A500 Zorro Slot Adaptor - Page 14

Mark sealey · 12 November 2019, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by trixster

Sadly my ACA500Plus doesn’t seem to work with my Z-500 at all

There has been reports of this and the Checkmate cases that comes with a Zorro adapter....they might have fixed the issue.

Vypr · 13 November 2019, 20:31

If it helps, this is the fix posted for the Checkmate Zorro adaptor:

Checkmate 1500 Plus ACA500+ Issue

An issue has been reported with certain ACA500+ accelerators refusing to boot, or only booting after several retries. In these cases, once the machine has booted it is usually stable. It appears to primarily affect later revision ACA500+ boards with a different type of 68000 CPU fitted. A potential fix has been identified by Edu Arana that eliminates the problems starting up the system with the ACA attached. This fix is described below.

Important: Modifying hardware like this always carries risks. Please do not attempt this unless you have the necessary tools and equipment to successfully carry out a job like this!

The nature of this fix is to improve the grounding of the ACA500+ board. While the Zorro-II / PSU control board has all the ground terminals connected to the system ground, it appears that this is not sufficient to protect the tight signal tolerances required by the later ACA500+ models. The ground plane of the Zorro riser is traversed by two signals used for the PSU control circuitry, which interrupts the continuous plane and results in a longer path for the ground between the Amiga and the ACA slot.
Fitting six short wires between the ground connections on the Amiga motherboard connector and those on the ACA connector provides a more direct ground path to the ACA500+, thus improving the signal integrity enough to allow booting of the ACA500+.
The ground connections in question are pins 13, 25, 37, 49, 61 and 73 on both the 86-pin connectors. Attention should be paid especially to the ACA connector, as the connector is a mirrorimage of the motherboard connector and therefore the odd-numbered pins are on the lower side, not the upper side as on the motherboard connector. Using six wires approximately 70mm in length, connect pin 13 of the motherboard connector to pin 13 of the ACA connector, pin 25 to pin 25 and so on, on the rear of the PCB. Take care while soldering so as not to short these connections to any other lines as doing so and powering it up could damage your hardware.

Rob Cranley, 02 November

bugsymalone666 · 17 November 2019, 00:32

So I spotted some blank PCB versions of this little Zorro slot adaptor on ebay and thought it may actually sort me out killing two birds with one stone.

I have towerised an A500 because of the keep fiddling meaning I didnt want to keep opening the case, one thing I do have is an a590 which I want to fit in the bottom of the case. The main issue is it would need to be remote/90degrees to the main A500 motherboard.

Obviously with this little Zorro Board would do a couple of things, firstly mean I can probably find another device for my making of an amazing amiga, but secondly would allow plugging in of my A590 motherboard remotely.

Now the questions:

How wide is the board? I want to see if it was possible to mount it+A590 at the bottom of my case, then have a ribbon cable with the A500 edge connector on.

Second part is the components that need to be fitted, this is a bare board I have seen, tried looking online at one of the links to the German website, but apparently I need to be a member of the website to look at it, I dont suppose there is a parts list anywhere?

I'd be quite interested in building some more stuff for my Amiga, even though my projects list is stacking up, as I have a TF530 to build and all the parts that I havent done yet!

Daedalus · 18 November 2019, 10:38

@trixster
Interesting... It seems that the Checkmate version of the board has an issue with newer ACA cards that use a different 68000 compared to the original ACA500+. Which version do you have?

@bugsymalone666
I'm not familiar with those bare boards you're talking about, but I'm guessing it's Matze's board? It's very similar to my board, and both are based on much earlier adaptors that existed back in the day. There are a minimum of components needed - you can probably get away with not fitting the -5V regulator as I don't know of any Zorro cards that need it. You will need a couple of the resistors though as pull-ups, most of the capacitors, and the XOR gate chip which reproduces a missing clock signal.

Mark sealey · 18 November 2019, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by bugsymalone666

So I spotted some blank PCB versions of this little Zorro slot adaptor on ebay and thought it may actually sort me out killing two birds with one stone.

I have towerised an A500 because of the keep fiddling meaning I didnt want to keep opening the case, one thing I do have is an a590 which I want to fit in the bottom of the case. The main issue is it would need to be remote/90degrees to the main A500 motherboard.

Obviously with this little Zorro Board would do a couple of things, firstly mean I can probably find another device for my making of an amazing amiga, but secondly would allow plugging in of my A590 motherboard remotely.

Now the questions:

How wide is the board? I want to see if it was possible to mount it+A590 at the bottom of my case, then have a ribbon cable with the A500 edge connector on.

Second part is the components that need to be fitted, this is a bare board I have seen, tried looking online at one of the links to the German website, but apparently I need to be a member of the website to look at it, I dont suppose there is a parts list anywhere?

I'd be quite interested in building some more stuff for my Amiga, even though my projects list is stacking up, as I have a TF530 to build and all the parts that I havent done yet!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Amiga-500-500-Plus-Expansion-Port-Extender-Type-1-right-angle-90-degrees/333289773365?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%2F0%2F0%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fulk%252Fitm%252F333289773365%26rvr_id%3D0%26rvr_ts%3D7ec2070d16e0a4e907a3ff13ffdd73b4&ul_noapp=true&pageci=aa9ce453-c890-4e3a-a1b2-3a24ed4314dd

bugsymalone666 · 19 November 2019, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark sealey

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Amiga-500-500-Plus-Expansion-Port-Extender-Type-1-right-angle-90-degrees/333289773365?_mwBanner=1&ul_ref=https%3A%2F%2Frover.ebay.com%2Frover%2F0%2F0%2F0%3Fmpre%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.com%252Fulk%252Fitm%252F333289773365%26rvr_id%3D0%26rvr_ts%3D7ec2070d16e0a4e907a3ff13ffdd73b4&ul_noapp=true&pageci=aa9ce453-c890-4e3a-a1b2-3a24ed4314dd

Yeah I saw those, its how I started looking again. I was going to have a go at making my own, but have never done toner etch PCBs (or any, but do lots of soldering) I drew it up in cad, printed it and got everything in, but I am not confident.

This is the one I have now bought:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matze-Ami...wAAOSwyDpb13AU

hopefully it'll be ok, may give me some options for mounting my stuff. I tried looking up the Matze design, but cant seem to get to anywhere with the information without registering with other websites.

trixster · 19 November 2019, 11:00

@daedalus - I bought mine secondhand but I’m pretty sure it’s the newest revision. I’ll check the unit this evening to see if it has a a printed revision number

Daedalus · 19 November 2019, 12:55

That's interesting, thanks... I'll check it out.

Rontti · 01 January 2020, 23:25

@daedalus - I'd like to express my interest in one of these cool boards. Are you still producing these?

*PM sent

TjLaZer · 06 February 2020, 21:08

Please put me down for one too if you make another batch!

trixster · 07 May 2020, 22:02

Gotta issue an apology to Daedalus. I’ve just tried my Z-500 again with my ACA500Plus and it does indeed work fine! :O

I tried it several times before but I must’ve had it not quite connected correctly or something.

But it works now. My ACA500Plus is one of the newer ones with the larger dismo

Daedalus · 07 May 2020, 22:12

No worries, glad it's working! The connections involved are less than ideal, so sometimes it's as simple as a fraction of a mm further in or out or something like that.

For other people who were looking for the boards - I haven't forgotten, just been extremely busy in recent months. I think I'm the only guy on the planet who's not a nurse or doctor but has still ended up with *less* free time during the lockdown!

nikoskob · 26 May 2020, 11:47

Hi Daedalus,
Would you be able to put me down for one of these as well.
PM me when you have one available.

Thanks

seb132 · 23 February 2021, 04:16

Hello Daedalus,
Sorry to resurrect an old thread but would you have any available to ship to Australia... or to France ? It's a fantastic product, nicely designed.
Thank you very much !

Daedalus · 23 February 2021, 10:41

Hi guys, really sorry that I haven't been looking at these in a while, but will get to some once I've gotten a few other things off my plate. Thanks!

seb132 · 23 February 2021, 14:57

Fantastic !
Great to know this adapter can still be acquired.

On my side I’m not in a rush at all, actually I can even wait until the LED control board is also available

(Yes, Solas.)

Daedalus · 23 February 2021, 16:23

Fair enough! I'll keep you posted on them both.

seb132 · 23 February 2021, 16:32

It was (almost !) a joke but I must say a big thank you, BOSS!

Looking forward to it and to your PM one day.

jurassicman · 22 January 2022, 18:56

Hi guys, can someone who has this card tell me its size?
In particular I would like to know how much it juts out from the side once inserted.
Some photos with a ruler would be ideal...

Daedalus · 02 February 2022, 10:13

I don't have it set up at the moment, but it's just over 70mm from the edge of the case to the far edge of the PCB.

01 January 2020, 23:25	#269
Rontti Registered User Join Date: Jan 2020 Location: Finland Posts: 2	@daedalus - I'd like to express my interest in one of these cool boards. Are you still producing these? PM sent Last edited by Rontti; 02 January 2020 at 20:49.*

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13 November 2019, 20:31	#262
Vypr Registered User Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: East Kilbride, Scotland Posts: 451	If it helps, this is the fix posted for the Checkmate Zorro adaptor: Checkmate 1500 Plus ACA500+ Issue An issue has been reported with certain ACA500+ accelerators refusing to boot, or only booting after several retries. In these cases, once the machine has booted it is usually stable. It appears to primarily affect later revision ACA500+ boards with a different type of 68000 CPU fitted. A potential fix has been identified by Edu Arana that eliminates the problems starting up the system with the ACA attached. This fix is described below. Important: Modifying hardware like this always carries risks. Please do not attempt this unless you have the necessary tools and equipment to successfully carry out a job like this! The nature of this fix is to improve the grounding of the ACA500+ board. While the Zorro-II / PSU control board has all the ground terminals connected to the system ground, it appears that this is not sufficient to protect the tight signal tolerances required by the later ACA500+ models. The ground plane of the Zorro riser is traversed by two signals used for the PSU control circuitry, which interrupts the continuous plane and results in a longer path for the ground between the Amiga and the ACA slot. Fitting six short wires between the ground connections on the Amiga motherboard connector and those on the ACA connector provides a more direct ground path to the ACA500+, thus improving the signal integrity enough to allow booting of the ACA500+. The ground connections in question are pins 13, 25, 37, 49, 61 and 73 on both the 86-pin connectors. Attention should be paid especially to the ACA connector, as the connector is a mirrorimage of the motherboard connector and therefore the odd-numbered pins are on the lower side, not the upper side as on the motherboard connector. Using six wires approximately 70mm in length, connect pin 13 of the motherboard connector to pin 13 of the ACA connector, pin 25 to pin 25 and so on, on the rear of the PCB. Take care while soldering so as not to short these connections to any other lines as doing so and powering it up could damage your hardware. Rob Cranley, 02 November

17 November 2019, 00:32	#263
bugsymalone666 Amiga baby yeah! Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Basingstoke Posts: 108	So I spotted some blank PCB versions of this little Zorro slot adaptor on ebay and thought it may actually sort me out killing two birds with one stone. I have towerised an A500 because of the keep fiddling meaning I didnt want to keep opening the case, one thing I do have is an a590 which I want to fit in the bottom of the case. The main issue is it would need to be remote/90degrees to the main A500 motherboard. Obviously with this little Zorro Board would do a couple of things, firstly mean I can probably find another device for my making of an amazing amiga, but secondly would allow plugging in of my A590 motherboard remotely. Now the questions: How wide is the board? I want to see if it was possible to mount it+A590 at the bottom of my case, then have a ribbon cable with the A500 edge connector on. Second part is the components that need to be fitted, this is a bare board I have seen, tried looking online at one of the links to the German website, but apparently I need to be a member of the website to look at it, I dont suppose there is a parts list anywhere? I'd be quite interested in building some more stuff for my Amiga, even though my projects list is stacking up, as I have a TF530 to build and all the parts that I havent done yet!

18 November 2019, 10:38	#264
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	@trixster Interesting... It seems that the Checkmate version of the board has an issue with newer ACA cards that use a different 68000 compared to the original ACA500+. Which version do you have? @bugsymalone666 I'm not familiar with those bare boards you're talking about, but I'm guessing it's Matze's board? It's very similar to my board, and both are based on much earlier adaptors that existed back in the day. There are a minimum of components needed - you can probably get away with not fitting the -5V regulator as I don't know of any Zorro cards that need it. You will need a couple of the resistors though as pull-ups, most of the capacitors, and the XOR gate chip which reproduces a missing clock signal.

19 November 2019, 11:00	#267
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	@daedalus - I bought mine secondhand but I’m pretty sure it’s the newest revision. I’ll check the unit this evening to see if it has a a printed revision number

19 November 2019, 12:55	#268
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	That's interesting, thanks... I'll check it out.

06 February 2020, 21:08	#270
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,915	Please put me down for one too if you make another batch!

07 May 2020, 22:02	#271
trixster Guru Meditating Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: England Posts: 2,337	Gotta issue an apology to Daedalus. I’ve just tried my Z-500 again with my ACA500Plus and it does indeed work fine! :O I tried it several times before but I must’ve had it not quite connected correctly or something. But it works now. My ACA500Plus is one of the newer ones with the larger dismo

07 May 2020, 22:12	#272
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	No worries, glad it's working! The connections involved are less than ideal, so sometimes it's as simple as a fraction of a mm further in or out or something like that. For other people who were looking for the boards - I haven't forgotten, just been extremely busy in recent months. I think I'm the only guy on the planet who's not a nurse or doctor but has still ended up with less free time during the lockdown!

26 May 2020, 11:47	#273
nikoskob Registered User Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Melbourne/Australia Posts: 39	Hi Daedalus, Would you be able to put me down for one of these as well. PM me when you have one available. Thanks

23 February 2021, 04:16	#274
seb132 French in Australia Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gold Coast Age: 52 Posts: 507	Hello Daedalus, Sorry to resurrect an old thread but would you have any available to ship to Australia... or to France ? It's a fantastic product, nicely designed. Thank you very much !

23 February 2021, 10:41	#275
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Hi guys, really sorry that I haven't been looking at these in a while, but will get to some once I've gotten a few other things off my plate. Thanks!

23 February 2021, 14:57	#276
seb132 French in Australia Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gold Coast Age: 52 Posts: 507	Fantastic ! Great to know this adapter can still be acquired. On my side I’m not in a rush at all, actually I can even wait until the LED control board is also available (Yes, Solas.)

23 February 2021, 16:23	#277
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Fair enough! I'll keep you posted on them both.

23 February 2021, 16:32	#278
seb132 French in Australia Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gold Coast Age: 52 Posts: 507	It was (almost !) a joke but I must say a big thank you, BOSS! Looking forward to it and to your PM one day.

22 January 2022, 18:56	#279
jurassicman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Sassari/Italy Posts: 867	Hi guys, can someone who has this card tell me its size? In particular I would like to know how much it juts out from the side once inserted. Some photos with a ruler would be ideal...

02 February 2022, 10:13	#280
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	I don't have it set up at the moment, but it's just over 70mm from the edge of the case to the far edge of the PCB.

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