6 Jun
2023
6 Jun
'23
2:41 a.m.
On Monday, June 5th, 2023 at 1:43 PM, Robert Feldman via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
It (the Osborne Powr-Pac (tm) ) has a what the manual says is a DC-DC inverter that
plugged into a Gould lead-acid battery (or the cigarette-lighter socket in a car) at one
end and the AC input of the Osborne 1 at the other. I have read on this list that Lee
denies that OCC ever sold them, but I have one that I bought for $50 at Compumat in
Chicago on October 10, 1983 -- I still have the unit, receipt, and User Registration card.
It came with a glossy-printed grey-and-blue manual, like other contemporary OCC products.
If anyone wants a copy, I can email you a PDF scan of the user manual.
Bob
It's funny that luggable power packs come up here as I'm trying to revive my
Otrona Attache... The power supply does nothing on AC input, even after a recapping, so I
thought I'd investigate the "DC Power Option" described in the manual.
Unfortunately I can't find any record that Otrona ever actually *sold* a "DC
Power Option", which would plug into an unpopulated 6-pin Molex connector on the back
of the device. Interestingly, the header inside the power supply labeled "DC
Option" is a 7-pin header, so I'm not sure which pin was "optional" for
the external connector!
I'd just replace the power supply wholesale with a little ATX supply or something, but
the machine needs 5V, 12V, -12V, and 15V; the latter is used to power the CRT and
represents a real challenge! I've yet to find anything that outputs all 4 levels at a
reasonable price.
john
Message: 21
Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2023 04:35:28 +0100
From: Tony Duell ard.p850ug1(a)gmail.com
Subject: [cctalk] Re: Getting floppy images to/from real floppy disks.
On Sun, Jun 4, 2023 at 10:57 PM Fred Cisin via cctalk
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org wrote:
> On Sun, 4 Jun 2023, Rick Bensene via cctalk wrote:
<> > an example of early "mobile computing". (Tongue firmly in
cheek).
The
original Osborne 1 had a 12V power input!
Actually it's +12.6V and +5.6V and you have to supply both voltages.
It's one diode drop to the +5V (logic supply) and +12V (DRAM, disk
motors, monitor supply), the -5V for the DRAM is produced on the logic
board.
I am told it was never used and that the Osborne battery pack came
with an inverter to provide 110V AC.
-tony