C128 power supply for VIC-20, C64

[ral-clan]

I've got my hands on a C128 power supply. I've read these are great, stable substitutes for use with the VIC-20CR and the C64. Am I correct in my understanding?

If correct, this is good news to me since then I won't have to buy one of the pricey modern substitute power supplies that replace that dangerous original brick power supplies made by Commodore.

However, I'd rather not snip off the custom male "square" connector if I don't have to, as I've read these are somewhat rare. I'd like to find a way to not have to butcher this power supply. I've read someone sold passive "adapters" that merely converted the square power supply connector to the round DIN one required by the C64/VIC-20CR. A pass-through adapter.

I can't find a vendor for this product. Does anyone know if it still is available?

If not, I will have to cut off the square connector, and replace it with a round DIN one. I know this will offend some people, and even me slightly, but since I don't have a C128, it might be the way to go.

Thanks.

[mrr19121970]

Better do it this way:

a) Find a dead "brick of death". Break up, removing the whole output cable (including the 'rubber boot' at the PSU end).
b) Open the C128 psu, desolder the output cable and remove
c) Solder in the C64 cable
d) Done

This is totally reversible. If you really want, then you can also by a female DIN socket & sleve and add this to the desoldered end of the C128 cable. This way you can use the PSU for both C64 & C128.

You should also replace the 2 big electrolyte capacitors in the PSU when you have it open anyway.

[ral-clan]

If those large capacitors fail, could they damage the computer? I thought the whole design of the C128 supply was fail safe?

[mrr19121970]

I don't know about them killing the attached computer. The ones that I have that failed delivered no 5v at all.

[Boray]

My (beautiful) sollution. This is for plus/4 and c64/vic20cr. I could have kept the c128 plug as well for a three headed serpent...