This is the most embarrassing thing I have ever written. Please ignore. And never, ever buy one of these power supplies. Thank you.

Price: $19.99 + $10 shpg., eBay

A single black box with power for two of my most-used C= hardware items. I sent my money and I took my chances.

The box is about the same size as my C128 supply, so score for saving space. Besides, I can now sell my 1581 supply and recoup some of the cost. So it gets a bonus for value.

First potential problem I see is that the box has no vents and no fan. Does it get hot? According to others here, yes. I haven't use it much yet, so I don't know. I certainly won't be putting it on the floor. I'm already planning to Dremel in a few vents, and maybe even install a fan for good measure. One reason I got this thing is so that I could reliably power C128 ad-ons like a 512K REU, Navaronne cart port expander, etc., so I think a fan is probably a good idea for the long term.

It was dead when I tried it, so I opened it up:



It's got a 9V 1 amp Jameco transformer in there. Very burly, considering it's only supplying the 9v AC to the C128. Extra points for overkill.

Hmmmm. The supply cable to the 1581 appears new, good quality. The C128 cable is obviously recycled, though in good shape. I'm not surprised; I don't think the connector is made by anyone any more.

NOTE: If you have to scrap a C128 power supply, cut off and save the cable! You or someone else can use it to build a new supply!

Now for the supplies - yes, there are two totally separate, completely identical power supply boards in the box, one for the 1581 and one for the C128. They're off-the-shelf supplies labeled YH-301B-5 REV 5. Each has a voltage regulator attached to a one square inch heat sink, and they get HOT! Burned my finger checking one to see. (Idiot.) Another argument for installing a fan. The circuit boards seem to be attached to the case with double-stick tape - no screws.

So am I happy? Mostly. On the upside, I spent $30 for two power supplies with modern components, and that seems like a pretty good deal. On the downside, I have to replace the power switch, install a fan, and while I'm at it, install a fuse. I really don't want my house to burn down.
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It looks like the transformer is both supplying the needed AC power for both. If so, is 1 Amp good enough? Seems underrated..of course I maybe wrong...

Please post the construction photos if you can...

For those not following the General idea for a repairable heavy duty power supply thread, here are some pictures of the insides of my basicwayne special:





Mine gets too hot for comfort so I don't use it. Money down the toilet as far as I'm concerned.

/me sighs
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pfff...
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it looks like the seller used ready off the shelf modules for the 5V and 12V. These shouldn't get too hot. The worst thing is the assembling of these parts! double-stick tape with no screws???? No strain relief bush???

Furthermore, since this is not a certified psu, I don't like to have the 220V/110V AC directly connected to the switcher board. The design with a step down transformer is much safer, I think. Even if something happens on the secondary side at the worst you get 24VAC or whatever voltage your transformer outputs on the secondary. Put fuses on the secondary and you should be pretty safe.

Be real careful when touching the switcher boards. If you turn ON the psu, with your commodore equipment not connected and then you turn the psu OFF, the capacitors inside remain charged with the 220/110 V!!!! I always put a LED at the output stage of my PSUs, not just for indicating ON/OFF state, but also to discarge the capacitors.

airship: could you please read the name of the chip used as a switching regulator? the one attached to the heat sink.

Good points, all.

I just got all the parts to add a new switch, fuse, fan, wire nuts, and strain reliefs to this thing, but if it's underpowered compared to a standard C128 power supply, as eslapion asserts, I think I'm just going to part it out. I can always use the power supplies for some project or another.

Shucks.
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BTW, I sell Samsung UL registered switching PSUs for 8$ each.

They are rated for 5V @ up to 5A and 12V @ up to 1.5A

Combine one of these with a 9Vac 1A transfo and you have a perfect C64/C128 + 1541-II/1581 power supply with ample power.

... 8$ each !

However, they only work on 120Vac... not good for UK, EU or AU... mostly US and Canada only.
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I got one these for my C=64, SuperCPU, and MMCReply-RRNet + UIECSD.

IT CAN'T POWER IT!!!!!!!!!!!! Piece of crap! DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY!

His ad is B.S. is NOT enough power to power anything more than the C64.

PIECE OF CRAP.

I sent him an email telling him it wasn't enough power for even the C64/SCPU (dim LED) he never wrote back.
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oops Sorry, yes. BasicWayne. (Its in the reply-post subject)

I have one from Eslap for my 128D, and works great!

Thanks Eslap!
Refund Wayne?
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Posting here may save others it's a small world.
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Very Nice Purchase, Dual Power Supply for C128 & 1571 Disk Drive!!!

But, why Didn't it Work when you got it???

What was the Fault with the Power Supply and did you rectify it easily???

Anyway, I recently aquired a Commodore 128 "Mint in Box" with all Manuals, but no Power Supply! So neededto get a C128 Power Supply!

I tried to get one everywhere, but no luck!

I did however source some US 110V versions, but they were really Expensive (with Postage) and do not suite Australian 240V anyway!!!

So I decided to Make an Adapter!!!

An Adaper you say??? Yes!

Well you see, the Commodore Amiga has the Same Plug as the Commodore 128, but the Amiga uses 12V not 9V like the 128, a Problem!

Yet the Commodore 64 does use 9V like it's big SIS the 128, which got me thinking!

Grab 1 WORKING Commodore 64C Power Supply and 1 Dead Amiga Power Supply as a Lead Donor!

I Chopped the 5 Pin Square Cord off a Dead Amiga 600 Power Suppy and seperated the Wires on the cut End, the Colours are Black (Ground)(Pin 4), Brown (9VAC)(Pin 3), White (9VAC)(Pin 5), RED (+5VDC)(Pin 1) & a Bare Wire (N/C)(Pin 2), as per the downloaded C128 Power Supply Pin-Out (Computer End), available if you Google it!

Then I purchased a 7 Pin Din Round Female Connector, from FleaBay, similar to Commodore 64 at the Computer End.

Then Soldered the Black wire to Pin 2 on the 7 Pin Din Plug, Brown & White Wires to Pin 6 & Red wire to Pin 5. Following the Commodore 64 Power Supply Pin-Out (Computer End), available if you Google it!

But I Tested my Commodore 64C Power Supply with a MultiMeter and Checked all the Outputs First!

Looks Good, so now the TEST!

I plugged my New Adapter into the Commodore 64 Power Supply, then into my 128. PERFECT!

Then Switched it On!!! Drum...

It WORKS!!!!!!!!!

amigaman07

The 128 requires more power than the 64 supply can provide reliably.

That setup has the potential to kill your 128.


Later,
dabone

As above. C64 PSUs are untrustworthy buggers when they're used to power a C64. Your C128 will probably cause the C64 PSU to fail eventually, which may in turn fry stuff in the C128...

Same as the 2 posts above!

Modding a C128 to turn it into a C64 PSU is great but its an old PSU and may fail quickly too.

Modding an Amiga 500/600 or 1200 PSU into a C64 or C128 PSU (by adding a 9Vac source), that works too.

Using a modded C64, C64c or Plus/4 PSU as a power supply for a C128, NO WAY - you want damaged equipment.

One crazy potential recipe is combining a modern 5Vdc wallwart rated for 2.5A or more, such as those provided with powered USB hubs with an old "2-prong" VIC-20 PSU which becomes your 9Vac source. The latter are usually rated for 30VA so they have far more than the 9VA (1A) a C64 or C128 will require.
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