Making new power cables: 3.5mm mono jack
4This video is part of my Atari 2600 but I thought it might be of interest in general.
I make a new power cable for my Atari (3.5mm mono jack, tip positive) to power it from my bench power supply (banana plugs). This cable could also be used for a Sinclair ZX81.
I like to use a bench power supply as I can set the required voltage, current-limit it so I can see easily if there's a short, and also get a rough idea of how much power a computer uses.
And ... if the required polarity is different (tip negative instead) then I can just swap the banana plugs around.
This is just how I like to make cables quickly - I'm sure there's better techniques, always happy to hear how to improve.
Parts I use:
[1] Flux paste - makes soldering onto bits of metal much easier - I use MG Chemicals 8342-50G solder flux paste (Element14 order code 3018421)
[2] Good quality banana plugs - I use Multicomp 25.412.2 (black) and 25.412.1 (red) (Element14 order codes 1698994 and 1698993)
[3] Power cable - I've got a 100m roll of Multicomp Pro CB0043 cable rated at about 2A (Element14 order code 1717977)
[4] Heat shrink with glued lining - in this case I've used 4mm, 6mm and 8mm (Jaycar order codes WH5640, WH5641, WH5642)
Tip: check for duplicate listings on Element14 ... for example, the flux paste can currently (June 2022) be bought for AU$22.84 (order code 3018421) ... or currently on-sale for AU$15.98 (order code 301842102). I didn't list the on-sale order code as it's temporary.
https://au.element14.com
https://www.jaycar.com.au