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Power consumption improvements

balfordbalford
edited November 2013 in Hardware
Hi all,

Having just received lower and upper RAM replacement modules from Zorn, I thought I'd perform some current draw measurements to see how much current consumption they save.

I installed the modules into my already Recom-fitted 4A, so first off I compared the current consumed against another 4A with the standard regulator:

Standard: 570mA
Switch mode: 310mA

So immediately we're saving 260mA just by changing the regulator for a switch mode type. Next the RAM:

Recom + Lower RAM module: 260mA
Recom + Both RAM modules: 210mA

So those three mods have more than halved the current consumption of my Speccy :)

Hope this info is of some use!

B
Post edited by balford on
The Spectrum Resuscitation Thread - bringing dead Spectrums back to life
zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
Sinclair FAQ Wiki

Comments

  • ZornZorn
    edited November 2013
    You performed current measurements, not power measurements!

    I assume/hope you used a fixed regulated power supply. What was the voltage? The currents look about right for 9V.
  • balfordbalford
    edited November 2013
    Yes I did, senior moment :p

    I used a 1A 9v regulated supply for the tests.

    B
    The Spectrum Resuscitation Thread - bringing dead Spectrums back to life
    zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
    Sinclair FAQ Wiki
  • Falco-F8LFalco-F8L
    edited November 2013
    balford wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Having just received lower and upper RAM replacement modules from Zorn, I thought I'd perform some current draw measurements to see how much current consumption they save.

    B

    Changing the Z80 from NMOS to CMOS will save you another 50 mA or so.
  • balfordbalford
    edited November 2013
    Yep, got down to 160mA with a CMOS Z80.

    Won't be keeping this configuration though as my Spectranet doesn't work. Nothing to do with the lower/upper RAM boards though, as others had this problem beforehand...

    B
    The Spectrum Resuscitation Thread - bringing dead Spectrums back to life
    zx-diagnostics - Fixing ZX Spectrums in the 21st Century (wiki)
    Sinclair FAQ Wiki
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