I have three different power supplies, a standard black supply, a beige unit, and the sloping edge style supply. I've read on here a few times that the black units are more prone to failure and I wondered if the other two unit are better?

The power figures read differently on my black unit as a point of interest but it hasn't caused any glitches with my bread bins yet.
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They are, more or less, the same in terms of durability.

I don't have any preferences as I don't use them at all, apart from casual gaming sessions or short motherboards tests. Theorically, the older ones are more prone to failure but - on the other hand - they are repairable.

The later model is more powerful (+0,2A on 5VDC) but internal regulator used for the 5VDC is cheap. Dunno about the quality of the transistor used in Breadbins PSUs for regulation.


Cheers,
Oge
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A black supply is by far not "standard" for C64. It might be a plus4 supply though.

Best power supplies are the black terahedral ones with a Commodore label and air vents on the top and screws underneath so you can open them.
The Commodore 128 power supplies look very similar except they are beige IIRC.

It's the "door wedge" and "brick" epoxy ones that die easily. Avoid them if you can.

The best ones are the 1764 power supplies, essentially just C128 PSU's with C64 connector. They came with the 1764 REU.

in australia the very early breadbins had the triangle shaped power supplies in australia, then the later breadbins had the black vented ones, then with the 64c we were introduced to the square beige(light) ones.
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I always thought the power supply was wedged shaped so I could warm my feet on it!

The wedge shaped ones are the ones which should be avoided

hehe, some confusion here
Most US C64 breadboxes came with black psu! Euro C64 breadboxes came with beige horseshoe psu.
C64-C came with white rectangle psu.

Theoretically, the white C64-C psu is littel bit stronger than the others, and the US black psu has a bad reputation.
From my experience, however, the horseshoe is not that bad.

Best, however, is a (plug-modified) C128 psu like Fröhn suggested, or a power psu.
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What exactly is "horseshoe psu"?

hmm, I will have to check this.
The one I use myself actually isa C128 psu with different connector, and I think also some 1764 were sold together with such psu over here.
But I also have one which reads 1764 psu on the back. I always thought they were the same ? Will have a look when I find some time.
Thanks for this info!
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and they are actually *exactly* the same, also internally. the sticker and the plug are the only difference.
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Looks like there is more difference in Euro and US psus except the different voltage
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I opened both power supplies (C128 and 1764), the internals are exactly the same.

yep. so there seems to be another rule of thumb: stay away from north american psus =)
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Does anyone sell the c64 protector thingy that Ray Carlsen has plans for?

Preferably on a board, with one male & one female DIN, so it can go between the computer and power supply? The thing that switches a relay when the DC goes over 5V, hopefully sooner than the C64 chips fry.... It would be worth the trouble if it made it safe to use the most common power supplies.

I was thinking it might be neat to try to make one, but it's still cheaper and easier just to use 2 wall warts and one connector.

some do... but you can always add one right before the crowbar
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