Sega adapter

KiCad schematic

This PCB features a detachable ribbon cable to connect it to the computer and an optional jumper to switch the adapter to C64 mode.

PCBs can be ordered in sets of three from OSH Park, or any other PCB manufacturer that accepts KiCad schematics.

The previously available alternative versions of the PCB have been removed for simplicity. They can still be found in git history.

DigiKey part numbers are provided as a convenience but alternative parts can certainly be used.

BOM

Optional jumper

The jumper is used to switch the adapter between Atari and C64 mode. If the adapter is only going to be used with one kind of computer, the jumper and its header can either be omitted entirely (Atari/Amiga) or replaced with a solder bridge or wire (C64/VIC-20).

Optional joystick pigtail

Instead of using the IDC header and ribbon cable, a joystick pigtail can be soldered directly to the board. Any cable from an old joystick or half of a joystick extension cable can be used for a pigtail, as long as it has nine wires.

Assembly notes

• The ribbon cable is 2m long, so it is a good idea to cut it to a more reasonable length. The remaining cable can be used with standalone d-sub connectors (part number HHFP09H-ND) to make more adapters.

• When attaching the IDC connector to the ribbon cable, make sure that pin 1 is flush against the side and that there is a small gap on the other side. This is because the connector has ten pins while the cable only has nine.

• Make sure that pin 1 of the cable is on the same side as pin 1 of the header when connecting the cable to the board. Pin 1 is the one with the square pad on the circuit board.

• If you are using alternative parts, please note that there isn't much clearance between the IC socket and the IDC header. Depending on the socket used, a shrouded IDC header may not fit.

Licence

The schematics for this project are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. See LICENSE for details.