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Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt # Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing with 34-Pin IDC Connector **Type:** Product page · **SKU:** ADA5679 · **Brand:** [Adafruit](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/adafruit-australia) **Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-floppy-featherwing-with-34-pin-idc-connector.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-floppy-featherwing-with-34-pin-idc-connector.html.md)) Relive the days when storage was counted out in kilo-bytes not giga-bytes, using the Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing on a Feather board - perfect for... ## Pricing - **Price:** $9.60 (inc GST) — $8.73 AUD, exc GST - **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $8.46 (exc GST) · 50+ $8.29 (exc GST) ## Availability & dispatch - Available with a lead time — expect dispatch between Aug 24 and Aug 26. ## How to buy - **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=ADA5679:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart. - **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/ADA5679:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.) - **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there. - **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works) - **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt ## Description Relive the days when storage was counted out in kilo-bytes not giga-bytes, using the **Adafruit Floppy FeatherWing** on a Feather board - perfect for interfacing with 34-Pin IDC Connector floppy drives that were ubiquitous on PC's. This 'Wing has level shifting and a ready-to-plug connector that works with 3.5" or 5.25" floppy disks for reading or writing! Floppy disks have an interesting data transfer method where raw bit transitions are measured and converted to data. This data streams pretty fast from the disk drive so you'll want to use a fast microcontroller that has large SRAM storage and ideally, a peripheral to DMA the data signal. For that reason Adafruit only have this FeatherWing working with the [Feather M4](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-feather-m4-express-featuring-atsamd51-atsamd51-cortex-m4.html) or [Feather RP2040](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-feather-rp2040.html). ESP32, ATmega, nRF52, etc [have not been ported to Adafruit's support library](https://github.com/adafruit?q=floppy&type=all&language=&sort=)! Floppy disk drives require 5V power and logic. For the logic level shifting, Adafruit have a small boost converter on the 'Wing that will give 5V logic levels out the 34-pin connector. It will also shift the incoming signals down to a Feather-safe 3.3V. **For floppy driver *powering* you will likely need a separate external 5V power supply that can provide 5V at 2 A.** You **can't power most drives off of USB power,** they have big motors that require more current than USB can provide! Adafruit have got code and examples for three use cases: - **[Reading floppy disks and storing the raw bit patterns and/or converted data format for data archiving](https://wiki.archiveteam.org/index.php/Rescuing_Floppy_Disks).** For this use case Adafruit recommend using the 'Wing with a Feather programmed to act as a [greaseweazle](https://github.com/keirf/greaseweazle) or [fluxengine](https://github.com/davidgiven/fluxengine) client device. Then run those command line programs on your computer to have the Feather send the raw track data to the computer for analysis, bit-repair and format interpretation. You can also write some formats via those two programs, for use with older computers. We also have a 'Write Disable' switch on board specifically for this use case so that it is not possible for the write-enable pin to accidentally be activated. - **Reading/Writing FAT formatted floppy disks from Arduino, CircuitPython or a computer that is connected via USB**. Floppy disks can still be used to save, read data from! This is great for retro-themed projects or if you want to write data to floppy disks for them to be used by IBM-PC compatibles or other devices that are expecting FAT-formatted floppy disks - [**Cool floppy music sequencing!**](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=floppy+disk+music) Each order comes with one FeatherWing with the 2x17 header attached and level shifting circuitry built in. Before it can be used to read/write floppies, you will need to: - Solder pin headers on to attach to a Feather board. - Attach an M4 or [RP2040 Feather](https://core-electronics.com.au/adafruit-feather-rp2040.html) as the driver/brains. - Find a 34-pin IDC Floppy Drive that works - [Connect a 34-pin DC cable](https://core-electronics.com.au/rainbow-34-pin-dual-row-idc-floppy-ribbon-cable-30cm-long-1.html) between the 'Wing and the Floppy drive. - [Provide 5V power to the floppy drive, as much as 2 Amps. 5.25" disk drives will also need a 12V power supply](https://core-electronics.com.au/4-pin-at-atx-ide-power-cable.html)! - Find some floppy disks to read/write Many of these items are no longer sold, and will require some sleuthing to locate! ## Technical Details Product Dimensions: 50.8mm x 22.8mm x 13.6mm / 2.0" x 0.9" x 0.5" Product Weight: 8.4g / 0.3oz ![RoHS 2 2011 65 EU Compliant](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/RoHS2_2011_65_EU_7356c5574c.svg)![RoHS 2 2015 863 EU Compliant](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/RoHS2_2015_863_EU_86773f57f9.svg) ## Images - [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/A/D/ADA5679-1.jpg)