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American TRS-80's

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Ade V

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Jul 27, 2003, 8:00:04 PM7/27/03
to
Can some one tell me - did US TRS-80 model 1/II/III and IV machines come
with a "universal" or switchable power supply - i.e. one which will work
on either 110vac or 240vac @ 50Hz or 60Hz?

Reason I ask - I know the Osborne did, and if the TRS is the same, then
I know i can buy a US model, stick a GB plug on it, and not have it go
bang when I plug it in...

TIA!

--
"EDS herding cats? EDS couldn't herd a tortoise in a barrel
without fucking it up!" - Anon

Neil

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Jul 27, 2003, 8:36:21 PM7/27/03
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"Ade V" <javi...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:MPG.198e77dfab24ac1d989def@slave...

> Can some one tell me - did US TRS-80 model 1/II/III and IV machines
come
> with a "universal" or switchable power supply - i.e. one which will
work
> on either 110vac or 240vac @ 50Hz or 60Hz?
>
> Reason I ask - I know the Osborne did, and if the TRS is the same,
then
> I know i can buy a US model, stick a GB plug on it, and not have it
go
> bang when I plug it in...

No. The Model I's had external transformer packs. The others had
switchmode supplies, and IIRC they were not multi voltage.

Neil


Amardeep S Chana

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Jul 27, 2003, 9:42:13 PM7/27/03
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"Neil" <wh...@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:9e_Ua.37317$xn5.5...@news0.telusplanet.net...

At least some of the III/4 switching power supplies had a configuration
strap that could be moved to adjust the input voltage range between 120 and
240. I'm not sure if it was the Tandy or the Astec version.


Neil

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Jul 27, 2003, 9:59:51 PM7/27/03
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"Amardeep S Chana" <asc...@despammed.com> wrote in message
news:Vb%Ua.18758$5i7....@news02.roc.ny...

> At least some of the III/4 switching power supplies had a
configuration
> strap that could be moved to adjust the input voltage range between
120 and
> 240. I'm not sure if it was the Tandy or the Astec version.

That might have been the export version and not the USA version. ISTR
that we got some of these from the USA and had to add a transformer
240->120 to them.

Neil


Amardeep S Chana

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Jul 27, 2003, 10:27:03 PM7/27/03
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"Neil" <wh...@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:rs%Ua.37322$xn5.5...@news0.telusplanet.net...

Some USA versions have the config straps. I just checked several USA units
and the Astec power supplies for both III and 4 have a 115V/230V config
jumper. The Tandy made power supplies are 115V only.


Don Inglehart

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Jul 27, 2003, 11:48:06 PM7/27/03
to
The Model 4's ( 4, 4P, 4D ) originally came with 3 different power supplies
from Radio Shack.

#1 The Tandy version
Radio Shack # 1700218
on PC Board 8709365 Rev. C
was 120VAC only.

#2 Astec Power Supply
Radio Shack part # 8790021
Astec part # AA 11320
was 120VAC only.

#3 Astec Power Supply
Radio Shack part # 8790043
Astec part # AA 12090
had a slide switch, SW1, to support
both 115V and 230V.

Model 3 only used 1 version that was not switchable.

This info is from Howard W. Sams & Co. Inc.
Computerfacts CSCS13.

Don Inglehart


Neil

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Aug 3, 2003, 6:04:21 PM8/3/03
to

"Ade V" <javi...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:MPG.198e77dfab24ac1d989def@slave...
> Can some one tell me - did US TRS-80 model 1/II/III and IV machines
come
> with a "universal" or switchable power supply - i.e. one which will
work
> on either 110vac or 240vac @ 50Hz or 60Hz?
>
> Reason I ask - I know the Osborne did, and if the TRS is the same,
then
> I know i can buy a US model, stick a GB plug on it, and not have it
go
> bang when I plug it in...

Model I didn't. You have to run the power supplies at 100 volts, no
more, because they will smoke past that point on 50 Hz power. The
others had switch mode, but you can't guarantee they are switchable
to 230/240, however most UK builders supplies places have 240/120
transformers that should work, or try Maplins.

Neil


Ade V

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Aug 13, 2003, 2:31:05 PM8/13/03
to
Thanks to everyone for the info regarding US TRS-80's & their PSUs -
most helpful. As I lack a UK-->US converter, I'll probably only try to
source UK stuff for now.

Thanks again!

--
If New Labour is the answer, then it must be a very stupid question.

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