EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

Electronics => Repair => Topic started by: Bashstreet on December 29, 2017, 12:31:08 pm

Title: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: Bashstreet on December 29, 2017, 12:31:08 pm
Hi all.

I been working on making a replacement power supply for my loved C-64

All is fine and dandy but i have bit of hiccup with the 9 volt AC that it requires.
I bought a 9 volt transformer but as it is unregulated even under load with the commodore it gives some 11.5 volts.. Quite a bit from where i ideally want to be...

Chematic

http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/schematics/computers/c64/250469-rev.A-left.gif (http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/schematics/computers/c64/250469-rev.A-left.gif)

http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/schematics/computers/c64/250469-rev.A-right.gif (http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/schematics/computers/c64/250469-rev.A-right.gif)

By looking the schematic i do not see anything too sensitive on the 9 volt lines.... but have a look.
I would ideally want to regulate the 9 volt line to... well 9 volt but it needs to stay AC as the 60hz is used internally in some timing functions.

How one regulates AC without effecting it's frequency ?

Cheers.
 
Title: Re: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: anachrocomputer on December 29, 2017, 02:14:21 pm
The original C64 PSU may well have been a simple 50/60Hz transformer in a box. See if you can find the original schematic.

Now, a typical mains transformer is rated at full load, and has a regulation of typically 20%. That means that a nominal 9V AC transformer is designed to produce 9V when fully loaded at its rated current. If it's unloaded, the voltage will be higher. The 20% load regulation spec means that there will be approximately 20% variation in voltage between off-load and full load.

Remember that there's also some allowable variation of the input voltage (mains voltage) and if the input is a bit high or low, the output will be too.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: stj on December 29, 2017, 06:16:18 pm
the original was a transformer with several windings, combined with a 7805 on a useless heatsink.
useless because they potted it!!
Title: Re: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: Rasz on December 29, 2017, 07:18:19 pm
first half is about c64 supplies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15nf2EBBNu0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15nf2EBBNu0)
Title: Re: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: Alex Eisenhut on December 30, 2017, 01:03:54 am
The 9VAC is rectified internally to feed some linear regulators. They are already running quite hot. I made my 64 power supplies with the 9VAC transformer from the 2-pin VIC-20 power supply.

However, if you have a broken C64 power supply, there's your 9VAC transformer. Simply remove the bad 5V and splice in a good regulated 5V 2A wall wart into the power connector.

That's what I do now.
Title: Re: Commodore 64 power supply repair.
Post by: stj on December 30, 2017, 02:28:08 am
i fixed one once by mounting a heatsink on top with a 78s05 and wiring it to the exposed pcb pads inside after cutting the old pins.
i wouldnt do that now though - the caps are too old to leave in place.