Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!sharkey!teemc!mibte!jbh
From: jbh@mibte.UUCP (James Harvey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: C64 IC Failure
Summary: Zapping 6526's
Message-ID: <2761@mibte.UUCP>
Date: 4 Feb 89 14:26:15 GMT
References: <435@manta.NOSC.MIL>
Organization: Michigan Bell Telephone Company
Lines: 45

In article <435@manta.NOSC.MIL>, mitch@manta.NOSC.MIL (Ray Mitchell) writes:
> 
> Has anyone encountered any problems with repeated failures with the 6526A IC
> IC in the C64? I think they call the IC an ACI. The system has two of them
> but the one interfacing to the joystick ports and keyboard is the one giving
> me the problems.
> 
> I have been through about four of them in the last 2 years and I am ending
> up investing more in them than I have in the computer.  I even bought a
> different computer thinking it might be something in the system but the
> new one also blows one about every 6 months (The new C64 is using a different
> power supply than the old one).
> 
> The problem usually manifests itself by the joysticks failing to respond to
> a certain direction or a key on the keyboard failing to operate properly.
> These ICs cost $17 each from Commodore and about twice that locally.
> 
> 
> Ray Mitchell

This is usually caused by static electricity leaping from your
finger to a pin on the joystick port when you reach down to turn
the C64's on/off switch.  I lost two 6526 chips this way (machine
was in a room with a wool carpet and low humidity in the winter).

My solution was to get some of the adhesive-backed foil tape that
radio shack sells for burglar alarming windows.  I ran a strip
around the joystick port opening and grounded it.  The idea is
for any static to pick this grounded tape instead of the joystick
port.  I haven't had trouble since (but my machine is no longer
in a carpeted room).

JAMCO advertises the 6526 chips a lot cheaper that $17.  Check
the ads in Byte magazine or COmputer Shopper.


-- 

Jim Harvey                        |      "Ask not for whom the bell
Michigan Bell Telephone           |      tolls and you will only pay
29777 Telegraph                   |      Station-to-Station rates."
Southfield, Mich. 48034           | 

ulysses!gamma!mibte!jbh