Voltage regulator board?

Nagging hardware related question? Post here!
Post Reply
Delta
ROM Dongle
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:52 pm

Voltage regulator board?

Post by Delta »

Hi all,

I just received a QL which I was told was working. However, when I connected it to the power supply, there was no sign of life. Upon opening the case I noticed a rather odd looking board in place of the standard 7805 voltage regulator and heatsink. I checked the voltages on the regulator and it read 5V,10V,10V...which seemed incorrect. I then swapped the board for my known working 7805 and heatsink and the QL came to life.

My question is, how should I resolve this?

Thanks
Attachments
IMG_20230513_081229.jpg


User avatar
Cristian
Aurora
Posts: 965
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2015 1:40 pm
Location: Veneto

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Cristian »

You may consider the Traco Power voltage regulator (a drop-in replacement, no heatsink needed):
https://it.farnell.com/tracopower/tsr-2 ... &source=CJ


User avatar
Pr0f
QL Wafer Drive
Posts: 1308
Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:54 am

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Pr0f »

That power board is based on this regulator by the looks of it:

https://www.ti.com/product/MC34063A?utm ... lsrc=aw.ds

You should be able to read 0v on the centre pin of the 3 pin connector the board plugs in with, and the two outer pins 9v (probably reading as 10v) and the 5v output for the QL.

Your voltage readings suggest that the 0v is not connecting correctly perhaps?


User avatar
Dave
SandySuperQDave
Posts: 2778
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:52 am
Location: Austin, TX
Contact:

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Dave »

This looks like a board Sandy fitted to a few systems in 1984.

They're horrible and should not be used. We stopped using them as soon as we got customer feedback.


Delta
ROM Dongle
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:52 pm

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Delta »

Who is Sandy...if you don't mind me asking?


User avatar
XorA
Site Admin
Posts: 1368
Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2011 11:31 am
Location: Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by XorA »

Delta wrote: Tue May 16, 2023 8:47 pm Who is Sandy...if you don't mind me asking?
Luckilly we have a wiki for that https://qlwiki.qlforum.co.uk/doku.php?id=qlwiki:sandy


Delta
ROM Dongle
Posts: 28
Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2023 12:52 pm

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Delta »

Oh dear: "WARNING: We have seen at least two models of this regulator and certainly at least one of these has a tendency to overheat and may catch fire! Tony Firshman also reports having seen three at least which have caused voltage surges and destroyed QLs and peripherals."

Fortunately, mine just failed and stopped the machine from starting!


Derek_Stewart
Font of All Knowledge
Posts: 3975
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 11:40 am
Location: Sunny Runcorn, Cheshire, UK

Re: Voltage regulator board?

Post by Derek_Stewart »

Hi,

I had a couple of these power boards, which were not good, I stored them in the bin.

Glad to see Sandy got something right...


Regards,

Derek
Post Reply