New(again) C64 owner help

[Kaiju]

Just scored a decent 64 boxed, while Im waiting for it to arrive, Im having flashbacks of bad Black Brick Atari psu issues

 

Is this something I should be worried about as it was with the 600xl?

 

Which psu are safe vs dont power on or fry your boards.

 

If it comes with one of the dangerous psus(picks show the black brick grilled type) what are my

Options?

 

Do Atari 8bit psus work on c64?

 

Apologies for the newbie questions just dont want to damage anything

[carlsson]

Yes, generally speaking you should be worried about C64 PSUs frying the board. I think the newer, the better (i.e. C64C PSU) but it might only be true for European conditions. What you can do is to order a C64 Saver, a small device that is put between the PSU and the computer. If the 5V voltage goes berzerk, a circuit will break in the saver and protect the computer from the overvoltage.

 

Atari PSUs won't work, as the C64 (more or less) requires dual voltages 9V AC + 5V DC. However Atari composite video cables should work on your C64 unless you have a weird S-Video cable specifically made for a particular Atari model.

Edited January 9, 2018 by carlsson

[Kaiju]

Thanks for the info on the video cable.

 

I was reading up on the c64 Saver prior to posting

It just seams hard to find these days as most posts were old

Not sure if Ray is producing them as one post on lemon said he retired etc

 

Is there a up to date version/alternative?

 

Thanks

[+OLD CS1]

If you cannot find one, you can also source a replacement power supply made from modern components. I have one such a power supply and it works perfectly.

[+sm3]

Thanks for the info on the video cable.

 

I was reading up on the c64 Saver prior to posting

It just seams hard to find these days as most posts were old

Not sure if Ray is producing them as one post on lemon said he retired etc

 

Is there a up to date version/alternative?

 

Thanks

I believe Ray is retired from his career, but he still does this Commodore stuff on the side.

 

I would email him (taken from his website):

 

For repairs to your equipment or questions, email: rcarlsen at tds dot net

 

P.S.

 

He makes nice power supplies for them as well, although most consider it a bit pricey! I have 2 myself and love them. Well worth the cost in my opinion for the peace of mind especially.

[carlsson]

I find that there are 13 Savers on the dozen these days, so if Ray doesn't make one any longer, there should be plenty of other manufacturers.

[VicViper]

Thanks for the info on the video cable.

 

I was reading up on the c64 Saver prior to posting

It just seams hard to find these days as most posts were old

Not sure if Ray is producing them as one post on lemon said he retired etc

 

Is there a up to date version/alternative?

 

Thanks

I just ordered a saver from Ray a week ago, and he said he had a few on the shelf. Send him an Email, Class act all the way.

[Kaiju]

I reached out to him. Thanks so much guys, Im super excited about getting back into the c64, maybe teach my Daughter about the golden age

[Kaiju]

I just got the c64. Seams the psu isnt the black brick. Its a light gray brick are these prone to the issue as well?

[Zippy Zapp]

I reached out to him. Thanks so much guys, Im super excited about getting back into the c64, maybe teach my Daughter about the golden age

 

 

It depends on the model. The ones that came with the 1764 RAM expansion are solid and you don't really have to worry about them. Look on the bottom to see if it has a label with model number and volt/amp info. Here in the USA the C64c's came with a beige power brick that was the same as the original Brick of Death but beige. The 1764 came with one of 2 models of PS. I think one was 2.5 amps and lighter weight and the other was the same amps and look as the 128 power supply but with a C64 power connector. I have one of each model and they are both great. But with a saver, you should be fine.

[carlsson]

Over here in Sweden (230V land), we basically had these kinds of PSUs:

• Two-prong VIC-20: 9VAC 3A transformer, small black brick
• DIN-style VIC-20CR and early C64: 9VAC 1A + 5VDC 1.5A, somewhat dark grey wedge, prone to failure. This one was available in two versions, with (2 fuses) or without (1 fuse) its own power switch.
• Later C64: 9VAC 1A + 5VDC 1.6A, a little smaller, lighter grey wedge, also prone to failure IIRC. I can't recall if it also had its own power switch, I think not.
• C64C: 9VAC 1A + 5VDC 1.7A, white square brick that IMHO is quite stable compared to the earlier ones. Definitely no power switch.
• C128: 9VAC 1A + 5VDC 2.5A, light grey square brick which probably is the same form factor as you had.

I'm not sure if the 1764 REU was shipped with its own PSU and in that case, if it plain was C128 supplies with changed connector or if there was one inbetween 1.7A and 2.5A.

 

However of those PSUs that failed on me, all of them just stopped working, delivering no power at all rather than overvoltage. Perhaps I've been lucky, as I understand others have got plenty of overvoltage from various models.

Edited January 11, 2018 by carlsson

[+OLD CS1]

I never had a VIC-20 long enough for the PSU to fail. I did, however, manage to get both models of PSUs which had failed before I got the equipment and in both cases the VIC-20s themselves were undamaged.

 

My C64 experiences echo @carlsson's in the I only had C64 PSUs just up and die, never over-voltaged or otherwise taking out the 64. I did not have one of the C64 wedge PSUs, only the bricks and then later one of the custom heavy-duty jobbers, which I also got one with three 120V outlets on the back for my 128 (soooo nice: one switch and the 128, 1581, monitor, and printer came to life!)

 

Over the course of the past 30 years I have had the black and beige bricks as well as black non-brick PSUs. Nary one has failed in such a horrific manner.