Winter start on third cranking
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Winter start on third cranking
Recently fired up one of my vics from storage. What was noteworthy is that it took three attempts to boot up, a bit like an old car on a cold morning.
Attempts:
1) a flickery screen that went black after a short while
2) flickery screen with random characters visible then froze
3) booted up fine
Anyone offer explanations on the likely failing component(s)?
Attempts:
1) a flickery screen that went black after a short while
2) flickery screen with random characters visible then froze
3) booted up fine
Anyone offer explanations on the likely failing component(s)?
- eslapion
- ultimate expander
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
You know you could've destroyed your VIC-20 doing that ?
The capacitors from the power supply are toast and need replacing.
DON'T turn your VIC-20 on again until you do.
BTW, It's impossible to tell if your VIC uses an internal PSU (2 prong PSU) or has an external one (round C64 style connector).
If it's a round connector PSU, trash it and NEVER use it again. The power cap inside is dead and may damage the computers you try to power up with it. These PSUs are full of epoxy and are nearly impossible to fix.
The capacitors from the power supply are toast and need replacing.
DON'T turn your VIC-20 on again until you do.
BTW, It's impossible to tell if your VIC uses an internal PSU (2 prong PSU) or has an external one (round C64 style connector).
If it's a round connector PSU, trash it and NEVER use it again. The power cap inside is dead and may damage the computers you try to power up with it. These PSUs are full of epoxy and are nearly impossible to fix.
Be normal.
Re: Winter start on third cranking
Thanks, it's interesting that I only noticed this after swapping out my regular vic as was having issues with the WiModem.
Any way to check which power supplies are good?
Any way to check which power supplies are good?
- eslapion
- ultimate expander
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
To answer that question, I need to know what type of VIC-20 you have.beamrider wrote:Any way to check which power supplies are good?
Be normal.
Re: Winter start on third cranking
I have a few of both types, but the two in question are both 5-pin.
- mrr19121970
- Vic 20 Nerd
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
7 pin din. You can get a sav64 from skydivingirl or snip out the voltage regulator and add UBEC instead.
Re: Winter start on third cranking
Or get Ray Carlsen's Computer Saver - internal, mid-line, or deluxe version - and use it with the VIC-20, if you wish to keep the original power supply.
Merry Christmas,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Merry Christmas,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
- mrr19121970
- Vic 20 Nerd
- Posts: 873
- Joined: Tue Jan 19, 2016 9:22 am
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- Occupation: IT service manager
Re: Winter start on third cranking
Rays PSUs are super I have one, but not everyone is willing/able to spend 100$ or more. A UBEC will set you back 2$
Re: Winter start on third cranking
I am talking about the three versions of his Computer Saver, which are priced at $20, $35, and $50. Seemrr19121970 wrote:Rays PSUs are super I have one...
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cables.html
Ray Carlsen has three versions of his replacement power supplies, which are priced at $35, $80, and $100. See...but not everyone is willing/able to spend 100$ or more.
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/custom%20ps.html
Not including his pricing for power supplies with many multiple outputs, C16, Amigas, and disk drives/RAMLink,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Last edited by RobertBe on Tue Dec 20, 2016 2:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Winter start on third cranking
Oops, I missed his variant, priced at $90, which has a C64/VIC-20CR output and a C128 output.I wrote:Ray Carlsen has three versions of his replacement power supplies, which are priced at $35, $80, and $100.
Not including his pricing for power supplies with many multiple outputs, C16, Amigas, and disk drives/RAMLink,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
Re: Winter start on third cranking
So being lazy I have ordered a PSU from Ray.
I have a few 2 pin vics. Are these then at risk even when operating from a good psu due to the aging internal regulator?
If so, can they be modified intenally with a UBEC?
I have a few 2 pin vics. Are these then at risk even when operating from a good psu due to the aging internal regulator?
If so, can they be modified intenally with a UBEC?
- mrr19121970
- Vic 20 Nerd
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
The 9v transformer will generally be OK.
The internal transformer you should worry about. The bridge rectifier and voltage regulator get hot and will wear. The electrolyte capacitor (C29 from memory) that smooths the AC ripple is old and could be replaced too. Ray Carlson recommends removing the heat sinks and applying new thermal grease and reattaching them really tightly.
The internal transformer you should worry about. The bridge rectifier and voltage regulator get hot and will wear. The electrolyte capacitor (C29 from memory) that smooths the AC ripple is old and could be replaced too. Ray Carlson recommends removing the heat sinks and applying new thermal grease and reattaching them really tightly.
Re: Winter start on third cranking
So you're saying it's not possible to replace the internal transformer with the UBEC?
- mrr19121970
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
Yes it is possible. Remove VR1 and add it.
- eslapion
- ultimate expander
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Re: Winter start on third cranking
The component that ages is the capacitor, not the regulator but in the case of 2 prong VICs, this component is physically obvious and easy to replace with a new one.beamrider wrote:So being lazy I have ordered a PSU from Ray.
I have a few 2 pin vics. Are these then at risk even when operating from a good psu due to the aging internal regulator?
Be normal.