Power Supply for Atari ST family
Built with modern components, these power supplies are more powerful, more efficient and generate less heat.
They are designed to fit on the original Atari power supply support. It fit in the same space. You can place the shield back.
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They are ideal if you wish to swap your broken original PSU or to if you want more current to power additional devices such as a PiStorm, hard drive or acceleration card.
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They work on with input voltage of 110V or 230V
High efficient switched power supply.
Low heat dissipation
No noise
Short circuit protection
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Installation will require some soldering in order to disconnect the original PSU and reconnect the new one.
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They are compatible with Atari STF, STFm, STE and Mega ST
Here are more details on the specifications:
How to Swap your old PSU for a new own?
Swapping your old PSU for one of these new one require some soldering. Nothing too complicate, but never the less requiring you to have a solder iron, some solder tin and some experience.
The connector to the mother board will be used on the new PSU.
Safety warning first:
It is your responsibility to make sure you stay safe while working on your Atari and its PSU.
These PSU are intended to be used as a replacement PSU for Atari ST, STF, STE and Mega ST. The new PSU MUST be fitted on the intended metal support you find in your Atari.
Do not use it without support and outside your Atari.
Do not touch the PSU when under power.
Unplug your Atari every time you open it.
Do not attempt to service this new PSU.
Here is what you will need. The pump and 3rd hand are optional, but could come handy:
Once you removed your old PSU from your Atari ST, follow these instructions:
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Unscrew all 4 screws holding the PSU on the support. Keep these screws and the plastic film.
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With your soldering iron, unsolder the 2 AC cable. You apply heat on the solder pads and pull the wires from the other side
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Do the same with the motherboard connector. Heat the pads and pull the wires. Do it one by one.
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If you have a pump, heat the wire end of each wires and such the solder tin that may remain.
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With the new PSU and the motherboard cable you just saved, insert each wire into the pad and solder them. Do it one wire at the time.
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The 2 red wires go to pads marked 5V.
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The 3 black wires go to the pads marked GND.
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The bleu wire goes to the pad marked 12V.
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Now the tricky bit is to solder the 2 AC wires on to the PSU. There is no order. You can solder them in any AC pads. Just see where they fit best. One is longer than the other.
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Once all wires are correctly soldered, put the plastic film and screw the PSU on its support with the 4 screws you saved on step 1
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Have a look at your work. The final result should look like one of these pictures (This is a previous version of the PSU):
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Trouble shouting:
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None of the LEDs are on.
That mean there is no power going into the PSU.
Check your cable is correctly inserted into the wall plug and at the back of the Atari.
If all is ok and you still do not see any LED on, check the fuse on the PSU. If the fuse keeps melting, your PSU may have a malfunction.
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One of the LED is flashing rapidly.
Flashing LEDs indicate the short circuit or overcharge protection is active. This is a sign these is a short on your motherboard or on one of the device you connected. Switch every thing off and check your Atari motherboard or other devices.
The 2 LEDs are on, but the Atari is not starting.
Check the power LED on the keyboard is on. If it is not the case, check the connector from the PSU to the motherboard is correctly inserted.
If the power LED on your keyboard is on, but the Atari is not starting, check your motherboard. Something may have moved while you were removing your PSU or putting it back. Press on all IC with supports to make sure they are correctly inserted. These machines are getting old and sometime working on them could cause a component to fail.
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FAQ:
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Can I use these new PSU in the US?
Yes you can. These PSU will work with 110Vac and 230Vac. There is no switch to change. They will adapt.
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Do I need to modify the case or the shield of my Atari?
No, the new PSU fit within the space the original PSU was.
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Do I need special tools to swap it.
Yes. You will need a screw driver, a soldering iron and soldering tin.
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Do it come with the metal support, power switch and power socket?
No, you need a donor PSU. Only the PCB with the electronic is provided.
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Is it compatible with Atari TT, Mega STE or Falcon030?
For TT and Mega STE, the new PSU could provide the power, but the physical design will prevent you to fit it on the support.
For Atari Falcon030, the PSU should fit, but the main AC wires and motherboard wires may require extra modification. This has not been tested yet.
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What is the difference between the BLUE and BLACK editions? Why is there a "black" edition with more power?
The BLUE edition will provide enough power to your Atari ST, STF, STE and Mega ST with additional power for a hard drive, an Ultra Satan drive, a ACSI2STM drive or booster. It will be ok if you add LEDs strips or anything that does not require more the 1A.
The BLUE edition will fit for most of the usual setup.
The BLACK edition deliver more power on the 5V. This power supply can power your Atari with a PiStorm (Raspberry Pi booster) for example. Choose this version if you need up to 3A extra current on the 5V
What is the USB socket used for?
This USB socket can be se to power small devices such as an ACSI2STM or UltraSatan drive. You could power a HDMI video convertor you added to your video signal. You can power an Arduino you used to build a project such as cool LED effect on the keyboard. Anything that require 5V via a USB A cable with up to 1A current.
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Can I power a floppy drive directly from the PSU?
Yes, there are extra pad to solder extra wires. You could salvage a FDD cable/connector from an old PC PSU to use in your Atari.
the BLACK edition has more pads available to power more things.
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Why did you not fit these new PSU with screw terminals?
Using screw terminals would have made the swap easier. But these screw terminals sometime fail and you end it with a live wire handing inside your Atari. This could damage your Atari or be dangerous to you.
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Contact me if you want to know more about this project.