Commodore IEC 5-Port Bus Control/Kill Switch with Selective Reset ~ Custom Built
Hand-built Commodore IEC bus control box for sharing one IEC bus among as many as five disk drives, printers, storage devices, or other compatible peripherals.
Need More Than Five Ports?
Larger IEC bus switches with many more ports and individual switches can also be built. These larger versions are fully custom projects and must be specified before ordering. Contact me to discuss the desired number of IEC ports, switches, reset arrangement, enclosure size, finish, and any other special requirements. Pricing and construction time will depend on the final design.
This is not a one-at-a-time drive selector. Multiple devices may remain connected and operate on the IEC bus simultaneously, using their normal IEC device addresses.
Independent Bus Control
Each device switch independently connects or disconnects these IEC lines:
The SRQ line remains continuously connected, regardless of switch position.
Pressing the red reset button sends the RESET signal only to drives or peripherals whose switches are currently in the ON position. Devices switched off are isolated from the reset signal.
Standard construction uses maintained ON/OFF switches unless an ON/OFF/ON switch arrangement is specifically requested. All five switches are supplied with protective rubber boots.
Computer Compatibility
Compatible with computers and modern replacements equipped with the standard Commodore 6-pin serial IEC connection, including:
- Commodore VIC-20
- All Commodore 64 and C64 models
- Commodore SX-64
- Commodore 128, 128D, and 128DCR
- Commodore 16, 116, and Plus/4
- Ultimate 64 systems
- Commodore 64 Ultimate
- Commander X16
- Otter X
- MEGA65
- Other compatible computers, replacements, and clones with a standard 6-pin Commodore IEC serial port
Note: not all combinations have been tested, refer to the description of what lines are switched and what lines are always connected.
Device Compatibility
Compatible with standard Commodore IEC drives and peripherals, including:
- Commodore 1540, 1541, 1541C, 1541-II, 1570, 1571, and 1581 disk drives
- Compatible third-party IEC disk drives
- CMD IEC devices, including compatible FD and HD storage systems
- SD2IEC, Pi1541, and similar modern IEC storage devices
- Meatloaf IEC network drive devices
- Commodore and compatible IEC printers and plotters
- IEC printer interfaces and other serial-bus accessories
- Other devices using the standard Commodore 6-pin serial IEC connection
Note: not all combinations have been tested, refer to the description of what lines are switched and what lines are always connected.
The rear IEC connector located on the same side as the red reset button is the common computer-side IEC connection. The other five rear connectors are for drives or other IEC peripherals.
Enclosure and Finish
The enclosure is approximately the same width as a Commodore 1541-II disk drive and is slightly longer from front to back. It has a substantial weight and solid feel, helping it remain stable while switches are operated and IEC cables are connected.
The standard finish is Heirloom White unless otherwise specified. A custom two-tone finish is also available.
Built to Order
Each unit is built to suit, prepared, painted, hand-wired, and tested. Because this is not a quick assembly process and parts availability, the wait time before shipping may exceed two weeks.
Custom larger-capacity versions are available. A switch with more than five device ports must be designed and quoted as a custom job based on the number of ports, switch configuration, enclosure, finish, and other requested features.
