We can't say for certain, but we theorize that, to save money on an already expensive Commodore PET computing system, designers skipped utilizing a standard IEEE-4888 on the back of the machine for disk drive attachment. Instead, they used a money saving 12/24 .156" edge connector, which required no connector costs (it was just the edge of the motherboard PCB, etched into a set of connector "fingers"). At the time, it was an ingenius move. Not only did they save money on the manufacture of the unit, but the connector was used no where else, so Commodore was essentially the only place to buy the required cabling (a mashup unit with a female edge connector on one end and a standard passthrough IEEE 488 Centronics(tm) 24 connector on the other). Needless to say, those cables were expensive then, and they are even more so today.
We considered designing and manufacturing a set, and then we regained our sanity. PET owners need only 1 cbale per machine, and there are not enough owners today to make the minimums needed for custom manufacturing. However, someone suggested we skip the "cable" part and just design a passive converter with the required connectors, a much more reasonable approach.
Thus, behold the fruits of that labor. It's not incredibly cheap, we know, for the IEEE connector is still an expensive item, but it's far cheaper than buying the rare cable. There's little to fail on this device, as it has absolutely no active parts. PCB, two connectors, wiring, we're done here.
Note: On the next product run, assuming there's 100 folks out there willing to grab this batch, we'll write "TOP" on the lettered part of the PCB, as it's a bit nonintuitive. The IEEE connector should be "under" the PCB when installed (the PCB lettering should be "up"). There's a "key" indent in the IEEE 488 edge connector we'll try to leverage if we can find edge connector "keys" to install in these adapters.
Posted by Unknown on 16th Jul 2018
I bought this for my 8032 PET computer as a "get it while you can" item. I don't yet have an IEEE-488 drive or other device for the PET, but didn't want to be stuck without such an adapter should the opportunity arise.
It is inexpensive yet well made, I don't see what could go wrong with this, and even if it did a little solder would fix it, as it is a passive device.
My only recommendation would be to cover the exposed electrical traces with some non-conductive tape if you use one.
Posted by jbevren on 6th Jan 2018
This adapter is perfect for someone looking to replace a missing or failing PET-IEEE cable.
Posted by Michael Scholz on 10th Oct 2017
Well made and easy to attach. The shape of the adapter prevents the IEEE-bus-modul that's attached to the C64 from being bent downwards.
Posted by Unknown on 7th Nov 2016
nice product if the board is in a case
If like me you only have just a motherboard on a flat surface the ieee connector is under the motherboard...
I'll have to make one inverted
Posted by Wolfgang Hodan on 8th Oct 2016
The cables with both connectors, you didn't get anymore and when only used. With this adapter, you can connect an original IEEE488 cable,which you can get new without problems to your device.Everything could be new and is not more expensive,but individually eligible for election.