An external PSU for the Atari STFM
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- Опубліковано 19 жов 2024
- Kindly sponsored by PCBWay.com
I spend far too much of my time (ie. most of it) working on my machines with the lid off. If I'm developing hardware or using something that doesn't work (yet!) with the lid closed, then the insides of the machine will be exposed.
On the wedge STs with built-in floppies and the Falcon, unlike on the wedge Amigas, the PSU was internal. And it exposes mains voltages.
It also makes the machines quite heavy to move around between the shed and my desk.
So I've decided to admit defeat and copy the Amiga in the one area we can all agree it had an advantage over the ST series: the external power supply.
Here's how I got on.
@thetechnoshed
/ thetechnoshed
github.com/dh219
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Co-incidentally @powerofvintage9442 was building an external PSU just this week too!
• Building an Atari 520S...
Hurray for external foot warmer!
I love that about the 520ST/M.
Good work - love that you included the failures, like the motherboard plug not fitting through the hole - we've all made mistakes like that before. Multiple times :) One tihng that did jump out at me when you said you'd redesign the grommet to fit the scres for the panel mount socket, I did wonder if you could simply put two studs on the piece that goes inside that would line up with the wholes on the socket, then sandwich it's metal plate between that and the outer part of the grommet?
Ah, that was actually the sandwiching bolt holes that I need to move. The heads just overlap the curtilage of the socket. They need to be a smidge farther apart.
I had an Amiga as a boy, but I do remember 3D games running slightly better on my friends 1040 STE. Null and void once I got the 1200, but that slight CPU speed advantage was a definitely a thing.
By coincidence our good friend @powerofvintage9442 was building an external PSU just this week! Link up in the description.
Thank you for the shout out!!
I am of two minds on external vs internal PSU's. It makes perfect sense if you're working with the top off all the time to keep those exposed mains connections. On the other hand I do like the "all in one" nature of an internal PSU though. I've replaced most of my internal PSU's with Meanwells already so the issue with the exposed fins isn't there for me at least. Cool project though and surprising how similar both our solutions ended up being.
I'll whisper it, but I'm not actually a fan of the wedge computers at all, really. Despite having two STs, a Falcon, an A500 and an A3000 stacked in the shed! I'd prefer to have as much stuff off the desk as possible as my table estate isn't so grand. The PSU tucked away under my desk is just an extension of that, I suppose!
So this is the same PSU you used in the "amigaproofing" video, right?
The one featured here is a Meanwell industrial PSU. I repeated the process with my Exxos PSU off camera and it’s the latter featured in my Amigaproofing video. I have a video showing off the Exxos PSU earlier on the channel.
This one: Upgrading my ST with an Exxos PSU (Mandatory Fixes series)
ua-cam.com/video/1sYyGynntZ8/v-deo.html
@@thetechnoshed Thanks, appreciated! :)
Not sure the "in the school yard in the UK" thing applied across the board. Literally the only Atari I ever/saw heard about while at school was the ST with a keyboard in the music class that we all wondered "when is the teacher going to let us mash that keyboard?" but never got to even see the thing running. UA-camrs seem to give the impression that Acorns were also common at home too.. I knew one guy that had an Acorn at home. Amigas were super common though. If you had a computer at home that wasn't your Dad's it was an Amiga with one of those awful disk boxes next to it with your copy of xcopy and a bunch of tatty copied games.
Our school had one A3000, but I never saw it turned on. Our county moved from BBCs to PCs from RM. STs were certainly common here, though. Much like the Spectrum/C64, I think a lot of it had to do with price.
Perhaps it was a UK only thing? Now days you mostly hear about it from UK based ZX Spectrum and Atari ST UA-cam channels who, for some reason, are so intimidated by the Commodore machines.
Amiga Power brick was not a foot warmer at all, unless you planed to keep your feet on the table...
Sounds like you’ve been watching me at the dinner table!
@@thetechnoshed
BTW most frothy Amiga fan comment gets pinned! 😇
Oh, where do I even begin with the Amiga?! Let me tell you, the Amiga isn't just a computer-it's a legendary powerhouse that revolutionized the way we think about computing, gaming, and multimedia. Back in the day, when you fired up an Amiga, you weren't just turning on a machine; you were unlocking a gateway to endless creativity, innovation, and pure, unadulterated FUN!
The graphics, oh the graphics! The Amiga boasted mind-blowing graphics capabilities that left competitors in the dust. From vibrant colors to smooth animations, the Amiga was a visual marvel that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the computing world. And let's not forget about the sound! The Amiga's audio capabilities were second to none, producing rich, immersive soundscapes that added a whole new dimension to gaming and multimedia experiences.
But it wasn't just about the specs-oh no! The Amiga had soul. It had personality. It had charm. Whether you were diving into the latest gaming masterpiece, tinkering with cutting-edge software, or simply exploring the vast world of the Amiga community, you couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement.
And don't even get me started on the games! From timeless classics like "Lemmings" and "The Secret of Monkey Island" to groundbreaking titles like "Another World" and "Shadow of the Beast," the Amiga was home to some of the greatest games ever created. The sheer creativity and imagination on display were unparalleled, and the memories made playing these games will last a lifetime.
So, to all my fellow Amiga enthusiasts out there, let's raise our joysticks high and celebrate this iconic machine that continues to inspire us to this day. Long live the Amiga!
@@exxosuk Some people ought to have their ChatGPT rights removed! 😘
@@exxosuk gold