Best power supply to use with Atari 800?

[TapperP]

So I recently got an Atari 800 and it came with the original power supply. It looks like the one in the photo below. I was just reading that old power supplies can kill the motherboard if they go bad, so what is a recommended new power supply I can buy for the Atari 800? If you have a store link that would be much appreciated. I really don't want anything bad to happen to this computer!
 

Edited June 20, 2020 by TapperP

[+DrVenkman]

8 minutes ago, TapperP said:

So I recently got a Atari 800 and it came with the original power supply. It looks like the one in the photo below. I was just reading that old power supplies can kill the motherboard if they go bad, so what is a recommended new power supply I can buy for the Atari 800? If you have a store link that would be much appreciated. I really don't want anything bad to happen to this computer!
 

The original 9VAC power bricks for the 400/800/1050/1200XL are dead simple transformers - there's not much inside to go wrong, and when they fail, it's either because the fuse inside blew (probably because it was subject to a power surge from house wiring), or because the thing was physically abused and something broke the transformer coil windings. If you have a multimeter, test the PSU and see what the output is. Since it's unregulated, you should get something like 10.5 - 11VAC out of it without a load. That's perfectly fine and expected. 

 

I have about a dozen of these and all of them are still fine after 35 - 40 years. 

[BillC]

8 minutes ago, TapperP said:

So I recently got a Atari 800 and it came with the original power supply. It looks like the one in the photo below. I was just reading that old power supplies can kill the motherboard if they go bad, so what is a recommended new power supply I can buy for the Atari 800? 

 

The 800 has a power supply board to convert the 9VAC from the power supply to the 3 DC voltages required by the system, these power supplies are just a transformer and fuse.

It's some versions the 5VDC power supplies used with the 600XL/800XL and XE computers that tend to fail and damage chips.

[TapperP]

4 minutes ago, DrVenkman said:

The original 9VAC power bricks for the 400/800/1050/1200XL are dead simple transformers - there's not much inside to go wrong, and when they fail, it's either because the fuse inside blew (probably because it was subject to a power surge from house wiring), or because the thing was physically abused and something broke the transformer coil windings. If you have a multimeter, test the PSU and see what the output is. Since it's unregulated, you should get something like 10.5 - 11VAC out of it without a load. That's perfectly fine and expected. 

 

I have about a dozen of these and all of them are still fine after 35 - 40 years. 

Ah, great to know. Maybe what I was reading was referencing other Atari AC adapters then.

 

Just now, BillC said:

The 800 has a power supply board to convert the 9VAC from the power supply to the 3 DC voltages required by the system, these power supplies are just a transformer and fuse.

It's some versions the 5VDC power supplies used with the 600XL/800XL and XE computers that tend to fail and damage chips.

Thank you.

 

Well, then never mind I guess. ?

Edited June 20, 2020 by TapperP

[Paul Westphal]

I use these : https://www.8bitclassics.com/product/atari-400-800-1050-ac-adapter/

[TapperP]

3 minutes ago, Paul Westphal said:

I use these : https://www.8bitclassics.com/product/atari-400-800-1050-ac-adapter/

Thanks for the link. I may not really need one, but I still might buy one just for the smaller size alone.

[BillC]

3 hours ago, Paul Westphal said:

I use these : https://www.8bitclassics.com/product/atari-400-800-1050-ac-adapter/

I don't recommend these, they have a limited output current, only ~1.5A. This is about the same a the CO14319 which came with my first 400, the fuse in that power supply blew after I upgraded the 400 with a Mosaic 64K board.

 

It may work OK with a 400 or 800, but definitely won't supply sufficient current for a 810/1050/XF551 drive, I will only use a CO14319 with an 850 or a stock 400 due to this low current rating.

 

There were several 9VAC power supplies from Atari, the CO17945(31VA) is the most common.

[Gavin1968]

On 6/20/2020 at 4:03 PM, TapperP said:

I was just reading that old power supplies can kill the motherboard if they go bad,

I am still using mine from my first Atari 800 that my dad bought me when I was 10, and I am 51 now! These are rock solid.

 

[gilsaluki]

1 hour ago, Gavin1968 said:

I am still using mine from my first Atari 800 that my dad bought me when I was 10, and I am 51 now! These are rock solid.

 

I have only had one go "bad" on me in all these years.   It was used for my disk drive.   I opened it, caution is advised, and replaced the blown fuse.  Used it for another 10 or so years till it finally developed an open Primary winding.  

[Gavin1968]

2 hours ago, gilsaluki said:

 I opened it

I found that is the most difficult part, getting that darn case split open! LOL 

 

[TGB1718]

49 minutes ago, Gavin1968 said:

I found that is the most difficult part, getting that darn case split open! LOL 

Mine was held by rivets, so drilled them out, replaced the fuse and fitted screws/nuts, still working fine

[Beeblebrox]

Just bumping this thread save starting a new one. 

 

Anyone in the UK recommend a decent replacement seller for a power supply for an 800?

 I need 2 of them and possibly another for a 1050 drive. I know you can use the same one for both. 

 

I can get one for £35ish  but it is from an Ebay dealer I've not had much luck with in the past (order not turning up, refund finally gotten, etc etc) - and would rather not line their pockets with my hard earned cash again.

 

Not having much luck sourcing the original in the UK either. 

 

I've tried Retro lemon but they only do modern 9pin din PSU replacements for the 600/800XL and XE lines. 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by Beeblebrox

[Beeblebrox]

Heh heh, just realised my rather comical typo. "replacement seller" heh heh.

Edited December 11, 2022 by Beeblebrox

[TGB1718]

I see your problem "Beeb", there are so many people out there that have no idea what an AC power supply is,

Google search is totally useless, 99.999% of searches bring up AC adaptors that are DC power supplies,

I've also seen one that actually say:-

• 9v AC/AC 2000mA Regulated Linear Power Supply

how on earth can it be a Regulated Linear AC power supply.

 

[TGB1718]

@Beeblebrox look what I found

 

https://www.poweradaptorsuk.co.uk/3000ma-3a-9v-27va-acac-mains-power-adaptor-277-p.asp

 

Looks the business only £8.80 each for 2, don't know what postage is, but looks like an ideal UK supplier.

Edited December 11, 2022 by TGB1718

[Beeblebrox]

3 minutes ago, TGB1718 said:

@Beeblebrox look what I found

 

https://www.poweradaptorsuk.co.uk/3000ma-3a-9v-27va-acac-mains-power-adaptor-277-p.asp

 

Looks the business only £8.80 each for 2, don't know what postage is, but looks like an ideal UK supplier.

Thanks matey. 😀I'll check out the polarity of the plug to be doubley sure.

[TGB1718]

39 minutes ago, Beeblebrox said:

Thanks matey. 😀I'll check out the polarity of the plug to be doubley sure.

 

It's AC, doesn't matter

 

[+slx]

6 hours ago, Beeblebrox said:

Anyone in the UK recommend a decent replacement seller for a power supply for an 800?

 I need 2 of them and possibly another for a 1050 drive. I know you can use the same one for both. 

Amazon usually carries some. The last one I bought was branded „Rockpower“ and intended for use with musical equipment (guitar amp?).  It works fine with a U1MB 1200XL. 
 

You might be lucky with other musical equipment sellers as well.

[Beeblebrox]

17 minutes ago, TGB1718 said:

 

It's AC, doesn't matter

 

ahhh..right  ...thanks 

[mimo]

2 hours ago, Beeblebrox said:

Thanks matey. 😀I'll check out the polarity of the plug to be doubley sure.

I was going to point you in that direction. Got one myself and my mate bought a couple for his 1050s must have been using them for at least 4 years with no issues 

[BillC]

I found a 9VAC@3A power supply on eBay UK, with multiple tips. I believe the 5.5x2.5 plug is correct for Atari devices that use the C014319/C017945 power supply.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125547478399?hash=item1d3b367d7f:g:bV4AAOSwseBjPXJI&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAAsHM48snZ42JvmhIkAdDeaPsY0DjFikXiZgmpYqjSa9IemaKLmKvuLuv7gCAlC6%2FRemv1B7WowsxMdkK%2FHh%2BoJazQm676Ed%2BpMK6SY72%2B4KAybPHaVt2jVcC79ZwvLsywzw%2FyWLIxDWjfiJZy5Qt1pMsJB5WSqaluL2nPfGROFBvcb9lHXil8DJQbaRXRGEFdi0%2FbqKKtOgvAbZAkJlm6vcTUNeQtrUrJTl%2BgNJvmiWAW|tkp%3ABk9SR9jQ55ygYQ

 

[Beeblebrox]

thanks all. I am going for these based on cost and also @mimo's personal recommendation. 

 

Thanks @TGB1718 for the link

 

https://www.poweradaptorsuk.co.uk/3000ma-3a-9v-27va-acac-mains-power-adaptor-277-p.asp

 

 

[Muzz73]

I use the PSU from an Atari 810 FDD on my 400. Same power supply but heavier duty. If memory serves (which doesn't always happen), it is a 50w power supply as opposed to the original 18w unit that came with the 400 & 800 back in the day. Best Electronics and B&C Computervisions (myatari on ebay) have them NOS.

[Beeblebrox]

20 minutes ago, Muzz73 said:

I use the PSU from an Atari 810 FDD on my 400. Same power supply but heavier duty. If memory serves (which doesn't always happen), it is a 50w power supply as opposed to the original 18w unit that came with the 400 & 800 back in the day. Best Electronics and B&C Computervisions (myatari on ebay) have them NOS.

Thanks. One of the things I did when I was first trying to source a PSU was look at 810s on Ebay UK. (I thought maybe there would be a broken/untested one I could use the PSU from.)

 

As I say I've ordered the ones above from Poweradapters UK on price, personal recommendation and of course because I am UK based. Should arrive tmrw, (paid extra for UPS because of the UK postal strikes we are having).

 

Thanks for all the suggestions people.

[TZJB]

On 12/11/2022 at 4:26 PM, Beeblebrox said:

thanks all. I am going for these based on cost and also @mimo's personal recommendation. 

 

Thanks @TGB1718 for the link

 

https://www.poweradaptorsuk.co.uk/3000ma-3a-9v-27va-acac-mains-power-adaptor-277-p.asp

 

 

You may need to drill out or change the plug for 2.5mm as it is fitted with a 2.1mm plug according to the specs.

 

Jack - 2.1 x 5.5mm Female
CE marked and approved