sfk@wucs.UUCP (Steve Karasek) (04/17/85)
A couple of months ago, someone asked if the power supply being sold for $4.95 by Radio Shack ran cooler than the power supply which came with the TI-99/4A. I installed one, and it does run quite a bit cooler. I believe, however, that this may be the same power supply used in the newer gray computer, so if you have this model, it would not do you any good (I have not looked at the power supply in the gray model, but it seems to run pretty cool already). Otherwise, it is well worth the $4.95, if you can still find one. -- Steven Karasek sfk@wucs.UUCP Box 1045 Washington University (ihnp4!wucs!sfk) St. Louis, MO 63130 USA (314)-889-5098
nessus@nsc.UUCP (Kchula-Rrit) (04/23/85)
> > A couple of months ago, someone asked if the power supply being sold > for $4.95 by Radio Shack ran cooler than the power supply which came with the > TI-99/4A. I installed one, and it does run quite a bit cooler. I believe, > however, that this may be the same power supply used in the newer gray > computer, so if you have this model, it would not do you any good (I have not > looked at the power supply in the gray model, but it seems to run pretty cool > already). Otherwise, it is well worth the $4.95, if you can still find one. > -- > > Steven Karasek sfk@wucs.UUCP > Box 1045 Washington University (ihnp4!wucs!sfk) > St. Louis, MO 63130 USA (314)-889-5098 *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE *** I am the person asking if the RS power supply runs cooler than the TI supply. In August 1984, my TI's -5V supply overheated and shut down, taking out EVERY chip that uses -5V. This includes the CPU, RAM, GROMS ("proprietary" ROMS) and, I'm sure, many more that I can't remember right now. TI gladly exchanged it for a new/reconditioned one for $28.50, but it was a hassle being without my computer for a week. So, when I got the new console, I promptly put a "muffin(tm)"-type fan on my computer table pointing into the console. Ah, the wonders of duct-tape! The fan is a klugy set-up at best, and rather hazardous at worst without a fan guard. So when RS advertised their supply, I snapped one up. Unfortunately, I haven't put it in or powered it up yet, so I don't know about its operating temp/voltage yet. I've heard that switching supplies generate more RF noise than linear supplies do; can someone verify/disprove that? In a sense, that does not concern me, because I do not use a TV as my display any more, but I still don't want the Feds to come pounding on my door. I will post a note telling how to connect a monitor to your TI 99/4A, or at least how I did it. Also, I will try installing the supply in my computer and let the net know how it works out. Kchula-Rrit !menlo70!nsc!nessus P.S. John, I haven't forgotten; I've just gotten my schematic-drawing software up and running with "reasonable" reliably. K-Rr