Mike's PCjr Page

I just wanted to call attention to this: https://www.retrotronics.org/home-page/jrpsu/

I replaced my 45w long card, a power sidecar and two bricks with this last night. So far so good, as expected from AlanH. The one warning that it comes with is that mains power (120 VAC) is exposed on the card, so please don't be fiddling with the machine while it is plugged in.

The obligatory glamour shot:




Alan - you almost make me sad that I chose software engineering instead of electrical engineering!

If anybody is looking there is one on eBay right now: https://www.ebay.com/itm/192753580122

+1

Agreed with Brutman comments.
I would add this PSU has more power than the original one (specs here: https://www.retrotronics.org/home-page/jrpsu/ ).
Ideal if you have external floppy drives + extensions (like in my case).

jrPSU photo (while I was repairing my floppy drive and discovered a Hotshot II underneath it):

So this eliminates the need for a power sidecar? is the same true for the ATX power adapter? I just got an ATX adapter that I'm getting ready to test.

It might eliminate the need for a power sidecar. It depends on how many sidecars and what they are.

In my case I had a 45 watt internal power supply board, a power sidecar, a parallel port, and the jrIDE. The power sidecar was probably not needed but I prefer to be safe. The jrPSU has more than enough output for just the parallel port and the jrIDE, so I was able to ditch the power sidecar. An external ATX power supply is even more capable.

The cluster sidecar is the one option I know of that I'd be concerned about. That sidecar draws a large amount of power; you should probably always use a power sidecar with that. The good news is that nobody in their right mind uses one of those. ;-0

Brutman wrote:...nobody in their right mind...

and 'posting on this forum' go hand in hand.

Its good to have power alternatives.


Seeing the bright blue LED on that power card makes me think about adding RGB to a PCjr....... hmmmm....





(nope)