Make Your Own Atari/Commodore 8-bit Power and Monitor cables

We look at constructing a home made power cable for use with the Atari 8-bit computers. We will then construct a monitor cable for Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64/Vic20 computers. The new monitor cable will output S-Video along with Audio.
WISEWO DC 5V 2A Output Charger Switching Power Supply
www.amazon.com/dp/B01ERJIA42/...
S-Video Cable Gold-Plated
www.amazon.com/dp/B003XN6MSK/...
7 Pin Din Midi Cable Male to Male 9ft 3m
www.amazon.com/dp/B01CQR5L1C/...
10 Feet - Black with Keyed 5-pin DIN Connector
www.amazon.com/dp/B009GUP7U8/...

[@tub8r]

Very nice hands-on tutorial - thank you! 8:34 - That shielding which goes around the wires is supposed to be connected to the ground. That's the whole point of how shielding works. It has nothing to do with "quality" or thickness of the cable. There are at least two sources of interference emanating from the power supply cable -- the 60 cycle hum, and the high frequency from the switching circuit. And the cable itself acts as a large antenna, which amplifies and propagates this interference unless properly shielded to the ground. (You might be lucky in this case, as the plug end of the shield might already be connected to the shroud.)

[@daviddavies3637]

This is why I don't throw things out. I have a switch box in the shed from my Xbox 360 days, along with some older monitors. Looks like, theoretically, I could create a composite video cable that connects to it so I can output to one of my old monitors.

[@ToddsNerdCave]

Interesting to see the power draw difference between the 130XE and 800XL.

[@billkendrick1]

I was prepping dinner while I watched, so mighta missed it, but it'd be need to see how much extra amperage gets drawn by a non-powered SIO device like an SDrive (with no external power) or SIO2SD. Or how about paddles!?

[@8bitandmore]

@@billkendrick1 I would imagine the S-Drive would not pull much but considering in this scenario I drew no more than 1.0 amp we have another 1.0 amps to play with (if using a 2.0 power adapter)

[@rager1969]

TI 99/4a uses the same connector and pinot as Atari and C64 for composite and audio. Just be careful to use one of the other pins/RCA by accident, as it may be 12V from the 99/4a. You can get a 5 pin DIN to 4 RCA for $10-15 (was $4 in 2019). The Commodore 1084S and possibly other monitors take chroma and luminance via RCA rather than S-Video connector, so that cable is ideal for that, or just use the composite RCA for most monitors.

[@maximuzmusic1261]

I wish this was posted 2 days ago when I bought a new cable... Great vid tho, will make one in the future

[@ralphyrocket5770]

Great work! Like always!

[@rager1969]

Should've hooked up the SDrive directly to the Atari to see what current it draws.

[@michaelstoliker971]

I wonder if someone makes a female socket for the barrel jack that comes on the 5 volt power supplies. Then you could make a din connector to barrel jack cable and cut your soldering down a bit. You could leave a power cable in each computer and and move the power supply around as needed.

[@markstrickland438]

Another great video! Thank you!

[@atarimuseum_nl]

Great video! But, the power supply of a c64 also needs to give 9v (pins 6 and 7), so your power supply is Atari 8-bit only. And the monitor cable can create problems too, pin 5 is used by the C64 for audio in.

[@8bitandmore]

Thanks for the info!

[@tuffthegamer]

Great video, very informative. Only it would of been great to see you make the usb to 7 pin power cable as well. Thanks keep up the good work.

[@8bitandmore]

Great suggestion!

[@sigmiami]

Thx for video

[@8bitandmore]

Welcome thanks for tuning in!

[@Skysams]

Do you know how much electricity consumption is if you use the FUJINET? Thanks my friend, excelent channel.

[@eugenetswong]

This was fascinating. Thanks! I expected this to be more complex. I don't know why. Maybe technology has improved? I also expected that more amps from the power source would be problematic. I was also hoping to see an Atari 400/800 solution, since the video connection seems to be a single RCA connector that carries sound and video.

[@8bitandmore]

Unfortunately I don't have a 400 or 800, but I know the 800 has the same monitor type port as what I showed

[@eugenetswong]

@@8bitandmore ah, okay. Cool. Thanks again!

[@cbmeeks]

Have you done a video on the Sophia and if I should get one? I love the idea but haven't seen much about it lately.

[@8bitandmore]

I have not yet but It's on the Todo list

[@retro-stuff-rocks]

Nice Video! But one question ;-) You say at the end that the video cable can be use by commodores like 64 too. The commodore solution requires resistor about 330 Ohm e.g. to the chroma line. Is that not necessary for the atari?

[@8bitandmore]

I modded mine without the resister but It may be a needed component for optimal signal

[@mharding1258]

You sound like Joe Rogan dude. Ace.

[@8bitandmore]

Really? LOL

[@anthonyferraro5569]

Rick, thanks for the video. I read on "Atari Projects" how some of the old brick power supplies could damage the computer when they fail. Your video demonstrates how to update our power supplies, thanks. Here is the link, atariprojects.org/2018/08/05/purging-dangerous-power-supplies-15-60-mins/ For video cables I found that proper shielding is important. I recently bought an inexpensive cable with an S-video jack and when I plugged it in it left faint vertical lines on the screen. Another monitor cable I had with an S-video jack did not do that.

[@8bitandmore]

Yes shielding IS important. I am creating an updated video to show how to use a high quality SVIDEO cable and a solder type DIN to make a better video cable. BTW hows is the 130xe working?

[@anthonyferraro5569]

@@8bitandmore The 130XE is working fine. I'm in the process of reviewing all my old floppy disks. Unfortunately some can not be read anymore, they are 30 years old. I'm also bringing an old 1020 plotter back to life. I've ordered some new gears to replace the cracked ones.

[@Skysams]

Thanks Anthony for your post, very helpful by the way. An important precaution!

[@massmike11]

Isnt this the same power setup that the disk drive uses?

[@jamesmaddox7902]

Love the video. What is the power amp digital readout item you show at 5:23

[@8bitandmore]

looks like zero, there was nothing connected

[@jamesmaddox7902]

@@8bitandmore I am asking perhaps poorly, what is the device you are using to measure your power measurements. I wish to purchase it.

[@8bitandmore]

@@jamesmaddox7902 you can order here www.amazon.com/dp/B00ORNOWZK/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_9w6BEbVBE978W

[@billkendrick1]

How easy it is to do something like this, but for systems and peripherals that use the barrel jack, like a 1200XL computer, 1050 disk drive, or 850 interface? They all seem to use the same power bricks as each other.

[@8bitandmore]

As long as you keep the voltage and current specs in order any power brick can be replaced with a similar solution

[@jamesmaddox7902]

At 8:42 you mention what sounds like a Sparta Dos cartridge, can you give more detail on it?

[@8bitandmore]

Actually I have another video showcasing the Sparta DOS cartridge...look on my channel videos and you will see it. thanks for watching!

[@technicaltaurus1]

Can you add links for cables and s_video to HDMI adapter?

[@8bitandmore]

The svideo to hdmi adapter was a cheap one found on amazon. I looked for the specific one I used but there are so many to choose from I would suggest searching on Amazon.

And... Links in the description?

[@8bitandmore]

Sorry, they must not have saved earlier, I re-added them.

[@ATARIADO]

Estaba buscando lo mismo XD. Saludos!

[@jamesmaddox7902]

This item from Harbor Freight would work well in this application and costs only 8.99  Jumbo Helping Hands With LED Lights