Turbo Chameleon V1 crashes after 30 min. of use

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Don't Panic. Please wash hands.

    As the title suggest, I am having problems with my Turbo Chameleon V1. I already mailed with Jens about it, and he suggested that I used the forums for this. So here goes.

    The TC v1 I have is bought second hand, and seems to be in good condition, but it crashes after around 30 min. of use (black screen, blinking red led). I run it with my C64 and a good power supply as far as I can tell. Jens wrote to me that it might be a voltage regulation inside my Chameleon that needs an upgrade. Any thoughts on this? I really would like to have it fixed somehow.

    What kind of powersupply is it then?


    Also, what kind of C64? I had (Jens fixed it for me) one C64 myself where the clock would drift significantly over time - i can see how Chameleon would not like this :)

    Could you open it and make a picture of the board, so we can see what board revision it is? Perhaps it has the same problem as mine (that also was a breadbin C64).

    The patch may be as simple as adding a few capacitors on the regulated voltages. Could you take a close-up picture of the two voltage regulators in the bottom left of the board? They are the two bigger chips with 3 pins at the bottom and one wider pin at the top (SOT-223 package).


    So far, the fix was never required for the year of your Chameleon: You've got a 2010 unit, but only the 2012 production run needed this. It involves cutting one pin, adding two caps and a small wire for the cut pin. There should be no 2012 unit out there any more that doesn't have this fix. Pic of the finished fix attached.


    Jens

    Thanks - that's the usual 2010 assembly, no caps added. You could add the caps "for good measure" to see if it makes a difference. Use 0805-sized 10µF/16V ceramic caps.


    You didn't answer Tobias' question about the power supply you're using. Could it be that you have an aftermarket unit?


    Jens

    AH - OK, the ageing 1.5A unit. Might be worth a try with one of the 1.7A box-shaped (not wedge-shaped) units, if available. Avoid these aftermarket units by all means.


    Jens

    I got another C64 in a storage room in town that I will go get and test if that helps. Otherwise I will try to get a 1.7A psu from eBay. And lastly, if that does not help, can I ship the TC back to you to take a look at it?

    Yes, that's the type. I'd recommend borrowing one of these if you don't have any other PSUs in your collection.


    I wouldn't buy one at this point, as we're still in the phase where "anything is possible". If you spend money too soon, too fast, you might end up wasting it.


    Jens