California Access CA2001 Drive for Atari Home Computers

{Preserved from a now-defunct Atari board}
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Admin

I've managed to find that the LDW Power Supply is part no PW916, rated

220V - 9VAC / 1.5a and 16VAC 0.8a

only problem is - even if i find a compatible PSU - wtf is going on with the connections on the rear of the drive?
middle picture is the PINouts from the CA2000 (California Access) - the USA equivalent





and furthermore, just to annoy those (mildly) interested...
ca2001circuit.zip (127.51 KB)ca2001eprom.zip (3.14 KB) {Dead Links}
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Baker

It's a dual-voltage power supply. Which is troubling. I have a Bally Arcade console that uses a dual-voltage supply, and it's not even plug-in, but direct/permanent connect, so I can't buy one on it's own, and have had no luck at all, looking for years, to find a compatible one to use. My only choice is to buy another entire system and use it's PSU. But it would have to be one with a working PSU but not working in another way, otherwise I'd just use the entire new console!

Does the power supply come with it and work? The only other option I can think of, is buying two separate power supplies with the two separate voltages and hooking them up. I'm in the same situation with my Bally Arcade console.
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Admin

Baker

i've found this on ebay - it's in the USA - but is a UK adapter....will this do ½ of the job if i can then locate a 9vac 1.5a to accompany it?



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Baker

It may be ok, it just depends on how forgiving the drive's electronics are, as it's 100mA shy (assuming I'm reading the LDW PSU right, it's not the best picture for me to read; 16V 0.8A?). My guess is it will work. Now find one with the other volt/amps then solder them to the appropriate lines or change out the PSU port for a couple that will work.
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tiw

D.E.I 240 AC TRANSFORMER 15V X 2 , 12V , 9V , 5V , 2AMPS

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D-E-I-240-AC-TRANSFORMER-15V-X-2-12V-9V-5V-2AMPS-/111893354583?hash=item1a0d5d1857:g:fQ4AAOSwEgVWTG30

15vac and 9vac should be good enough. More than enough raw power there though @ 2amps each. You'd have to find a box for it. It will be big and heavy, I would ask for dimensions and weight first.
Terry​

admin

so how does this work?
i've found (from AAge) that the D/dive connector is identical to that used for TI/99 and Colecovision​

tiw

1st pic connect mains to 240v and 0. Connect 15v and 0 for 15vac @ 2a.

2nd pic connect 0 and 9v for 9vac @2a.

Find a box plastic box for it to go in. Make holes for cables to go through, preferably with cable restraints.
Next find plug for Indus power input, or, find pins that fit on the male socket, wire up and try moulding your own plug.
Terry​

admin

@terry
1] will 15v be enough - bearing in mind the spec says it requires 16v?
2] so basically, finding a Collecovision/TI99 connector should provide the disk drive end?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D-E-I-240-AC-TRANSFORMER-15V-X-2-12V-9V-5V-2AMPS-/111893354583?hash=item1a0d5d1857:g:fQ4AAOSwEgVWTG30&clk_rvr_id=977529161628&rmvSB=true





so once done as per pics above...seal the unit and connect to D/drive?
the "connector" picture above...should that be read as "viewing from back of D/Drive" or "viewing from connector plug" ?​

tiw

1] I wish I could say categorically yes but, I have never seen an AC PSU that will not work because it is 1v too low. The minimum design spec. should be +- 10% which should give you 14.4v to 17.6v. Also bear in mind that the AC is unregulated so the voltage out will vary with load.
2] Yes
3] Seal, probably wrong word, don't use sealant or resin to fix. Mount everything, close the box (try to get one with vent holes).
4] You're on your own there. When I do diagrams I always give orientation etc. Usually the numbers are in the back of the socket. Do look from the outside though because sometimes the numbers are next to the pins on the outside (on the inside of the male socket). Just to be helpful though, some don't have any numbers at all. Of course if you have a PSU (or have a friend that has) you could actually measure the AC output.

Do double check that the drives are AC driven not DC as the picture of the original PSU doesn't make it clear.

Use 3 core mains cable. You must use earth bolted to the transformer as the bolts will usually be exposed.

You can use 4 core cable from the transformer box to the drive socket.

As usual, I take no responsibility whatsoever if it all goes tits up.

Terry​

admin

The CA2001 is a nice drive - they're a (more reliable) Indus GT clone, and were made in limited numbers.
The sibling drive is the LDW2000 - in most respects both drives are the same.

The only real issue with the CA2001 is the little white plastic pusher at the internal end of the drive handle.
When closing the drive the external part of the handle mechanism ceases to lock in place.

To remedy this there is a replacement assembly kit available here:
www.stepstick.pl
kit comprises - two pushers, and one clamping unit. (see 3rd pic)
total cost (incl shipping to UK = £9.00 !!!)

Anyhow, here goes: - as usual, no responsibilty if taken by myself or Atari sector for any damage done when undertaking this repair.

1] remove any excess plastic from the new parts (these are 3D ABS plastic)
2] remove drive top cover (make yourself familiar with pic 2 before proceeding)
3] remove four retaining screws from old clamping unit, and single screw from mini board attached to left side of clamping unit
4] remove disk handle from clamping unit
5] install disk handle into new clamping unit
6] install pusher onto end of disk handle - this will only "lock in place" in one way. when incorrectly installed it will work loose and fail to work
(there is a notch on the drive handle and a notch inside the pusher - these need to be aligned to each other to secure correctly - see final pic)
7] reinstall clamping unit and mini-board to clamping unit

hey presto!!! drive works like new





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