Re: Commodore 64 Power
Are you seriously telling me that fingernail sized SMPSU can source the 5V needs of an entire C64? I'm impressed. Although....
As with linear regulators, that basic sort of SMPSU regulator can suffer from short-circuit failure of the main power handling device which is usually placed between the input and the output.
If that ever decides to go short-circuit, just like a linear regulator in the same situation, it will pass the full input voltage to the output.
For that reason, I would suggest putting some sort of overvoltage protection like a chunky 5.6V zener across the output rails so that if the regulator ever does fail straight through, the zener will clamp the voltage to no more than 5.6V (and get very hot, and probably go short-circuit) - but at least the C64 won't get killed. We have exactly those sorts of SMPSU regulators and that overvoltage precaution on a few of the products we make at work, along with semiconductor fuses to limit the current in the event of regulator failure.
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