ADAM Internal Power Supply Build

[ZarK]

Hi!

 

So, I have this ADAM, and it needs the printer to work because it houses the power supply. Guessing many here know this, but I thought for those who don't I'd re-iterate. I've built many computers, and a few have been mini-itx. They use these teeny tiny power supplies and are cheap and easy to get. I happened to have several on hand and settled on an Antec ISK300 Power Supply. The Antec Mini-ITX PSU used a 19v Laptop Style Supply, which are plentiful and easy to acquire.

 

My Final idea is to be able to plug this into a modern TV (with composite av jacks) and do some gaming and so on. I purchased ADAMcon's IDE CF, Printer Card with Boot EEPROM, and 256k memory expansion. It came with it's own Power Supply, and will be building a lead for it too. The LPT port I'll drill into the back and route internally as well making for a nice tight package.

 

Power Supply puts out one +12v, +5v, -12v, +3.3v (not used). The ADAM needs +12v 0.3A for Logic (RF Modulator), +12 2.55A for Inductive loads (Data Pack Drives?), -5v 0.2A for Video memory, and +5v 3.0A for Logic (everything else). I plan to use a 7812 Linear Voltage Regulator for the RF circuitry which I'm not even using as I used Composite and Audio out. And a 7905 negative linear voltage regulator to regulate the -12v for the video memory. And a large 4pole double throw toggle switch to switch between the Printer power, and Internal Power. A Single rocker switch up front to switch the +19v supply on and off.

 

So, this is a build thread to show my progress, and possibly inspire others around to drill and hack into 30+ year old plastic and make something old, better.

 

Tear down and one of my mini-itx psu's, which turned out to be damaged.

 

Lower case shell, Antec 300W PSU, Bent Aluminum Riveted to Lower Case Shell.

 

Rear LPT printer port, a pci bracket is used with a dremel to cut the hole.

Nuts are raised too high, so I used a drill to cut a hole in by hand.

 

Mounting of Aluminum L brackets and fitement

Mounting the Linear Voltage Regulators using the Aluminum as heat sinks. You can kinda see the brass mainboard standoffs

Final fitment for the night.

 

And that's how I spend my friday nights! I should be out looking for a future ex, but instead working on my ol' ADAM. Thanks for reading, and comment away!

Edited April 26, 2014 by ZarK

[phattyboombatty]

Even though he's asleep, Jim is getting very, very excited right now...

[NIAD]

Even though he's asleep, Jim is getting very, very excited right now...

Sleep! Who has time for sleep?

 

Actually, I was caught up in all the great Chicago sports wins today... Blackhawks win in OT, White Sox score 5 in the 9th and the Bulls win in regulation. It doesn't get much better than that and then I come on AA and see this beauty of a thread about modding my favorite computer!

 

@Zark... Great job on all the mods of your ADAM and thank you for sharing all the great pics.

[Rey]

Beautiful Zack. Recently having re-aquired an Adam I'll be very interested how this ends up looking.

[NIAD]

My Final idea is to be able to plug this into a modern TV (with composite av jacks) and do some gaming and so on. I purchased ADAMcon's IDE CF, Printer Card with Boot EEPROM, and 256k memory expansion.

I overlooked this part about the possible addition of Composite AV Jacks and just wanted to pass along that this additional mod is unnecessary (unless, of course, if you prefer having the RCA style AV jacks) as the 7-Pin DIN plug on the back of the ADAM already provides Composite Video output along with Audio. It's almost impossible to find the Coleco made Monitor Cable, but fortunately and actually, only 5-pins on this DIN plug are used so you can therefore use a 5-pin DIN Monitor Cable that was made for other computer such as the Vic-20, C=64 and TI99/4a. There is also a Composite Video only hookup on the ADAM that you can quickly use to test out the composite video output of the ADAM to see if it's to your liking. if you don't have a DIN Monitor Cable handy.

 

As far as the IDE CF package, did you buy the newly released Dual CF Adapter with two CF Cards totaling 100Mb or did you get the original 60Mb version? I just got the 100Mb upgrade version (only $15 plus shipping) and like the new way the partitions are laid out in 2Mb sizes as there is a lot less wasted space due to limitations of the ADAM's O.S. and the max number of files that can be stored on each partition. Suffice it to say that I will be going to town on adding more software and then provide backup image files for everyone.

[ZarK]

I overlooked this part about the possible addition of Composite AV Jacks and just wanted to pass along that this additional mod is unnecessary (unless, of course, if you prefer having the RCA style AV jacks) as the 7-Pin DIN plug on the back of the ADAM already provides Composite Video output along with Audio. It's almost impossible to find the Coleco made Monitor Cable, but fortunately and actually, only 5-pins on this DIN plug are used so you can therefore use a 5-pin DIN Monitor Cable that was made for other computer such as the Vic-20, C=64 and TI99/4a. There is also a Composite Video only hookup on the ADAM that you can quickly use to test out the composite video output of the ADAM to see if it's to your liking. if you don't have a DIN Monitor Cable handy.

 

As far as the IDE CF package, did you buy the newly released Dual CF Adapter with two CF Cards totaling 100Mb or did you get the original 60Mb version? I just got the 100Mb upgrade version (only $15 plus shipping) and like the new way the partitions are laid out in 2Mb sizes as there is a lot less wasted space due to limitations of the ADAM's O.S. and the max number of files that can be stored on each partition. Suffice it to say that I will be going to town on adding more software and then provide backup image files for everyone.

 

Yeah, I made my own AV cable using a 7 pin DIN I had left over from my making a 5v Power Supply Adapter for my Atari XE GM. Found the plans on the internet and also had my ADAM opened and was easy enough to make.

 

Yes I got the Updated dual CF Cards! Had a fun time getting Monies to ADAMCon and found my back had Western Union so we tried it. I just got the stuff last week and tried it out.

[Rey]

That cable looks way better than what I received from eColeco.

[ZarK]

So, Update Saturday Morning Work

 

Spent WAY too much time making a visio diagram of the schematics, but is worth it to keep all the connections straight in my head.

 

JPG Schematic

 

PDF Format

Schematic.pdf

 

Decided to pull the wires from ADAM's PCB and solder new ones to the switch. The Colours I chose came from some obscure power pinout and don't match what's inside the ADAM, but it helps sort out what goes where.

[ZarK]

A plan is made, and now execution!

 

Wiring time

 

I reused some computer 4 pin molex connectors, and split the metal crimp to remove the wires. I had a crimp tool from my VEMS fuel injection which seemed to do well, but still soldered the wires together, and heat shrink tubed everything. A little over kill probably, but I started this this way, so gotta finish it now.

 

Fitment Check.See if everything still goes where it should, not interfering with anything. Also checking the LPT port cable route.

 

I added a connector between this power switch and wiring. When the switch is installed in front panel, it won't push into case so needs a way to disconnect for dis-assembly. I made the wire a little extra long so it can be pulled out to be un-done.

 

Smoke and Voltage Check!

 

No Smoke! yeah

 

Next up, de-soldering the main PCB wires! Wiring up the 4 Pole, Double Throw Toggle switch, Cutting plastic for front power switch, holes for laptop power plug, etc...

Welp, thats all for tonight, off to play TF2 MvM ;D

[Rey]

Sweet

[ZarK]

Sweet

 

Yeah Thanx!

[NIAD]

Coming together rather nicely! Looking forward to further updates and good luck with completing this project.

[ZarK]

Huge update! It's ALIVE!!!

The 7905 and 7812 voltage regulators seem to be ok for the ADAM. *whew* did a huge push this afternoon and evening.

 

If you feel queasy about 30+ Year Old Plastic being butchered and otherwise mutilated, then turn away. I did some huge hacks to make this work, and would suggest skipping the 4PDT switch to simplify things or even building a separate power brick of sorts to preserve your case. I don't have such feelings and look at this as an improvement when it's all built inside.

 

Drilling to mount the laptop power plug

 

Front Mounted power switch. I didn't want to mount it lower as the keyboard may have gotten in the way of it and had to hack a lotta plastic out from this and the top cover. I suppose I could have placed the switch elsewhere like the sides or left side front... but I started cutting and could turn back now

A look at how much I had to gouge out of top cover

Finished switch, and I also used hot glue to hold it in place

 

Inside placement for 4PDT selector toggle

Not a whole lotta room behind it

 

De soldering wiring going to main PCB

4PDT Toggle wired up and 2 4pin molex connectors

 

Soldered into onboard db9 pin holes a floppy connector for IDE CF Adapter. Initially I was thinking of routing power through pin 20 like I did on my Atari xegs IDE CF card, but that's a lotta work.

 

Onwards to reassembly! I used an eraser to clean off all contact edges and used Automotive Dialectric Grease to prevent corrosion.

Grease I used. Also used this on any socketed IC pins

 

While greasing up the rom pins, I found these under two of them, this one and the far left one. What are these flat orange thingies?

 

Using Hockey Tape to prevent these sharp edges from rubbing through my new wiring. Also used some on various other wires to prevent damage from the shield.

Wrapped LPT Port and IDE CF floppy connector

 

Almost ready for a Smoke Test! Surprised the new cabling fit under the shield. I had to bend over a capacitor and transistor and be really careful around one capacitor.

 

Look Ma! No Smoke! And no Printer! Nice clear blue background, so -5 volts from the 7905 seems ok.

 

My Desk is a MESS!! my floor is a mess too, and livingroom... but I ain't taking pictures of those

 

Welp, it's almost finished my ADAM project. But as far as the Internal Power Supply is concerned, It's done

[soviet]

Great !

[NIAD]

This was indeed a beautiful modification of the ADAM Memory Console and thanks to ZarK for sharing all the details with great pics! Looking at this again, I wouldn't mind having a Monitor Cable like the one he made!

[Sirius]

 

On 4/28/2014 at 1:07 AM, ZarK said:

While greasing up the rom pins, I found these under two of them, this one and the far left one. What are these flat orange thingies?

 

 

I know this is an old thread but I have a question. What chip is supposed to be in the socket with the orange thingie? And are any of those chips available some where or can they be reproduced with an Eprom and a rom burner?

Edited October 11, 2020 by Sirius

[NIAD]

3 hours ago, Sirius said:

 

I know this is an old thread but I have a question. What chip is supposed to be in the socket with the orange thingie? And are any of those chips available some where or can they be reproduced with an Eprom and a rom burner?

That would be SOCKET U22 (second from left) and it for the ADAM's OS called EOS7

 

There are 2 Prom and 3 Prom versions of SmartWRITER that go in sockets 1 and 4 or sockets 1, 3 and 4 respectively. If you have the 2 Prom version of SmartWriter, you can put a Clock Chip in the open socket 3.