Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Any 680x0 based information, repairs, images, upgrades and other cool stuff that is not Atari and Amiga based but based on the Motorola 68K range of processors
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by rubber_jonnie »

PhilC wrote: Fri Jun 10, 2022 2:52 pm @rubber_jonnie yes please but no rush
If you PM me your address I will pop some in the post to you.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by Wrangler »

PhilC wrote: Fri Jun 10, 2022 1:53 pm
I'm going to try and make a 3d printed plug to match the Power socket on the QL as well.
I think I saw somewhere that 3 pin fan sockets for CPUs and the like can be made to fit the QL power socket with a bit of persuasion. I've not tried this myself but it might be a quick way to see if the thing has life before working on a more permanent solution?
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PhilC
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by PhilC »

@Wrangler ill check that out, thank you. :thumbup:
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Icky
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by Icky »

@rubber_jonnie - have you tried using SMSQ/E yet with the Gold Card?
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by stephen_usher »

I must admit that I'm a traditionalist and not keen on the replacement OSs...

It just looks wrong without the "© Sinclair Research Ltd 1983" banner. :-)

My original machine had JS ROMs from new and the rescued machine got JS ROMs fitted.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Icky wrote: Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:39 pm @rubber_jonnie - have you tried using SMSQ/E yet with the Gold Card?
Not yet, no. It is somewhere on my massive list of 'Things to to when I no longer have any broken computers to fix' :dizzy:
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by PhilC »

The new power supply bits are arriving tomorrow morning, so hopefully I'll be able to make something up so that I can test it sometime tomorrow evening.

The QL has also had a bit of a spruce up but is still lacking its Caps Lock and CTRL keys. I've seen someone on eBay selling them but they want a fiver per key, so I may just have a go at designing and 3d printing some new ones in the short term.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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PhilC
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by PhilC »

Well that’s the parts arrived today, actually smaller than I thought they would be as well.

749E660D-530D-4EEA-A19E-EB8938E60B6E.jpeg
749E660D-530D-4EEA-A19E-EB8938E60B6E.jpeg (406.04 KiB) Viewed 1386 times
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by PhilC »

So the QL PSU ties both the 15VAC neutral and the 9VDC negative to the same pin.

Never done this before, is there anything I should fit? Caps and diodes on the DC side of things perhaps?

I’m off to do some Googling. Anyone here done this before in a power supply?
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Re: Sinclair QL - wanted one since 1984

Post by PhilC »

I'm sure I'm being silly with the whole PSU secondary voltage neutral going to DC ground, I mean FFS it's what it does in an AC/DC transformer, the only thing that's confused me is that I'm using an AC/AC transformer to get the 15VAC that the QL needs, then an SMPS 9VDC power supply fed from 230VAC to provide it with power.

I think I need a lie down :lol:
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
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