bianco@cs.odu.edu (David J. Bianco) (06/27/90)
Does anybody know of a way (even if its only theoretical) to run a normal C64 (not the 64SX or whatever it was) on battery power? I was thinking maybe a car battery, but Ni-Cads would be OK if they would work. I recently read in Radio Electronics Magazine about a computer controlled lawn mower (dont laugh 8) and decided to try my luck at building one. The plands call for a custom Z80 motherboard, but I figured my old 64 would do the job nicely if I could solve the power problem. Any help out there? If you respond, Please use Email. If anyone wants to know, I can summarize to the net. Thanks, David Bianco bianco@cs.odu.edu
reynolds@felix.UUCP (David Lee Reynolds) (06/30/90)
In article <BIANCO.90Jun27102144@japonica.cs.odu.edu> bianco@cs.odu.edu (David J. Bianco) writes: >Does anybody know of a way (even if its only theoretical) >to run a normal C64 (not the 64SX or whatever it was) on >battery power? I was thinking maybe a car battery, but >Ni-Cads would be OK if they would work. Yes, in theory there are 2 ways you can... 1). DC to AC converter will be the easiest, (and most expensive) way. 2). Theoretically, you could connect direct supplies, (+5 Vdc & 12 Vdc) to the output of the regulators inside the 64. The only problem with this option is you will not be able to use the CIA's internal clock for timing, (it uses the 60 cycle from Edison to control the timers), and the user port will also not get it's 12 Vac needed for some interfaces. (IE Promburners, some C-64 modems etc)... For me, option #1 would be the only real easy, (and 100% compatable) solution. >If you respond, Please >use Email. If anyone wants to know, I can summarize to the net. I would have liked to, but I need a complete address to E-mail you. (Like !dude!bummer!you). We don't support backbone addresses at this site. |-( > David Bianco > bianco@cs.odu.edu Good Luck, David Lee Reynolds (zardoz,legs,spsd,oliveb)!felix!reynolds
jgreco@archimedes.math.uwm.edu (Joe Greco) (07/04/90)
In comp.sys.cbm article <147144@felix.UUCP>, reynolds@felix.UUCP (David Lee Reynolds) wrote:
:In article <BIANCO.90Jun27102144@japonica.cs.odu.edu> bianco@cs.odu.edu (David J. Bianco) writes:
:>Does anybody know of a way (even if its only theoretical)
:>to run a normal C64 (not the 64SX or whatever it was) on
:>battery power? I was thinking maybe a car battery, but
:>Ni-Cads would be OK if they would work.
:
: Yes, in theory there are 2 ways you can...
:
: 1). DC to AC converter will be the easiest, (and most expensive) way.
:
: 2). Theoretically, you could connect direct supplies, (+5 Vdc & 12 Vdc)
: to the output of the regulators inside the 64. The only problem
: with this option is you will not be able to use the CIA's internal
: clock for timing, (it uses the 60 cycle from Edison to control the
: timers), and the user port will also not get it's 12 Vac needed
: for some interfaces. (IE Promburners, some C-64 modems etc)...
:
: For me, option #1 would be the only real easy, (and 100% compatable)
: solution.
:
:>If you respond, Please
:>use Email. If anyone wants to know, I can summarize to the net.
:
: I would have liked to, but I need a complete address to E-mail you.
: (Like !dude!bummer!you). We don't support backbone addresses at this
: site. |-(
:
:> David Bianco
:> bianco@cs.odu.edu
:
: Good Luck,
:
: David Lee Reynolds
: (zardoz,legs,spsd,oliveb)!felix!reynolds
It's NOT hard to build a squarewave generator to generate a pseudo-AC signal
to drive the CIA's and any user port devices. It just requires a little
more creative design. This allows battery operation with a minimal amount
of power waste and a maximized amount of compatibility.
I believe one of the Commodore magazines even had plans for such a power
supply once.
... Joe
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