Inside a feather brick

alexh · 05 December 2006, 22:32

Does anyone have any photos of what is inside a A500+/A600 "feather" brick PSU?

Photon · 05 December 2006, 23:50

A transformer coil + a board with electronics to regulate the misc voltages, what else?

Well a fuse, and an overvoltage zener in a protection circuit that goes click click click if there's a short I guess.

alexh · 06 December 2006, 12:45

There should be no transformer coil inside a switch mode power supply. (should there?)

The whole point is that it uses Transistors rather than a lump of iron and a coil, which makes it very light.

No-one got a photo?

I ask because I am considering putting one INSIDE an Amiga and getting rid of the brick. Space allowing

Methanoid · 06 December 2006, 13:14

I've thought of the same thing. Sorta like the old Atari STFM/STE...

Could also use one of those small PC PSUs fitted internally.

alexh · 06 December 2006, 13:55

Yeah, the old Atari ST/e had a solid iron core PSU inside so I figured that a switched mode PSU should be small enough to get inside an Amiga 500+

Need some pics of inside.

Paul · 06 December 2006, 15:26

Does this link found via Google help?

http://www.retrogeekcomputers.com/im...0PSU_after.jpg

Paul_s · 06 December 2006, 16:45

I've got one at home. Will open it up tonight and post a pic

alexh · 06 December 2006, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Does this link found via Google help?

http://www.retrogeekcomputers.com/im...0PSU_after.jpg

I tried the web before posting. I cannot find any pics of the A500 PSU internals. I saw that picture, it is of an OLD A2000 PSU (as it says

)
It is not comparable to the "feather brick" A500 PSU. See the front centre of the PSU is the solid heavy iron core linear transformer.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_s

I've got one at home. Will open it up tonight and post a pic

Ta very much. You may need some LONG screwdrivers.

Paul_s · 06 December 2006, 19:53

Tell you something those damn screws seem to go on forever and ever when putting them back in!

Here you go;

alexh · 06 December 2006, 23:19

It's far busier inside than I expected... this is one of the ones that weighs almost nothing?

Paul_s · 07 December 2006, 00:01

Yep it is

Although saying that I wonder - were there some other black psu types knocking about as well? Pretty certain they're the same one's though...

Magno Boots · 07 December 2006, 02:10

alexh - I believe this is what you are looking for..
Pictures of my a600 lightweight power pack.
No long screwdrivers required.
States 'A500' on the back and i've got a spare FOC if you want it.
Thanks.
Attachment 12703

Attachment 12704

Attachment 12705

Attachment 12706

Dizzy · 07 December 2006, 08:49

well reminds me that I have a very light a500 PSU, I think it's a selfmade modification (not by me).. Will see if I can find it, and take a picture.

Paul_s · 07 December 2006, 10:46

So it looks like there are a couple of versions of this 'light' PSU brick....

I've had the really heavy one before and the pics I've posted are the lightest version I've used so far.

alexh · 07 December 2006, 11:07

@ Magno Boots

That looks like a big lump of iron in the coil? Or is it carbon or something?

Smiley · 07 December 2006, 19:16

How are you going to fit a brick psu in an Amiga?

Unless its already a bigbox or towered. The you may aswell use an ATX or similar psu.

Whats your plan?

EDIT: I think I have one of those small black commodore PSUS. It could power an A500 iirc. Ill look for it if you want. A lot smaller than a standard brick psu.

alexh · 07 December 2006, 19:29

They are a lot bigger inside that I had anticipated. The difference in weight between the old A500 PSU and the feather one... I assumed it would be almost empty.

cane · 07 December 2006, 20:20

Here is bigger picture of big lump from my PSU. I don't know what it is, the base and the top are covered with glued plastic so you can't really see what is inside.

Click image for larger version

Name: IMG_1579.jpg
Views: 369
Size: 56.1 KB
ID: 12715

Smiley · 07 December 2006, 20:30

No more mini black psu...

I opened up my light psu.

Looks like it would fit in an A500 case. Its a bit different to others shown in this thread, I reckon it could fit.

Ill take a picture when I find my camera....

Magno Boots · 07 December 2006, 21:50

I'd say the black surround is made of graphite or similar and it measures approx 12mm deep.
The height of all the components is about 30mm bar the ally strip, which could be bent over?

Attachment 12716

05 December 2006, 22:32	#1
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	Inside a feather brick Does anyone have any photos of what is inside a A500+/A600 "feather" brick PSU?

07 December 2006, 02:10	#12
Magno Boots Zone Friend Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 688	alexh - I believe this is what you are looking for.. Pictures of my a600 lightweight power pack. No long screwdrivers required. States 'A500' on the back and i've got a spare FOC if you want it. Thanks. Attachment 12703 Attachment 12704 Attachment 12705 Attachment 12706 Last edited by Magno Boots; 29 February 2008 at 23:21.

07 December 2006, 19:16	#16
Smiley Amiga-less! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,350	How are you going to fit a brick psu in an Amiga? Unless its already a bigbox or towered. The you may aswell use an ATX or similar psu. Whats your plan? EDIT: I think I have one of those small black commodore PSUS. It could power an A500 iirc. Ill look for it if you want. A lot smaller than a standard brick psu. Last edited by Smiley; 07 December 2006 at 19:25.

07 December 2006, 21:50	#20
Magno Boots Zone Friend Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 688	I'd say the black surround is made of graphite or similar and it measures approx 12mm deep. The height of all the components is about 30mm bar the ally strip, which could be bent over? Attachment 12716 Last edited by Magno Boots; 29 February 2008 at 23:21.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Opening up an A500 'heavy' power brick??	discopete	support.Hardware	22	14 August 2017 18:51
Recapping A500 + Light Brick PSU	marty	support.Hardware	10	10 January 2017 06:34
Suitable PSU replacement to fit inside original brick	paul2004v	support.Hardware	2	21 September 2011 05:22
Which PSU brick??	ORSM T	New to Emulation or Amiga scene	9	29 May 2007 19:38
mint 500 empty psu brick	Paul_s	MarketPlace	4	07 December 2006 16:43

05 December 2006, 23:50	#2
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,602	A transformer coil + a board with electronics to regulate the misc voltages, what else? Well a fuse, and an overvoltage zener in a protection circuit that goes click click click if there's a short I guess.

06 December 2006, 12:45	#3
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	There should be no transformer coil inside a switch mode power supply. (should there?) The whole point is that it uses Transistors rather than a lump of iron and a coil, which makes it very light. No-one got a photo? I ask because I am considering putting one INSIDE an Amiga and getting rid of the brick. Space allowing

06 December 2006, 13:14	#4
Methanoid Retired Quartex Sysop Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Roman Verulamium Age: 58 Posts: 1,873	I've thought of the same thing. Sorta like the old Atari STFM/STE... Could also use one of those small PC PSUs fitted internally.

06 December 2006, 13:55	#5
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	Yeah, the old Atari ST/e had a solid iron core PSU inside so I figured that a switched mode PSU should be small enough to get inside an Amiga 500+ Need some pics of inside.

06 December 2006, 15:26	#6
Paul RIP Friends Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 2,157	Does this link found via Google help? http://www.retrogeekcomputers.com/im...0PSU_after.jpg

06 December 2006, 16:45	#7
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	I've got one at home. Will open it up tonight and post a pic

06 December 2006, 19:53	#9
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	Tell you something those damn screws seem to go on forever and ever when putting them back in! Here you go;

06 December 2006, 23:19	#10
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	It's far busier inside than I expected... this is one of the ones that weighs almost nothing?

07 December 2006, 00:01	#11
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	Yep it is Although saying that I wonder - were there some other black psu types knocking about as well? Pretty certain they're the same one's though...

07 December 2006, 08:49	#13
Dizzy Pirate Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Denmark Posts: 3,395	well reminds me that I have a very light a500 PSU, I think it's a selfmade modification (not by me).. Will see if I can find it, and take a picture.

07 December 2006, 10:46	#14
Paul_s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Amigaville Age: 46 Posts: 3,334	So it looks like there are a couple of versions of this 'light' PSU brick.... I've had the really heavy one before and the pics I've posted are the lightest version I've used so far.

07 December 2006, 11:07	#15
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	@ Magno Boots That looks like a big lump of iron in the coil? Or is it carbon or something?

07 December 2006, 19:29	#17
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,337	They are a lot bigger inside that I had anticipated. The difference in weight between the old A500 PSU and the feather one... I assumed it would be almost empty.

07 December 2006, 20:20	#18
cane Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: .hr Age: 45 Posts: 540	Here is bigger picture of big lump from my PSU. I don't know what it is, the base and the top are covered with glued plastic so you can't really see what is inside.

07 December 2006, 20:30	#19
Smiley Amiga-less! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 1,350	No more mini black psu... I opened up my light psu. Looks like it would fit in an A500 case. Its a bit different to others shown in this thread, I reckon it could fit. Ill take a picture when I find my camera....

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)