Atari 2600 paddles + Commodore 64 = KA-BOOM!?!?

[mäsäxi]

Hello!

 

Is it safe to connect Atari 2600 paddles to Commodore 64? I know, Commodore 64 has Atari type joystick ports, but I am asking as I know that certain old computer´s controlling hardware, like mouses etc, may be dangerous to use on some other old computer. In the past I once visited some site, which had list of 8- and 16-bit computers and their hardware and each hardware had a description if it may cause a short circuit if used on some other computer.

 

That´s why I want to be sure before I will try anything else than ordinary Atari type joysticks.

 

Other question is, if it can´t short circuit my Commodore 64, will Atari 2600 paddles work properly on Commodore 64?

 

 

Kind Regards,

MäSäXi

Edited November 8, 2012 by mäsäxi

[Thomas Jentzsch]

I would be very surprised if you can shortcut your C64 at all. It has a built-in fuse, which pretty effectively prevents bad things happening (I know what I am talking about ).

 

[bombidragon]

Most consumer electronics have resistors and such in place so no BOOM!

[Mr SQL]

The C64 can use the same joysticks and paddles, however Atari paddles contain a potentiometer with twice the resistance of C64 paddles - range of motion will be limited accordingly. The capacitors that charge to read the paddles are contained within that wonderful subtractive analougue synthesiser know as the SID; the higher resistance in the Atari paddles are fine (just longer charging time/less motion) but don't risk damaging that fantastic chip with an unmodified genesis controller (shunts the cap).

[mäsäxi]

Thank you for your answers!

 

I guess I must find some cheap Commodore paddles then. By the way, are there separate paddles for VIC-20 and Commodore 64, or does both use the same ones?

Edited November 8, 2012 by mäsäxi

[ApolloBoy]

I would be very surprised if you can shortcut your C64 at all. It has a built-in fuse, which pretty effectively prevents bad things happening (I know what I am talking about ).

Sure doesn't stop the PSU from frying the RAM chips when it goes bad though.

[Charlie_]

You can use Atari paddles with the c64. I use them all the time to play Panic Analog. A fantastic game!

[Jinks]

I don't think you play kaboom with 2600 paddles on a c64 its still a c64 ..

[MrMaddog]

but don't risk damaging that fantastic chip with an unmodified genesis controller (shunts the cap).

 

Yeah, I once loaned my Genesis gamepad to a friend to use on his C-64 cause I said it worked on my 130XE. A week later he said it wasn't working right... I do know that the C button is wired to one of the paddle signal but can't detect the A or start button.

 

The Sega pads also don't work on the ST, so I don't know how weird the (former) Commodore engineers made the joystick ports on those machines...