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LC MACAA Prototype Success

Prototype PCB for the LC MACAA worked without a hitch. The board was just a little too large, so I’ve shaved it down and ordered a second revision. Also found a compatible power supply connector housing and pins.

The LC MACAA can be a complete drop-in replacement for your original LC power supply, with no soldering necessary (unless you feel like it). Next is the 3d printed mounting bracket and final wiring setup. LCs need 12v, 5v, and -5v. The MACAA board provides 5v and -5v from 12v – you can use either an external 12v power brick or the Mean Well supply that I found fits perfectly into the original width.

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New Project Series: MACAA

F4 BlueSCSI is now finished and up for sale in the shop. It’s faster than the original BlueSCSI, but more expensive because the “Black Pill” modules cost more.

My next target are the power supplies in your old Macs. They’re getting old, and in some cases replacing the capacitors isn’t enough to fix them. Thus, new supplies are needed.

Enter the MACAA (MACintosh Atx Alternative) – a project to recreate power supplies for these old Macs using all-new components. Note that this is the ATX Alternative and won’t focus on using ATX or PicoPSU supplies unless that makes the job a lot simpler.

First target is the Macintosh LC Series. LC, LC II, LC III, Quadra 605, LC / Performa 475, and all the other LC clones which use the same supply. PCB design for the MACAA prototype is done, and an order will be placed soon.

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Projects In Progress

Currently I have too many several projects in progress.

  • Newton 2×00 Internal Serial Board
    • Prototype PCBs have been made
    • PCB is being updated to be easier for people which don’t have a way to install the necessary software first
    • Looking for a source for surface-mount MINI-DIN 8 connectors (the circular serial port) because the vertical space available is extremely tight. If you know a source, please email me (see the About page)
  • BlueSCSI™
    • BlueSCSI is trademarked by Eric Helgeson
    • https://github.com/erichelgeson/BlueSCSI
    • It’s basically a SCSI drive emulator that uses SD cards for storage. No more need for those old SCSI drives, just use BlueSCSI™
    • I am working on some carrier boards for the BlueSCSI™ ‘blue pill’ module
      • PowerBook
        • Working on getting a Shop listing up for this
      • Desktop
        • Have PCBs, need assembly and testing
      • Macintosh Portable
        • Have prototype PCBs, needs assembly and testing
  • Macintosh Portable Hybrid Module Replacement
    • Have a Mac Portable with a bad hybrid module? Don’t we all.
    • This module will use modern buck regulators in place of the original linear regulator design
    • A microcontroller will handle battery voltage signaling to the power manager chip
      • Any other necessary enable/disable functions will be handled by this chip