Commodore 64 power supply

[Dirty Harry]

I have found a C64 without a power supply, and is not tested so I can get it for cheap. I was wondering how hard are the power supplies to come across, I have only seen one on ebay.ca for $45 plus shipping . I know they are different but could I make one out of an old power supply I have? Any help is appreciated.

[Mirage]

They are super easy to find. It's best to not use a stock C= one, as they were crap and will blow up your 64 when they fail. $45 for one is insane unless it's some super high-quality larger one designed to work with additional devices (and even then...). Some people do make them, but I can't help you with that.

[nathanallan]

Agreed! Also, you can make yourself one from an ATX power supply pretty easily, the hardest part about it is dealing with the large-ish case it has to go into. It's all over google how to convert/make one. I'd say if you can get the C= cheap with no power supply then go for it.

[jamesk]

I made one with an external IDE drive PSU brick that provides +5 and +12. It's very simple if you have a 12v SID. If you have a nine volt SID you could regulate the 12v voltage with a 7809 9v regulator. Very simple if you follow the application data.

I added special circuitry to add the optional 9VAC TOD.

 

Sorry I am sparse on documentation:

 

http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/171124-c64-running-on-4-pin-pc-power/page__p__2133825__hl__c64__fromsearch__1#entry2133825

 

Of course if you don't want to fuss with that, some sell aftermarket power supplies on Ebay.

[zylon]

If you do buy one of the C= bricks, get a white one. At least they're newer and might have more life left. I use one daily.

[Dirty Harry]

Thanks for the replies. The fella wanted way too much for it and it never came with anything. My patience finally paid off and I found one today with a power supply and suncom vinyl cover so I picked it up. I am brand new to vintage computers and was wondering do I need an external drive or game to run it?, when I turn it on nothing happens to my tv screen.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Dirty Harry

[zylon]

Thanks for the replies. The fella wanted way too much for it and it never came with anything. My patience finally paid off and I found one today with a power supply and suncom vinyl cover so I picked it up. I am brand new to vintage computers and was wondering do I need an external drive or game to run it?, when I turn it on nothing happens to my tv screen.

Nope. At the least the power LED should come on. Also have to use a non-automatic tv switch or direct connect.

[Dirty Harry]

LED comes on and I am using the same cables and adaptor for coaxial as my other systems. Is there some command I should enter?

 

 

 

EDIT: I just took the machine apart and checked for anything bad or for shorts in the rf output. everything seemed fine. put it back together and just turned it on and the blue screen appeared! must have been a loose connection.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Dirty Harry

[Mirage]

Great! If you got a manual with it, it would be a good thing to work through it to learn the basics. It's actually a pretty good manual. If you didn't get it, a pdf of it should be easily findable on the internet. Once you get those basics figured out (as boring as it may be (I don't think it is though)), then you can move on to the next step of actually getting some software running on it.

[SETH]

I just had the same problem with no power. The red LED came on but nothing on the screen. It was just a blown fuse. BUSS AGC 1.5V. Just open the case and you will see the fuse right away. I replaced the blown fuse and my C64 works great.

[zylon]

LED comes on and I am using the same cables and adaptor for coaxial as my other systems. Is there some command I should enter?

 

 

 

EDIT: I just took the machine apart and checked for anything bad or for shorts in the rf output. everything seemed fine. put it back together and just turned it on and the blue screen appeared! must have been a loose connection.

Great! I had that happen to a Vic-20 once. It's been fine ever since.