Commodore VIC-20: The quest to remove heat and reduce power
5I've been swapping out the LM323 linear regulator by default for some time now (using PSU5s from EzSBC.com) but I'm always interested in reducing waste heat & power consumption.
With just this swap I've got my VICs down to about 1.17A of current draw during normal operation (no datasette).
I've been using a 9VDC power supply via a 2.1mm socket to VIC-20 plug but this still generates a lot of heat in the bridge rectifier, even though it's already DC.
There is also the ongoing issue of sourcing replacement two-prong plugs.
One way to solve both the plug problem and the heat issue is to add a 2.1mm socket which then bypasses the rectifier, going straight to the regulator.
Drawback is obviously there is no longer any AC on the board (i.e. User Port), but the original two-prong socket remains ... so I have the choice of "normal" mode or "low power" mode.
In this low power, DC-only mode my VIC is now sub-1A ... 0.94A during normal operator (again, no datasette).
*happy*