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Topic 33        Sat Oct 11, 1986
R.A.PINKSY                   at 09:42 CDT
Sub: C64 Power Supply                       

Frequent failure of unit


11 message(s) total
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 1         Sat Oct 11, 1986
R.A.PINKSY                   at 09:54 CDT

     My third C64 power supply is on its' last legs.  I suspect 
the drain of my 80 col. card is the cause.  A unit made by Huff 
Electronics has been recommended.  Does anyone have any experience 
with this or any other third party replacement? 

                                      Bob P. 
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 2         Sat Oct 11, 1986
MICHAEL.M                    at 14:11 EDT

Bob P. - I have been one of the lucky ones who has never had
power supply problems, so I can't recommend any replacement.
But, here are two more sources for power supplies (I'm a firm
believer in having multiple choices to make decisions).

CPS-10 Power Supply from HBH Sales includes two 100 watt outlets,
provides surge and spike protection, has a steel casing, and is
user-repairable.  Costs about $60 from HBH Sales, 225 W. Main,
Collinsville, IL  62234  (618) 344-7912

POWER UP! from C&B Enterprises is a heavy duty unit with a 3 amp
TO-3 rugulator with heat sink, and a fused primary and secondary.
This unit is warranted for 12 months, comes in a metal housing,
and is user-repairable (includes schematics).  Costs about $50
from C&B Enterprises, Dept C64F, PO Box 16252, Panama City, FL
32405  (904) 784-7125

-Mike
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 3         Sat Oct 11, 1986
P.OGREN                      at 14:55 PDT

I ahve had good luck with a HD C-64 power supply from an outlet
called Maxtronics.  I don't know the number but they advertise
in almost all the CBM magazines.  Also elevating the power supply and
keeping good air ciculation around it seems to help a lot.  There are
plans and specifications running around on how to build your own.
good-luck
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 4         Sat Oct 11, 1986
GRAFIX.M [Mike Hooper]       at 21:24 EDT

I've gone thru 3 power supplies myself, and have found this real easy, quick
"fix."  Lash 2 of them together!
  I made up a little "Y" connector to tie the outputs of both power supplies
together.  This effectively doubles the current that can be supplied to the
64, while keeping the exact same voltage levels.  Under normal 64 current
requirements, this allows both power supplies to supply just 1/2 the juice.
They both run much cooler and will peacefully co-exist "forever!"  If you've
really loaded them down with addons (couple of cartridges, RS-232C interface,
Cardco style printer interface, trackball, mouse, etc, etc, etc...) then
you have DOUBLE the juice available!  (note that you still can't execced
the rated power specs on the output interfaces, since there are also INTERNAL
power regulators in the 64).
  Since I've lashed the 2 together, I've been running over a year with no
problems at all.
  
  \\GFX//
  
p.s. I bought 1 new CBM power supply and used one of the "weak" ones for the
other.  No reason to buy 2 new ones for this scheme since all you are looking
for is just a little more juice, not really double the juice.
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 5         Mon Oct 13, 1986
R.A.PINKSY                   at 15:52 CDT

     I thought I'd report back on what I've discovered since 
my previous message. The CPS-10 power supply mentioned in Msg. 
2 is no longer handled by HBH Sales with a strong negative 
recommendation.  C & B Enterprises (POWER UP!), also mentioned 
in Msg. 2 is no longer in the Panama City phone book and the 
number given has been re-assigned.

     I tried the lash up mentioned in Msg. 4 and I suspect it 
would work in most cases.  A voltage fluctuation in my 'weak' 
unit causes an intermittent brightness change on my 80 col. 
card; however, the normal video output was exceptionally 
noise free. 

     This left me choosing between the Huff unit (called Pow'r 
Pak 64) and the Maxtronics unit (HD C-64) mentioned in Msg. 3. 
Huff doesn't have a phone in Springfield, IL any longer but the 
unit is available by mail order.  I; however, opted for the 
Maxtronics (El Monte, CA, (818) 350-5707) as it is 1.7A v 1.5A 
as well as $20 cheaper (29.95). 

     Hope this helps anyone else with this problem.  Thanks to 
all for their suggestions. 

                                      Bob P. 
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 6         Mon Oct 13, 1986
S.OLOCK                      at 20:39 EDT

Lets face it, CBM really blew it
with the 64 power sup@pply
I run a 24 hour bbs, with a 1670,
2 moniters, busscard II, 1700
RAM expansion, xetec Super Graphix
interface, and 7 drives, i had
to go to a larger unit, so i
Merely added a 5 volt PC type
supply, and used the CBM for its
9volt AC source, the 9 volt
almost never goes bad, so the
5 volt supply( 10 amp) was the best choice for
me, they cost anywhere from 
10-20 dollars, and can be gotten
ham show, or from
the advertisers in the back of
<<COMPUTER SHOPPER>>
                     steve
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 7         Sat Nov 15, 1986
J.GILHOUSEN                  at 19:15 EST

How does one know that it is the power
supply that is the culprit of woes on
the C-64?  For some time, I have had
problems with my printer "going down"
(i.e., "Device Not Present" message in
response to PRINT#, and finally the
on-line light going out).  I upgraded
for a variety of reasons to a new
printer, but the problem remains.  Now,
I have even bought a new Xetec Super
Graphix interface, and (you guessed it)
the same problem!  It happens only after
several hours of continuous use of my
computer system.  Could this symptom
be attributed to power supply failure?
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 8         Sat Nov 15, 1986
MICHAEL.M [-:SysOp:-]        at 23:55 EST

J.GILHOUSEN - Sure does sound to me like a power supply problem.
Might be best to borrow a friends power unit and check it on your
system.  Besides buying a new unit, you might want to opt for making
your own, in accordance with the 'how to' file located in software
library #1 here in the FlagShip.  Other options that might be 
considered are following Mike Hoopers (GRAFIX.M) suggestion to 
hook up two old power supplies together, or even picking up the
December issue of AHOY magazine and making a peripheral power supply
for your Xetec Supergraphix and any other peripheral you need as per
the issues instructions.
  -=:Mike
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 9         Sun Nov 16, 1986
J.GILHOUSEN                  at 22:34 EST

Thanks for the advice, Mike.  As I am
telecomputing on the weekend (as per
usual), I can't run out and buy a new
power supply today, but if there is a
chance that this will end the aggrava-
tion of suddenly seeing my printer "go
on strike," when I particularly need a
document, I will soon be the owner of a
new power supply.  If possible, I will
try to find an alternative to Commodore
so that I will not have to do this with
frequency.

Thanks again!

                     >> John-Mark
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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 10        Sun Dec 21, 1986
VJOHNSON                     at 00:16 EST

For what it's worth, Toys 'R' Us sells a Recoton power supply (non-serviceable) 
for about $30 that's rated at 1700ma on the 5v side.  I've only been using it a 
month so I don't know if it will last but at least the video doesn't get wavy 
when the furnace kicks on and that's a lot more than I can say for my two
previous Commodore units (R.I.P.).  *s

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Category 11,  Topic 33
Message 11        Tue Dec 23, 1986
JIM.MAC [* SysOp *]          at 00:49 EST

Running a BBS with a Busscard can burn up the power supplies that come
with the (old) 64s.. Even using a printer interface that draws from the
computer will do them in in time.