• Hello MLAers! We've re-enabled auto-approval for accounts. If you are still waiting on account approval, please check this thread for more information.

512k Mac Power Cable?

V

vickersvimy

6502
Recently I bought a 512k Mac off ebay. Apparently it is in working order and the images showed it working but it will not have a power cable.

What power cable would it use? I am British but it is an American Mac.

 
Ok since this is an american Mac you will need an American power cable (easily found on amazon, they're standard). One of these will do nicely I think.

Next you need a transformer/adapter for UK plugs. I don't know if a simple converter (travel type) will do the job right otherwise you will need a step-down transformer (quite heavy but will work perfectly)

 
You need to step down the voltage to 110v, otherwise bad things will happen.  Alternatively, if you can find a 220v analog board & power supply, they're relatively easy to swap.  Six to seven screws and 4 cables.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah that's probably a better and more permanent fix.  I think it will also be cheaper! A good step-down transformer is at least £100. I think you can find a 220V AB for less. BUT you will have to discharge the CRT, and then do adjustments to the new analog board.

If you know your way round and if you know how to discharge a CRT, it's relatively easy.

If you don't then you can ask your local hardware repair store to do the discharge for you (that's what I did with my SE/30 when I started collecting Macs a few years ago).

May I ask if your 512k came with some third party upgrades? Hyperdrive? SCSI? Because some upgrades needed a higher voltage. They achieved this by rotating a knob on the Analog Board but it's very delicate and very hard to adjust properly! 

And I know Hyperdrive actually soldered stuff to the AB, so it needs desoldering to take it off on Hyperdrive equipped 512ks.

It's a shame Apple didn't design their Analog boards with 100v/220v conversion in mind.

IIRC a 220V one can be converted to 110V but you can't do 110V to 220v.

DO NOT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLUG THAT MAC TO YOUR 220V MAINS! however tempting it is!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Discharge the CRT, or, just leave it unplugged for a few days.  Should be fine.  I've been shocked once and my arm hurt for about 3 days.  I wouldn't recommend it. :p

 
BadGoldEagle said:
May I ask if your 512k came with some third party upgrades? Hyperdrive? SCSI? Because some upgrades needed a higher voltage. They achieved this by rotating a knob on the Analog Board but it's very delicate and very hard to adjust properly! 

And I know Hyperdrive actually soldered stuff to the AB, so it needs desoldering to take it off on Hyperdrive equipped 512ks.
Click to expand...
Sadly no upgrades :C It is pretty much the computer on its own as for some reason one with a keyboard & mouse seemed to cost upwards of £90!  I am planning on eventually buying a HD 20 or external floppy drive if I can find one.

BadGoldEagle said:
Ok since this is an american Mac you will need an American power cable (easily found on amazon, they're standard). One of these will do nicely I think.

Next you need a transformer/adapter for UK plugs. I don't know if a simple converter (travel type) will do the job right otherwise you will need a step-down transformer (quite heavy but will work perfectly)
Click to expand...
Some on ebay are apparently "step-down" converters so that might work. But good to know that is a normal cable not some strange proprietary one (the Spectrum +2's strange connection comes to mind), thanks!

 
A very small portion of keyboards work with the 512k and Plus and they're quite rare.

But you can use a Plus keyboard with your 512k. Don't know if it will work well with really early systems but it will work fine 3.2 and up. 

The 128k/512k "short" keyboards are sometimes expensive and can be found. They're the best ones if you want everything to be original.

 
or you could purchase the Universal 120/230 analog board from somewhere...   but 230 ---> 120 step down converters can be had for cheap.

 
Do note the unit you linked is not intended for continuous use- it's suggested that it be used for a maximum of one hour at a time.

 
rsolberg said:
Do note the unit you linked is not intended for continuous use- it's suggested that it be used for a maximum of one hour at a time.
Click to expand...
I think that that largely applies to 100w appliances so it may be fine. Either way worst comes to worse I'll have to tour it off for half an hour.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

M
Colour Classic / LC575 / Internal SCSI Issues
Replies
3
Views
338
ESM-NL
ESM-NL
H
Macintosh SE/30 garbled screen
Replies
11
Views
339
Huttles
H
N
128K analog board troubleshooting - flyback cable shorted to ground
Replies
0
Views
550
nobodydontknow
N
eharmon
Working Mini-DIN to standard serial cable?
Replies
4
Views
330
eharmon
eharmon
M
Macintosh Plus issues with analogue board
2
Replies
26
Views
1K
mitchW
M
Back
Top