Posted By
MMS
on 2017-11-02
13:27:56
 |  Re: Commodore 16 and 'Device Not present' error :-(
If I do undertsand you well, finally turned out the C16 PSU is the problem here.
As far as I know, the ZX Spectrum (and Timex) PSU brick provides exactly the same voltage and polarity as the C16 requires, and as I know, the jack connector size is also the same.
(it is a kind of interesting, as the C16 (116) planned to be a cheap ZX Spectrum competitor, so an expensive (C64 type dual voltage, expensive connector+socket) PSU does not help to keep costs down. A better designed, more robust 9V brick could do the same job in the Plus/4, as in the Spectrum +2, that has a 2.1A rating on a single jack...But they choose that crazy square connector for the PSU you cannot buy anywhere now...)
I run my ZX Spectrum (bough cheap with broken PSU) with a wallmart general PSU, it works, but not perfect. It is rather hard to get a general PSU with the right rating, or it become very expensive.
I have a Spectrum printer, but becase my wallmart can provide only 1.1A instead of the ZX Spectrum original 1.5A, the printer does not work.
I think this one will do the job, if you are in UK, but a UK adapter is easy to find
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sinclair-ZX-Spectrum-48K-Replacement-Power-Supply-PSU-9V-DC/182263781563?epid=918710678&hash=item2a6fc498bb:g:eTUAAOSwknJXxxYe
And as an evidence, there are ZX Spectrum power bricks advertised with "C16 compatibility"
(this one is more expensivve, but can be used in different countries too)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sinclair-ZX-Spectrum-Replacement-Power-Supply-48k-128k-Toastrack-2-Grey-C16-PSU/231604434148?hash=item35ecb334e4:g:Z1EAAOSwHnFVjG1M
If you are in the US, then the Timex PSUs will do the job, but probalbly the Timex 1000 (=ZX81) PSU has lower 1.0A rating (I do not know, if it is enough for the C16)
https://www.ebay.com/p/Vintage-Timex-Sinclair-1000-Personal-Computer-With-16k-RAM-Module-1016/1274029585?iid=112609945352
Actually this one looks the most robust one, but the most expensive at the same time (no surprises).
If you are within EU/AT, then you just connect your standard mains cable, and ready to go
It is regulated, so the C16 will not warm up so much, and has some protection, not to mention the switch :-)
(OK, the switch needed for the ZX Spectrums only)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sinclair-ZX-Spectrum-High-Quality-Replacement-Desktop-Style-Power-Supply-PSU/263258446526?hash=item3d4b6d1abe:g:ojsAAOSwSRlZ3nRj
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