Max current draw from Joystick Port

[Steve Guidi]

What is the maximum current that may be drawn from the joystick port (pin 7)?  I know that the +5V pin is typically used to power a small auto fire circuit in the joystick, but I'm wondering if it can power something like a compact Arduino or other microcontroller.

 

The 2600 Jr. schematic by Jerzy Sobola shows "Vm" as the voltage source for pin 7 (and what appears to be the RF modulator), but I'm having trouble tracking the down where Vm is sourced from.

 

https://atariage.com/2600/archives/schematics_pal/Schematic_2600_Junior_PAL.html

 

 

 

[CPUWIZ]

Sure you can run micros off of it.  AtariVOX and my MCP devkit for the 7800 use PIC's for instance.

[Steve Guidi]

Awesome!  Thank you for confirming.

 

I looked up the technical specs on the Arduino Nano and it draws 19mA of current.  That should be well within spec of the 2600.

[+DrVenkman]

2 hours ago, Steve Guidi said:

I looked up the technical specs on the Arduino Nano and it draws 19mA of current.  That should be well within spec of the 2600.

Considering a simple LED can draw in the range of 20mA, that's really goddamned impressive for the Nano.

[CPUWIZ]

That is standby current.

 

Quote

DC Current per I/O Pins

40 mA (I/O Pins)