Is it ok to use C64C PSU with Vic20 ?

Mikam73 · Post by **Mikam73** » Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:57 pm

Those guys here at C64 Club happening wanted to loan Vic20 from me to next happening. I feel lazy to carry heavy PSU with me and know they have C64C PSUs there. Is it ok to use that with Vic20?

16KVIC20 · Post by **16KVIC20** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 4:49 am

I think I read that it is OK to use C64 PSU on a VIC 20 with a DIN type power socket, but NOT the other way around, apparently a VIC 20 PSU will destroy a C64. Others may be able to confirm this.

Mikam73 · Post by **Mikam73** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 5:12 am

Whats the difference of Vic20 and C64 PSU, those look same. C64C PSU looks different.

16KVIC20 · Post by **16KVIC20** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:00 am

I think the C64 one mainly looked identical to a cost reduced VIC 20 PSU. There were s afew variants. I'm not sure if there is a label on them that identifies them or not.

Schema · Post by **Schema** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:15 am

I use them interchangeably, but check the Voltage and Amperage ratings of the power supply to be sure.

e5frog · Post by **e5frog** » Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:57 pm

16KVIC20 wrote:I think I read that it is OK to use C64 PSU on a VIC 20 with a DIN type power socket, but NOT the other way around, apparently a VIC 20 PSU will destroy a C64. Others may be able to confirm this.

The VIC20 mainly has less power on the 9VAC side AFAIK, it shouldn't destroy the C64 but the PSU could possibly break or overheat due to overload - and maybe then damage the C64. Perhaps something to measure...

The SID and datasette draws power using the 9VAC line so I'm guessing it can be troublesome. If loading from disk or cartridge I don't think it will be a problem. Unfortunately I don't have an original VIC20 CR supply so I can't check, there's one on eBay right now though that has
OUTPUT : 5VDC 7.5W 9VAC 3.7VA
I'm suspecting it could be for the VIC20.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260779074624

That's about 410 mA available on the 9VAC instead of the usual 1000mA, don't know how much the SID needs.

Post by **Jeff-20** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:17 pm

I recall buying a replacement power supply from Commodore(I think...?), and they were sold as interchangeable. Really makes me wonder if they even cared.

Leeeeee · Post by **Leeeeee** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 2:23 pm

Genuine C= PSUs are interchangeable.

The C64 won't work on a PSU that has a 12V DC supply instead of the 9V AC supply, unlike the VIC.

More here.

Lee.

16KVIC20 · Post by **16KVIC20** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:35 pm

I just got a C64 for the first time last week. Today was the first time I had both it and the VIC in the same room, so I compared the PSUs. Guess what? They were identical. I read all the small print on the side, all the ratings were the same, so they not only look identical, they are electronically too. The C64 one smells a bit as it gets hot though.

I probably should change the fuse in the plug to 3 amp insteadof the 13 amps currently fitted.

It is the beige PSU that ha sthe slope on it. That's always been the PSU I've had, even my original VIC 20 had that one.

e5frog · Post by **e5frog** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:46 pm

Oh lord - you have solved the mysterious mystery!!

There are PSUs meant only for VIC20 that have less Amps, it would be stupid of Commodore to keep making these weaker ones when they started making the C64 as the pinout is the same. Seems better to just make the more powerful one that could be used for both.

I don't know the full history of when they started making the VIC20CR, the C64 or the different PSUs though.

Commodore is known for blending parts wildly, I got the wedge type PSU with my brand new C64C in 1987.

eslapion · Post by **eslapion** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:10 pm

Mikam73 wrote:Those guys here at C64 Club happening wanted to loan Vic20 from me to next happening. I feel lazy to carry heavy PSU with me and know they have C64C PSUs there. Is it ok to use that with Vic20?

The short answer is yes.

NEVER do the opposite, using a VIC's PSU with a 64.

There are PSUs meant only for VIC20 that have less Amps, it would be stupid of Commodore to keep making these weaker ones when they started making the C64 as the pinout is the same. Seems better to just make the more powerful one that could be used for both.

I think I specified that in the VIC-20 WIKI.

I even gave specific unit numbers that are reputed to Damage C64s when you use these as power supply.

e5frog · Post by **e5frog** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:24 am

Perhaps that's were I read it.

16KVIC20 · Post by **16KVIC20** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 11:29 am

When I had my original 1980s CRVIC20, we had the wedge shaped PSU, in fact it was a German VC20, although it was bought in the UK (at least that was on the rainbow sticker and it was made in W Germany).

Most other people seemed to have the black brick with fins. I also seem to recall that the C64s at school had the black brick with fins PSU.

I will check my model numbers ASAP. It seems that maybe you can't tell from what the PSU looks like though. Surely Commodore wouldn't ship a Computer with the wrong PSU?

I wonder about the C16/Plus 4. Does a C128 PSU work on a VIC 20?

Oge_user · Post by **Oge_user** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 12:17 pm

16KVIC20 wrote:Does a C128 PSU work on a VIC 20?

Yes, just modifying the connector.

Surely Commodore wouldn't ship a Computer with the wrong PSU?

Sad, but true, Commodore sold some PSUs marked for C64 but, seeing the specs, they should have been targeted for VIC-20 (5VDC@7,5VA and 9VDC@9VA).

Cheers,
Oge

e5frog · Post by **e5frog** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 3:03 pm

Oge_user wrote:...but, seeing the specs, they should have been targeted for VIC-20 (5VDC@7,5VA and 9VDC@9VA).

Calculating them however gives us the exact same specs as a plain C64 PSU. 5VDC 1.5A and 9VAC 1.0A

7.5VA at 5VDC give us 1.5A
9VAC and 9VA give us 1.0 A (I'm guessing it was supposed to be 9VAC)

So for that particular PSU it's not a problem. The C64C model has 1.7A on the 5VDC line.

Denial

Is it ok to use C64C PSU with Vic20 ?

Is it ok to use C64C PSU with Vic20 ?

Re: Is it ok to use C64C PSU with Vic20 ?