a neighbor of my grandparents had cows. Around his pasture was
>a Double 230 volt electric fence. By that I mean it had two strands, each
>with there own 230 volt charger. I used to go out there barefoot after a
>rain and grab one strand in each hand and hold on till I blew the
>transformers. It took him 10 years to figure out it wasn't the freaking rain
>doing it.
>
>I am not afraid of THE JUICE! LOL! What I am afraid of is FRACKING UP my
>FIRST MAC.
> 
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Richard Colbert
>"Recent Ubuntu Convert"
>YIM: cmptrgeeknshermantx
>ICQ: 14466429
>MSN: pcheaven2k at hotmail.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ubuntu-users-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com
>[mailto:ubuntu-users-bounces at lists.ubuntu.com] On Behalf Of Tommy Trussell
>Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2006 9:54 PM
>To: Ubuntu Help and User Discussions
>Subject: Re: Case modding an iMac "Tangerine" G3
>
>On 1/22/06, Richard Colbert Jr <richard at venuspcservice.com> wrote:
>  
>
>>>"Can you boot from an external firewire drive cage?
>>>Personally, I think you're nuts.  I'd rip the guts out and build a
>>>seperate case that will work better for what you need.
>>>Mike K."
>>>      
>>>
>>I was beginning to think NO ONE would state the OBVIOUS. LOL! I actually
>>thought about that, but there are several reasons I don't!
>>
>>1.) It is an ALL IN ONE iMac (See Picture Here:
>>http://www.lowendmac.com/imacs/imac5clr.jpg)
>>    
>>
>
>Not to be too pedantic, but ALL iMacs are "all in one." That's part of
>the charm.
>
>  
>
>>2.) How would I build the case? What would I use for a Power Supply.
>>    
>>
>
>I'm sure if you google around you will find others who have been so
>bold... the tricky part is the CRT. That's where the dangerous high
>voltages exist, so make sure you are fully paid up on your life
>insurance.**
>
>  
>
>>3.) How would I connect the Monitor (leaving it in the case and only
>>stripping out the computer parts) to the computer (in the new case). I
>>    
>>
>know
>  
>
>>the motherboard has a HIDDEN VGA Monitor connection, but how would I wire
>>    
>>
>it
>  
>
>>to the monitor itself. **NOTE: I have other monitors, but it would be cool
>>to have it still working so it looked like it WAS NOT MODDED.
>>    
>>
>
>Many of the early iMac models actually have a VGA connector and plug
>you can disconnect, so you could pull the "logic board" and leave the
>rest of the "guts" (including the high voltage CRT parts) in the
>bulbous case. It may require only a VGA extension cable and/or adaptor
>to mate the ends the way you want.
>
>But just as a magician uses exaggerated motions to misdirect
>attention, you could instead build an external firewire enclosure into
>what looks like a platform to hold the iMac. Make it a complementary
>"fruit" color and nobody would think it was anything but a special
>platform.
>
>**Seriously, you will want to avoid tinkering with the insides of the
>iMac unless you have a rudimentary knowledge of electronic repair and
>safety techniques. The voltages around a picture tube are lethal.
>
>  
>
First off, DUDE... You're one sick masicist.

Secondly, I was thining of that exact model when I suggested the box 
(I've got his blue brother 
http://www.mrknisely.is-a-geek.org/inmemoriam/browse.php?mid=278).  
Given the way the guts come out, it wouldn't be too bad to make up some 
extender cables for the monitor, power, and data.

I was also thinking of building a "stand" out of the box and using 
longer IDE cables do bring the drives back into the original 
case/monitor combo.  Picture one fof the shuttle cube boxes sitting 
below the original iMac.  Since the guts are on the bottom of the iMac, 
I don't think it would be too hard to cut the slot and drop the cable.  
If memory serves me (I've not opened mine in a LONG time.) the HDD is on 
the bottom.

At any rate, sounds like fun, but I'd just find a way to dual boot and 
toss in an 80GB.


Mike K.