28 replies to this topic

[Artlover]

birdie3 said:

Killed another C64 console tonight. Worked fine for a while. Plugged the 1541 in and the console died after about 10 minutes. This time it was in a completely different outlet.

Question. Have you been connecting this same 1541 drive to all these C-64's?

Second question. How true is the power in your house. With regards mostly to phase & cycles. C-64's are very picky with their timing, and need a fairly true 60hz voltage, as it uses the 9vac output of the power supply to provide system critical timing (clock via the sid if I remember correctly (don't have a schematic handy)).

A missing or flaky AC side of things will make a C64 fail in every way imaginable. C-128 too.

(Edit: 50hz voltage if you talking a PAL version.)

[birdie3]

The 1541 is the same every time. This problem started when I began using this drive BTW.

I would say that the power in my house is true (??). I am kind of ignorant toward the subject. This seems to be happening only in combo w/ the 1541.

[Artlover]

[quote="birdie3"]The 1541 is the same every time. This problem started when I began using this drive BTW.[quote]

Well, there you go.

Sack-c0s mentioned how 1541's are prone to blown 6522's. Thats the chip that handles it's I/O.

Have you noticed if there were any oddities with the 1541 when the c64 goes into it's messed up condition. Like is the activity light on when it shouldn't be, or do you notice any strange head tracking taking place?

Any chance you can get your hands on another 1541 to try?

[tyranthraxus]

I'm not an expert but have you tried testing your outlets with a circuit
tester? One of those cheap yellow things that you plug into the outlet.
It can show you if your plugs are wired correctly. Perhaps the hot and
neutral wire are reversed? Its a common problem and as I've heard
doesn't usually affect your aplliances but perhaps its causing havoc
with those old 64s?