Power Supply Problem and not Powering Up

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boyson
Vic 20 Newbie
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Joined: Sat Jun 03, 2017 2:23 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas
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Power Supply Problem and not Powering Up

Post by boyson »

I just bought a newer generation VIC-20 from Ebay and I'm having trouble.

It's a 9 pin din connector power supply. Sometimes it will power up fine. Other times, especially if a plug in a game cartridge, the power LED is very faint and the computer will fail to initialize (no video just snow).

To get it to work, with the power switch ON, I have to unplug then plug-in the DIN connector a couple of times. Sometimes it takes 2-3 tries, other times 5-7 tries.

I have re-seated all the chips. The power supply housing is glued together and have not opened it.

I plan to take voltage readings on the connector to see if the power supply might be the problem. Is the problem I describe a common failure? Are threre any other things I need to check/examine?
norm8332
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Re: Power Supply Problem and not Powering Up

Post by norm8332 »

The power supply connector on the motherboard may have come loose and have to be re-soldered. I have seen this happen.
“In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination... whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.”

-Autobiography of Mark Twain
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Floopy
Vic 20 Devotee
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Re: Power Supply Problem and not Powering Up

Post by Floopy »

My old VIC-20 sometimes turns off when I trip on the lead, I think I know why now :lol: .
I'm gonna have to whip out the soldering iron and do some repair job.

Response to question:
I would identify if the Computer is the problem or the brick (PSU), I would test the voltage level on the brick first to determine if that is your problem.
They are a very unreliable piece of hardware.
-Floopy
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