i want a PAL vic

Vic 20 Item Exchange

Moderator: Moderators

Boray
Musical Smurf
Posts: 4064
Joined: Mon May 03, 2004 10:47 am

Post by Boray »

I asked Ray Carlsen, and here is his answer:
Ray Carlsen wrote: > Can an european vic20 work with an american power supply and vice versa?

Anders,
Yes. The output voltages and current capacities are the same for both.
The power line frequency is only a factor if the computer uses it for a
timing reference as in the C64. I don't think the VIC20 does that. The only
other difference I can think of is the same supply might run a little hotter
on 50Hz because of the inherent losses in the transformer, but the effect is
hardly noticeable.

> The newer vic20 gets both 9v AC and 5v DC. What is the 9v AC for?
> I ask because that this would be 50Hz in Europe and 60Hz in USA.

It goes to the user port. The only other use is (after converting to
DC, filtering and regulation) power to run the datassette motor if one is
connected.

Ray
Ray Carlsen wrote: > Do you mind if I post your answer on a forum where the question was?

Anders,
That's OK. I must admit I have limited knowledge of European equipment.
I do have a few power packs that are dual (input) voltage and were made to be
used in Europe, so that's where my info comes from. To the best of my knowedge
it's accurate. :-)

Ray
PRG Starter - a VICE helper / Vic Software (Boray Gammon, SD2IEC music player, Vic Disk Menu, Tribbles, Mega Omega, How Many 8K etc.)
Guest

Post by Guest »

Hm, so the CIA (C64) relies on an external clock (9V AC from the PSU?) but the VIA (VIC) is satisfied with system clock. Interested parties can download datasheets from Funet etc:

http://ftp.funet.fi/pub/cbm/documents/chipdata/

The question to run a PAL VIC-20 with a US PSU may also be worth searching for on the cbm-hackers list and other places on Internet. If however the VIA also needs the external 50/60 Hz frequency, those PAL demos and games which rely on a combination of timers and raster may still not run properly on an "alienized" PAL VIC-20.
carlsson
Class of '6502
Posts: 5516
Joined: Wed Mar 10, 2004 1:41 am

Post by carlsson »

(that was me, after all my browser windows had died and upon restarting I thought cookies would ensure I still was online)
Anders Carlsson

Image Image Image Image Image
Post Reply