V4: Full Through-Hole Version

This release is basically the same as V3, except that all SMT/SMD components have been replaced with their through-hole counterparts.

This comes at the price of a modest increase in dimensions: the board is now 23x52mm (was 21x46).

The board has been tested and is working fine.

NOTE: This release includes an unofficial set of panelized Gerber files fitting 4 Savers in a 10x10cm board, contributed by Jonni Rainisto (@rainisto). I'm sure Jonni did a good job, but I haven't checked it personally, so use at your own risk.

Components

Note that this board was designed for transistors with an EBC pinout, such as PN2222, PN3904, etc. CBE transistors, (such as BC547, BC337, etc.) can be used as well, provided that they are installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: flat side towards the bottom). Any NPN transistor with an Ic (collector current) of at least 100 mA will do. Note that P2N2222 is CBE.

Support

The released gerber files are password-protected. The original reason behind my projects was to allow anyone to make their own retrocomputing accessories cheaply. Instead of this, what I achieved was actually fuelling greedy people grabbing my work, making boards for a couple of bucks and the selling them at outrageous prices ($15 for a badly-soldered OpenC64Cart that costs $2 to make is just ridiculous).

I still believe in free software and open hardware, and that is why my projects will remain as such. I am no longer providing ready-to-use gerber files, but you can still generate them from the KiCad project or ask me for the password, if you think you don't fit the above statement.

If all you want is to get boards made, I would really appreciate if you did it as explained in the Support section in order to get them cheaply while supporting the project, i.e.: just click on this button:

Note that you are still allowed to sell these boards, I have nothing against that as long as you do so at an "ethical" price. This is why I am adding the following restriction (inspired by DiagROM): if this board is sold at more than 5€ + production and component costs, 25% MUST be donated to a LEGITIMATE charity of some kind, like curing cancer for example.

Version 3

This release removes R2, which was not needed, and adds a second screw hole which might be useful for fixing the board.

Function-wise there is no change wrt previous versions.

Note that this board was designed for transistors with an EBC pinout, such as PN2222, PN3904, etc. CBE transistors, (such as BC547, BC337, etc.) can be used as well, provided that they are installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: flat side towards the bottom). Any NPN transistor with an Ic (collector current) of at least 100 mA will do. Note that P2N2222 is CBE.

I have never tested this board personally, but many people all over the world have done so successfully. It was even the subject of a YouTube video by Project Geek.

NOTE: This release includes an unofficial BOM with Digi-Key part numbers, contributed by Jeff Pace and corrected by MagerValp (thanks!). I'm sure they did a good job, but I haven't checked it personally, so use at your own risk.

First Proper Release

This corrects the diode silkscreen errors in the initial release and switches to EBC transistors, such as PN2222, PN3904, etc. Transistors with a CBE pinout, (such as BC547, BC337, etc.) can be used as well, provided that they are installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: flat side towards the bottom). Any NPN transistor with an Ic (collector current) of at least 100 mA will do. Note that P2N2222 is CBE.

Board will be narrower in next release, so use this if you like that format.

Narrower Board

In this release the board has been redesigned from scratch, to make it narrower.

Function-wise there is no change wrt previous versions.

Note that this board was designed for transistors with an EBC pinout, such as PN2222, PN3904, etc. CBE transistors, (such as BC547, BC337, etc.) can be used as well, provided that they are installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: flat side towards the bottom). Any NPN transistor with an Ic (collector current) of at least 100 mA will do. Note that P2N2222 is CBE.

Initial release

This release only contains the gerbers for the first board prototype I sent to production. Unfortunately I have lost the corresponding design files.

Please note the following:

• This board was designed for transistors with a CBE pinout, such as BC547, BC337, etc. EBC transistors (PN2222, PN3904, etc.) can be used as well, provided that they are installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: flat side towards the bottom). Any NPN transistor with an Ic of at least 100 mA will do. Note that P2N2222 is CBE.
• There is a silkscreen error: both diodes should be installed in the reverse direction (i.e.: cathode on the right side).

Anyway, just DO NOT USE, use V 1.1, which corrects the above mistake.