Ray Carlsen, Commodore repair technician, is building a small number of universal C64/128/VIC-20CR/Plus4 power supplies. Here are the details for the RC p.s.:

*Input – 120V, 60Hz (or alternate version 220V, 50 Hz for Europe/Australia)
*Output – 5VDC @ 5A, 9VAC @ 1A
*Fuse-protected, current-limited 5 volt supply
*built-in surge suppressor (Computer Saver)
*metal case, vented
*PS cable has C64 DIN connector for the C64 and VIC-20CR. C128 adapter to C64 DIN available for those who buy the RC p.s. and at extra cost. (For the Plus/4, the user is to send in the DC full-length cable of the original CBM power supply for attaching to the new RC p.s..)
*One-year warranty – If this RC power supply is not acceptable or fails in any way, send it back for repair, replacement, or refund.
*RC power supply price - $100 US (not including shipping)
*C128 adapter to C64 DIN - $15 US (not including shipping)

For more details and photos, go to
http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/universal%20ps/

Check/money order preferred in USA. Paypal accepted for overseas orders.
Contact Ray at rcarlsen(at)tds.net

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Mini-review of prototype #2

Quality. Durability. Ruggedness. Craftsmanship. These words all describe the Ray Carlsen universal power supply for the C64/128/VIC-20CR/Plus4. Though I've been testing prototype #2 for a few months, it has never let me down.

When I received it in the mail a few months ago, I was immediately impressed by its construction. It had a metal, vented case with striking black and white paint. It used thick insulation over its heavy gauge output cable. It sat on 4 sturdy rubber feet. Inside, there was plenty of air space for the components - a new, modern 5VDC unit putting out 5 amps, a new, modern 9VAC unit putting out 1 amp, and the Ray Carlsen
Computer Saver which cuts out the 5V line should it go over 5.40 volts. Everything was neatly, firmly screwed down to the metal case. There was no messy mass of wires, just an orderly placement of the wires. On the outside of the case was one LED which showed the power supply had power.

The power supply had the looks, but did it deliver the goods? A big YES!
I've had it running for hours, and it barely emitted any heat through the vents on the case. In fact, the Commodore computer to which it was attached felt much warmer. Whether on a VIC-20CR or a C64 or a flat C128, it never failed. It endured the SuperCPU, a notoriously power-hungry device. Thus, it should easily cope with the 1541 Ultimate cartridge and even good, old Super Snapshot - both which need a little more oomph in the power department. Screen interference on the CRT monitor? None!

Ray hand-built it, testing and tweaking it until it met his critical standards. He showed me some oscilloscope screenshots of the 5V it outputs -- just clean power. He also showed me the oscilloscope screenshots of a new power supply from a different company -- spikes all over the place... no clean power at all. In fact, that company's p.s. had such bad regulation that it varied from 4.9V to 5.3V.

Now the production model of the Ray Carlsen power supply has been released. Each power supply is hand-built and tested by him. The production model uses a slightly bigger, metal, vented case than the prototype, because his supplier had the other one on back order. The production model has an improved, internal Computer Saver.

Reluctantly, I will return prototype #2 to Ray when I see him in the summer. However, I will then get the production model! I'm thinking about getting one for the C64/VIC-20CR and one for the flat C128. Then I'll be set for life. :)

Ray has nearly sold out on his first production run of power supplies and has ordered parts for a second run.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
July 26-27 Commodore Vegas Expo v10
http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

I wrote:
Quote:

(For the Plus/4, the user is to send in the DC full-length cable of the original CBM power supply for attaching to the new RC p.s..)

For those who cannot send in that full-length Plus/4 cable, Ray now offers a Plus/4 adapter for his new power supply. See

http://blog.retro-link.com/2014/08/plus4-adapters-for-ray-carlsen-power.html

Also, Ray now offers a 1581/1541-II power supply for $35 and a "dual" power supply for the C64-C128 with 1581/1541-II cables for $135. (That dual power supply is an interesting design!) See

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/universal_ps/

and click on the appropriate links.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

@RobertB

always have received quality hardware from Ray over the years. Wonder if his Amiga power supply can safely power my 1200 desktop with 060@66, IndiAGA, & Subway USB?

_________________
____________________________
c64-2sids, A1000, A1200T-060@50(finally working!),A4000-CSMKIII
! My Master Miggies- Amiga 1000 & AmigaOne X1000 !
mancave-ramblings
X1000 I BELIEVE

klx300r wrote:
Quote:

Wonder if his Amiga power supply can safely power my 1200 desktop with 060@66, IndiAGA, & Subway USB?

Heh, Ray has a proliferation of different power supplies. Yeah, his new Amiga 500/600/1200 power supply goes for $80 (not including shipping) and puts out 5.5 amps at +5V and 1 amp at +12V. Compare that to the original A1200 p.s. that only had 3 amps at +5V and 0.5 amp at +12V.

As for powering your A1200, I was able to use my A1200 desktop with Blizzard '040 and an A500 power supply (4.5 amps @ +5V and 1 amp @ +12V) without any problems. Granted that you have a '060 (which should take less power than a '040) and the IndiAGA and the SubwayUSB (which should have a minimal power impact)...

I also see Ray has a three-cabled design for his Commodore universal power supply with one cable for the computer power and two output cables for two 1541-II/1581 disk drives.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Ray now has the picture of his Amiga power supply at

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/cbm/universal_ps/AMIGA/Amiga%20PS.jpg

Writing from Las Vegas,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Last edited by RobertB on 07-Dec-2014 at 07:12 PM.

All of Ray's various Commodore and Amiga power supplies are now on one page at

http://personalpages.tds.net/~rcarlsen/custom%20ps.html

FCUG celebrating 34 years this month,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm