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Rattus
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 34 |
HardWare
Hi to all C64 users !
Since we have Music and Coding sections on this forum, I started to think...
Why not also an own section dedicated to HARDWARE ?
As we all know, our hardware is beginning to age... I'd personally like to have as much repair info as possible easily available... right here... For example under label 'C64 hardware'.
I think it would also be nice to know about people's own C64-hardware-hack-project-things. Anyone agree with me ?
The C64 was, is, and will be the BEST... And gets better after SIXPACK... :) Every single time.
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dalezy
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 476 |
i'm somewhat technically challenged when it comes to hardware, i don't see why we shouldn't have such a forum. (and i seriously hope graham and ninja will shoot off with some of their knowledge =) |
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Rattus
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 34 |
I'm somewhat (electric-) technically retarded... I can do some simple circuits (if there is proper information available)... And I also have managed to repair all of my broken C64s... But... My C64 faults have always been like VIC died, SID died, that chip died... By following Ray Charlsens fault diagnostic - file, I fixed em.... What if a resistor or capacitor dies someday ? What will I do ? R's and C's are cheap, but how about the work changing em all ? And can the 'motherboard' take all the soldering ? As well as the C1541 etc... No proper 'Fix Me' docs anywhere...
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cbmhardware
Account closed
Registered: Aug 2003
Posts: 19 |
Quote: I'm somewhat (electric-) technically retarded... I can do some simple circuits (if there is proper information available)... And I also have managed to repair all of my broken C64s... But... My C64 faults have always been like VIC died, SID died, that chip died... By following Ray Charlsens fault diagnostic - file, I fixed em.... What if a resistor or capacitor dies someday ? What will I do ? R's and C's are cheap, but how about the work changing em all ? And can the 'motherboard' take all the soldering ? As well as the C1541 etc... No proper 'Fix Me' docs anywhere...
It is not meaningfully possible to make a "step-by-step" doc. Most time a
frequency counter or oscilloscope is needful. Some hints for the 1541 :
Device not present : drive address ;), schmitt trigger or 7406 driver, 6522 VIA.
Drive runs and runs (LED on) : Not easy to find : CPU sucks or something take it down to reset.
Drive runs and runs (LED off) : Power supply : 5V= missing.
Drive won't turn : 12V= , logic on drive .
Drive won't step : Gate array or transistor.
Drive won't read : Test the mechanic with another pcb to encircle the defect:
- PCB defect: Most time VIA 6522.
- drive defect: Adjustment, head stop, drive r.p.m. not ok or mechanical part (motor).
- 1541 C : very sensitively logic, check drive speed (300 r.p.m)
and so on ....
Next time i will write all hints down and publish it. I'm looking forward, somebody will correct my poor english.;) |
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ready.
Registered: Feb 2003
Posts: 441 |
Last year I found a copy of a book called "Fixing guide of the c64" (I think) and I scanned it to jpg images, not of great quality due to low quality of the copy I had. The book covers most of c64 hardware faults, including drive faults. I have it on a CD, space required 64 Mb, 159 scans. |
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Rattus
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2004
Posts: 34 |
So why not make it readable on your homepages and give us a link here... ? or a download-link...
I just have Ray Carlsen's fixing guide from the net... However, I have managed to repair many of my cbm's with it.
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Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: So why not make it readable on your homepages and give us a link here... ? or a download-link...
I just have Ray Carlsen's fixing guide from the net... However, I have managed to repair many of my cbm's with it.
@ready.
I second that ;)
Or hehe, send it to Germany ;) =) hehe
I am interested, too |
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ready.
Registered: Feb 2003
Posts: 441 |
I don't have a home page at the moment, neither I'm going to built one now, since I'm too busy getting my engeneering degree. I can send it via email to whoever is interested, maybe a few pages at a time so I won't overload your email boxes. Antoher thing I can do is sending the CD to somebody who can put it on a web site. Last year I thought I could type it to a .txt file, but I haven't had time unfortunately. Just let me know what you prefer. Could I upload it on the CSDB database? Btw thanks for Ray Carlsen's homepage link, I didn't know about it! |
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Nafcom
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 588 |
Quote: I don't have a home page at the moment, neither I'm going to built one now, since I'm too busy getting my engeneering degree. I can send it via email to whoever is interested, maybe a few pages at a time so I won't overload your email boxes. Antoher thing I can do is sending the CD to somebody who can put it on a web site. Last year I thought I could type it to a .txt file, but I haven't had time unfortunately. Just let me know what you prefer. Could I upload it on the CSDB database? Btw thanks for Ray Carlsen's homepage link, I didn't know about it!
You can send it to the email address in my profile here in CSDb. 64 MBs are no problem :)
Thanks in advance! |
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ready.
Registered: Feb 2003
Posts: 441 |
I tried to dissolder a RAM chip from a C64 with bad results, because I only used a soldering station and a lead pump, so I ruined the PCB and I had to put jumper wires to restore the broken traces. I know there are proper tools for removing soldered chips from PCBs and I'd like to buy one. I have seen some tools using hot air. What do you use for this? Does anybody have a suggestion? Anything definately not worth buying?
thanx,
Ready. |
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JackAsser
Registered: Jun 2002
Posts: 2014 |
Quote: I tried to dissolder a RAM chip from a C64 with bad results, because I only used a soldering station and a lead pump, so I ruined the PCB and I had to put jumper wires to restore the broken traces. I know there are proper tools for removing soldered chips from PCBs and I'd like to buy one. I have seen some tools using hot air. What do you use for this? Does anybody have a suggestion? Anything definately not worth buying?
thanx,
Ready.
Soldering iron and a lead pump is more than enough imo. Just don't use force when u remove the chips. The vias are so big on these old boards that you can easily make sure each pin of the chip floats nicely within it before you try to remove the whole chip. Imo, you fucked up using perfectly adequate tools. ;D |
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Devia
Registered: Oct 2004
Posts: 401 |
If the component is dead, just cut all the legs off and desolder them one at a time. This is a helluvalot easier than trying to remove the entire chip.
If you are carefull, perceptive and skilled, you "can" use a hot-air blower thingie to melt all the solder at once and then swiftly remove the entire chip in one go.. You risk destroying the board, though so it's best used for removing good components from scrap boards.
PRACTICE FIRST!!! - and don't blame me for setting your house on fire :(
Hint: figure out the air temperature and number of seconds to "blow" to reach the appropriate air-temperature by blowing on some scrap pcb and measuring the temperature with an IR thermometer. |
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TNT
Account closed
Registered: Oct 2004
Posts: 189 |
If you know the chip is broken then just cut all pins and desolder them separately. |
