#16 "Commodore Brick of Death" - Building a C64 Saver - Part 1 - Ordering PCB's & Parts
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ม.ค. 2025
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❓ What is a "PCB"? - PCB is an acronym for "Printed Circuit Board" - for more info, please see the following Wikipedia article, en.wikipedia.o...
⭐ DESCRIPTION
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This video is Part 1 of a how-to guide for building your own C64Saver (Commodore 64 overvoltage protection device). This video is intended for retro computer hobbyists who want to learn how to order their own PCBs, order all the required components and assemble/build their own C64Saver. This video is sponsored by PCBWay.
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📂 C64 SAVER RESOURCES
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► MFR's C64Saver BOM Document --- bit.ly/mfr-c64s...
► bwack's C64Saver Github --- github.com/bwa...
► Sven Petersen's Github --- github.com/sve...
► "The Commodore Brick of Death" forum post by julrod --- www.lemon64.co...
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📺 RELATED VIDEOS
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► MindFlareRetro C64Saver PCBs Unboxing --- • #15 "Thanks Postie #1"...
► Plan C builds a bwack C64 Saver --- • Building and Fitting a...
► The Project Geek builds an Open C64 Saver ---- • Video
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🎼 This video contains the following C64 SID chiptune music composed by Mermaid and is used with permission by the author.
· 0𝑙𝑑𝑠𝑘00𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑒 [𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑑, 2001]
· 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠_𝐼𝐼 [𝑀𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑑, 1998]
🎼 This video contains the following music by TeknoAXE (www.teknoaxe.com) used under the
terms of CC (Creative Commons) 4.0 license.
· 𝐺-𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑘 𝑃𝑎𝑐
#MindFlareRetro #C64Saver #PCBWay
To anyone reading the comments in the future. Regarding the mosfet smd, I find that it is not necessary to flow solder under the component. Soldering along the top seems to be good. It doesn't get hot since it has so little internal resistance and is why I chose it, and because of availability. Thanks again Mark for the video. Looking for part 2, and also Sven's PSU design :)
@bwack, thanks for the info and thank you again for sharing this design. 👍 I have never soldered these before so I wasn't sure. That said, the ones I have already assembled have a decent amount of solder flowed underneath, as you will see in Part 2.
Great video! Nice job explaining the use of PCBWay!
Still weird there is no European PCBWay fully robotized doing the same with next day delivery... You would expect some Philips spin-off do something like that. Although PCBWay is good quality and service, it has a serious discount by the Grand Party to hamster free innovative board designs for the future reign of the greatest country in the world, and it is sponsored with slave labour: shit we won't want to do for that hour price in Europe or the USA.
Great stuff. Have been frustrated with navigating the PCBway order page and you made it easy
Oh, I am glad it was helpful. Yes, I have found this method of ordering to be the most useful. Thanks for the feedback.
Ray Carlsen was not the first to have created a C64 overvoltage protector. Back in the early 80s C64 bricks did fail especially when used with boards 250407 which consume more power than all other revisions. Jean-Claude Lachapelle was an authorized tech and repaired both Commodore 8 bit computers and Amigas and he devised a simple trick to protect a C64 if the brick started giving out excessive voltages.
Any info on that trick?
Hello from Ajax, Ont. Just discovered your channel though this video. Not sure f I will make a saver myself or just end up buying a completed one but looking forward to part 2!
Hello back from Oakville. I'm happy you found my channel. I hope you enjoy the content. I am considering selling kits at some point. I'll keep you posted incase you might be interested.
Woah again the quality of editing is.. I have said it before. So great! Thanks for showing off my saver! Let me know if you find something to change and I can implement it. Looking forward to part 2!
Thanks bwack. I would love to make the add-on module next.
@@MindFlareRetro Cool. Is it the one with display ? What do you think about the small display, would you have liked it to be the larger one? You saw bigby make several of the c64 saver 2's. That was awesome. I think there is another guy too but I haven't heard any news about it.
Great to see you back again. Enjoyed the video. You have inspired me to check out ordering some pcb’s. I didn’t realise how easy it was.
Thanks very much, Cameron. Yes, it is quite easy to order PCBs at a very reasonable price. Also, I can confirm from experience, PCBWay support is very good should you have any questions. Thanks for commenting and for being a subscriber.
Thanks for the shoutout to my thread on Lemon64.
Love your channel. Great video. It was easy to follow and very informative. Keep up the good work.
Hi Julio. Thank _you_ for the great thread - you wrote an excellent article on the subject. I have to apologize, if I had known your full name when I recorded the audio I would have attempted a better pronunciation of your username. Thanks for comment here. It is great to meet you, albeit through YT comments.
Great HowTo video. I’m looking forward to starting some projects like this in 2020, lots of distractions in the last half of 2019 kept me from getting moving. Idea, as a follow up HowTo video, in the same thread, how to fo about ordering and building another great @bwack design, the Versa64 cart. With a case.
Hey Glen. Great idea. I am hoping to do more of these types of projects with PCBWay, so I'll add this to the list. Part 2 of this video series will be the actual build of the C64Saver - I hope you will enjoy it. Thanks for commenting and for the positive feedback.
MindFlareRetro defo 👍
There is another way of solving the problem, that's actually easier and cheaper than the others:
You can buy a generic and safe 5V DC supply circuit with sufficient protection for like 10$ from standard electronic component traders. Tro to find one that fits into the original supply case. Then cut all the wiring and parts out that where formerly used for the 5V DC and replace it with the new supply. Keep the 9V AC from the transformator original, because that never fails. Of course you could combine this with the C64Saver, in case you don't trust the original transformer. but there are no reports of the AC part failing.
Thanks for your input, @ElMariachi. This is a great idea, as well. A big problem with these "brick of death" power supplies it that they are fully potted and very difficult for many people to open the sealed enclosure and then chip away the block of hard epoxy to access any of the components in order to repair or replace them. I made this video as a lot of people have asked @bwack for a Saver, which he does not make anymore, so I thought it would be fun to show people how I went about making it from his design. Thanks for your comments. I hope to hear your feedback when Part 2 is released.
PCBWaaaay! Someone's been watching Perifractic :p
LOL. I was waiting to see how many people picked up on that. Good ear!
@@MindFlareRetro I really only thought about it because I JUST finished up 8bit guy's electric car vid and he was featured heavily in it.
I think they are pretty good friends.
@@MindFlareRetro Yes, but no obtuse definition of what PCB stands for.. :-)
I''ve been soaking up retro channels for a while now and really appreciate everything all of you have been offering to the community. It's because of folks like you that I was able to save my friend's C64 from an accidental death. I never would have known about this issue otherwise. Thank you for sharing.
@@granitepenguin Dang! You are absolutely correct -- my bad! I will make a point in Part 2 to actually explain "PCB." Apologies for that.
Also, thank you very much for the positive feedback. I am happy to hear that you saved a C64. That is what this channel, and others like this one, as all about.
Happy 10000 subs dude! Well deserved ! :)
Thank you very much! 😊
New MFR and 8 bit guy videos on the same day
Great retro minds think alike, I guess. 😁
Can't you just add a 5V zener to the main PCB?
Does this also affect C64C's? That one does seem to have a rectifier and voltage regulator on board.
Confession - I saw the notification from TH-cam in my inbox, and I almost didn't believe it. But it's true! It's a new MFR video! Hooray!!! ;D
LOL! I almost didn't believe I would actually ever finish it. Hopefully, Part 2 will be out sooner than later.
Great video, MindFlareRetro! I have to ask though: was that address at 14:10 a Star Trek reference? Very cool if so! Keep up the great work! I'm a big fan!
Haha. Only you would notice it that way. 👍 In my mind, it was a Commodore 1701 CRT monitor.
Wow, Hulk Hogan and a Bushwacker in one video. I haven't seen that since the 90's. :p
LOL! OMG that made me laugh out loud. Too funny.
Neat. Good to know if you plan to get a C64.
Thanks. Yes, a very handy safety accessory for C64s. Stay tuned for Part 2 where I actually build this thing. ;)
The king is back!!!
Thanks! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Your cheque is in the mail.
Excellent HowTo video. Looking forward to the next one!
Thank you very much. Catching up on some of your videos, as well. Turns out I didn't have the bell icon clicked. =/
Luckily, what gets onto the Internet stays there... forever. ;) I hope you enjoy them.
FR1ST!!!!!
Nice! You're the man!
@@MindFlareRetro Congrats on getting this video done! I've been looking forward to it.
@@8_Bit Thanks very much. It has taken quite a while to complete -- technical delays and other excuses (too many to list here) -- and this is only Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2 next January. 🤣
Hello MFR
Thanks for video and tnx to BWACK of course. This it is great saver so I decided to make one (saver) to protect my C64 according your (and BWACK) instructions.
However BWACK have released update "addonboard v1.3" and i´ve got confused what to use (Im noob lol)
Can you look in to this update and give us quick some comment on update,perheps short video describing change and impact.
Appreciate any help.
BR
Hi Goran. Thanks for commenting. I never have made the addon board - in fact, I'm not sure if anyone has. I might look at doing this in the future. I do have the parts now to do a video on the updated C64 Saver V2.5 (the SMD components version) - that will be the next C64 Saver video, eventually.
@@MindFlareRetro I need to share good news,. week ago I managed to complete C64 saver according your instructions and it was bullseye :) Worked without problems in first try! Great video easy to follow. I salute you ! tnx
@@goocy1 That is good news - great work by you! Thank you for letting me know.
Missed ya, MFR! Great to see a new release.
Roll tape!
Thanks Mr. Toast! And thank _you_ for being a valued Patron.
I wanted to store my components in that type of plastic Plano case... but I opted not to because of ESD - is this a possible issue to begin with? or is it ultra unlikely? or not at all?
You are correct. These cases are not "ESD Safe" but they sure are handy for organizing project components. I buy these ones from a local dollar store for just a couple of dollars, each. Personally, I have never had a problem. That said, some components are very ESD sensitive so those are are greater risk of damage, but again I have never experienced a problem, myself.
Did you find Part 2 and Part 3? Building a C64 Saver from Scratch: th-cam.com/play/PLnbCPYZmWScEHHrjWBBhDqE3N4deEassw.html
@@MindFlareRetro yes I did shortly after thanks - all good ones
@@ChronicKPOP Thank you.
Lovely channel.. sending a suloute from Kingdom of Bahrain 🇧🇭.....
Thank you very much. I am happy to hear that you are enjoying my channel. And hello back from Canada. 👋
I made my own C64 protector/saver about a year and half ago. I took a slightly different approach. Instead of disconnecting the power when the voltage went above a threshold, it switched to a built in 5V regulator (switching type) feed by the 9vac. This way you can continue to use your C64 even with a dodgy power supply. It has two volt meter displays, one meter displays the input voltage and one displays output voltage. It has two modes that you can select from using a switch, one is automatic where it will switch from the 5VDC supplied from the C64 PSU to the built in 5V regulator when input voltage goes above 5.3 volts. The other mode forces the C64 protector to use the built in 5V regulator all the time. I only ever made one prototype. Here is a photo of it if you are interested - drive.google.com/open?id=1gvbC5nLHrBrtjTN0Z3vFpx6nfKUsAeNT
Nice! That is an awesome approach. I once considered using an off-the-shelf UBEC device to regulate the 5VDC but I only ended up buying a few UBECs off of eBay to play around with. I also really like your idea of displaying the input and output voltages -- and the enclosure looks great with the round LED displays. A great project. Thanks for sharing.
LOL @5:10 "PCBWaaaay" a-la Perifractic!
th-cam.com/users/Perifractic
😉
Hi. Man I’ve been wanting to get into retro computers myself. I’ve been looking around on eBay (as that’s the only place I really know of to find retro stuff) but I still can’t find anything that sticks out to me.
Hi. Thanks for commenting. Well, admittedly I am a little bit biased, but IMO a Commodore 64 is a great starter retro computer -- LOL that sounds funny. eBay prices can be a bit on the high end a lot of the time. May I ask where you are located?
MindFlareRetro Louisiana. That’s what I’m comfortable with disclosing online.
@@AshtonSnapp Of course. I should have been more specific, i.e. US, Canada, UK. Do you happen to be in Twitter? The retro computer community there is fantastic. I could post a request to see if anyone is in or around your state is selling a C64.
MindFlareRetro I do have a twitter. Hell, I think I’m following you. Lemme check.
Edit: yep, I’m following you. just sent a tweet saying hi. I’m @bananadevel0per
@@AshtonSnapp Got it. I'll fire off a tweet and see if we can get you a C64.
Great to see you again. A Happy 2020 to you. A saver is a great thing to have and it is great, that you show people, how easy it is to get one. Also, it should be possible to share the excess boards with other C64 owners of your region.
maybe you want to add the links in the video description:
bwack's github: github.com/bwack
pcb-way: www.pcbway.com/
About Ray Carlsen's power supplies: I think, you get even more, than what you pay for. I klnow, how long it takes to build power supplies. I have built many, already. This is his homepage: personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm.html
My PSU can be found here: github.com/svenpetersen1965?tab=repositories
Actually, we are all waiting for the PolyPower :-))
Thanks, Sven. Happy 2020 to you, as well. Thank you very much for all your contributions to these retro computer projects over the last year - you are a huge asset to the community. And thanks for the links -- some I had buried in the description but I guess they are being overlooked. _PolyPower64_ ... shhh.🤐😉 ... actually, I think your upcoming switchable 115V/230V PSU is a better option.
MindFlareRetro I think, the problem with the 230V/115V is, that the transformer is European and probably not cheap or easy to get like the one, that we have picked for PolyPower64.
I might have to be extravagant and order a transformer from Europe.
MindFlareRetro But actually, my 230V/115V and the PolyPower64 have a lot in common. For North America, you don‘t need to switch. 115V only is ok. PolyPower64 has the full extension connector like my other other PSU. So everything I develop for mine with work with yours. And the wiring of your external transformer is the same like wiring my switch, but it is less expensive (no switch and no fancy connector required). And, there is your logo on the board :-)))
Long time no vid, man you had me bugging Jan Beta trying to figure out why you dropped off the face of the site.
Yeah, sorry about that. Life stuff was trumping hobby stuff. I'll try to post more regularly now. Thanks for checking up on me.
@@MindFlareRetro I was hoping to meet up with you last month but when Jan said you had life things holding you up I avoided being annoying. By the way you ever work on Commodore 16's before ? I got a PAL version just recently.
Yeah, I've just been super busy with work, teenagers and everything in between. All that has to come before the hobby stuff, unfortunately. I have a C16, but it works -- I haven't had to do any repairs on it. You got a PAL one, eh? Have you had the opportunity to fire it up?
I've had it hooked up to my work desk monitor which I "thoght" would display PAL but apparently there's like a dozen or more PAL variance. I did get a video signal from it (looked like garbage) even though the power regulator I was using only did 300mA max, it was the only center negative 9v supply I have at the moment but a signal means life right? I have a new crystal and power adapter on order and I'm going to flash a new NTSC kernel rom for it before I try messing with it again but I know it turns on.
@UCWlyQXIN2zCpxBOUsihRoPA If you have some sort of video on-screen (like a flippy b&w PAL on NTSC image) then you likely have a working unit. Keep an eye on Kijiji & Craigslist for an old Acer K292HQL or K202HQL, both will display NTSC and PAL.
kit this and ill buy it buddy of mine just gave me a c64 in the orginall box with a floppy drive but have yet to test it because I dont want to kill it
If I can get myself organized I'll try to put some kits together. I'll keep you posted.
Hey, new here. I really enjoyed the video. Like the way, you put it together so we too could do the same. It wasn't I got the part and this is what I made. It was nice to see all the links. I save the video to come back to them. Don't take them down. Its a time to money fact, At this time I have no money. My life with small pockets.
Hi, and welcome! I am glad to hear that you found my channel and that you enjoyed the video. I hear you - this is a hobby of mine and I don't always have the funds to do these projects, myself. Do you own a C64?
@@MindFlareRetro I am not going to count them right now. well over 10, Plus 3 C128, SuperPet, B128, both with drives, 3 A500, 1 A1000, 1 A2000, 1 A600 - I believe it needs to be recapped. 1 A1200, Oh 3 VIC20, and 1 SX-64. Plus drive many 1541s, two 1570, one 1581. Things are getting old. News of this is new to me. I need to sell most of this I can not use all of them. Oh, I forgot to say tape drives and Monitors too. I started picking them up after they started getting hard to find. Knowing that others would want them. I have done a few small repairs over the year. Keep the extra C64 and drives for parts too. I was heavy into them for a few years. Life events change things.
Woah! Cool. That is quite a collection.
I don't want to build one. You seen my dodgy soldering? I just want to buy one
Hmm. Stay tuned. Maybe I'll make some extras to sell.