[vcf-midatlantic] TI-99/4A Peripheral Expansion Box - Voltages

Sentrytv sentrytv at yahoo.com
Sat Oct 3 15:48:56 EDT 2020


I’ve used a load anywhere from 100 to 20 ohms at least 10 watts for computer power supply, 100 ohms @10w should be fine per 5v and 12v rails each to ground.
So for the TI the same would apply 8 V and 16 V.
Power supply

The PE-box provides unregulated power, meant to be used by voltage regulators intalled on each card. Typically, these would be a 78x05 (+5V) , a 78x12 (+12V) or a 79x12 (-12V). According to the specs, these regulators need an input voltage at least 3V in excess of the required output voltage. Therefore, the PE-box supplies them with +16V, -16V and +8V. Note that if you need -5V, you could use a 79x05 and feed it with the -16V supply. This would just mean that you need a really big heat sink, since this regulator is going to dissipate a lot of power... 


When I  actually get to my computer I will look to see what I have for manuals.

Sent from:
My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.

> On Oct 3, 2020, at 2:10 PM, Mark Whittington <markwhi at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> Thanks Glenn and Mike for the responses.
> 
> I did download the schematic, and I found and read the technical information here: http://www.unige.ch/medecine/nouspikel/ti99/pebox.htm before powering the unit, but I was unable to find a manual.  If you know where I can find one I'd appreciate a link.
> 
> I'll check the capacitors and put a load on the various supply rails and see if that brings the voltages down.
> 
> Thanks again.
> 
> Mark
> 
>> On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 10:10 AM Sentrytv <sentrytv at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Also I’m assuming you downloaded the manuals and the schematic for the power supply first before plugging in?
>> 
>> Sent from:
>> My extremely complicated, hand held electronic device.
>> 
>> > On Oct 3, 2020, at 7:24 AM, Mark Whittington via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
>> > 
>> > Just realized I missed a half a sentence (in my defence it's a been a late
>> > night).
>> > 
>> > The corrected sentence:
>> > 
>> > 2) Is just a case of not having a load on the outputs causing them to run
>> > high?  I know that the linear regulators that are likely to be used on any
>> > cards can technically handle these inputs, but I wouldn't want to assume
>> > that they have heat sinks large enough to dissipate the extra power for
>> > very long, so I haven't been brave enough to test the system with cards in
>> > it to present a load.
>> > 
>> > Thanks
>> > 
>> >> On Sat, Oct 3, 2020 at 7:19 AM Mark Whittington <markwhi at gmail.com> wrote:
>> >> 
>> >> Does anyone here have much experience with these?  I picked one up
>> >> recently and I've been going over it before plugging things in.  I tested
>> >> the unloaded voltages with the transformer set to 115VAC and got the
>> >> following on the unregulated DC output rails:
>> >> 
>> >> +8V rail: 14.4V
>> >> +16V rail: 25.2V
>> >> -16V rail: -25.3V
>> >> 
>> >> It looks like a previous owner had it apart -- there are hand-written
>> >> labels on the various input taps for the transformer, so I thought that
>> >> perhaps it was mis-wired on reassembly.  But testing the other taps the
>> >> best result I can get is with the 220VAC tap at approx. +7.5V and +/- 12V
>> >> on the unregulated outputs.
>> >> 
>> >> My analog circuits knowledge is pretty thin, so I'm hoping someone here
>> >> might be able to help out.    My questions are:
>> >> 
>> >> 1) I've measured the output taps from the transformer for each of the
>> >> various input taps and they match what I'd expect to see as inputs given
>> >> the various rectified outputs (RMS AC -> Peak AC, minus a diode drop) so I
>> >> don't *think* the problem is on the power supply board.  Am I missing
>> >> something?
>> >> 
>> >> The schematic I've been referencing:
>> >> http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/schematic/peb_power.jpg (I have the -2
>> >> version)
>> >> 
>> >> 2) Is just a case of not having a load on the outputs causing them to run
>> >> high?  I know that the linear regulators that are likely to be used on any
>> >> cards can technically handle these inputs, but I wouldn't want to assume
>> >> that they have heat sinks large enough to dissipate the extra power for
>> >> very long.
>> >> 
>> >> 3) Is this actually normal?
>> >> 
>> >> Thanks in advance for any help.
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> >> 
>> 


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