History and Introduction
When Rakewell decided to build Flash cards for the Z88, they needed to be sure that the edge connector was correctly designed and that they had the facility to test the card with it being outside the Z88. Not knowing what would be required in the future it was decided to make a multi-function card that could be used. Some developers at that time expressed the need of developing other external cards. The high cost of getting an external card made has put some users off from taking this further. It is hoped that this card will enable those people to take their ideas further, by using this card as a stepping stone to the finished article. In practise only 2 of these cards were assembled and used to Program Z88 Cards with an external EPROM Programmer. There are still some bare extender cards left, so if in the unlikely event you would like one please contact Rakewell directly.
Have you ever thought of designing some hardware for the Z88? Here is the 'dream' card that enables you to do just that. It has five key functions which can be used separately.
- Use the Z88 as an EPROM Programmer
- Use an external EPROM programmer to Program a Z88 card (EPROMs or Flash)
- Use to connect to Test a prototype board externally.
- Use the extender to Test a Z88 card externally from the Z88
- Use an ICE (in-circuit emulator) to see what the Z88 signals are doing in real time.
Introduction
This card was designed after an aborted attempt to build the same circuit using a 32K EPROM card board, ribbon cable and a ZIF socket. What many technicians have found is that it is difficult to connect wires to unused pins on the Z88 connector. The solder often runs along to the critical connecting area thereby ruining the card.
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Connection to all the pins were made.
Low numbers were produced, but this item has now become popular again, due to the increase of technicians wanting to modify cards or the motherboard. It is a multifunction card that if produced again, would incorporate additional features.
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Main description
The Z88 Extender card which has the gold edge connector for the Z88, is supplied as a 'bare board,' all other components to be ordered separately. It has the space to fit
- 2 x 34 way connectors which can be used to monitor the Z88 signals and connect to an external board,
- 1 x 32 way DIL connector for a header to use with an EPROM programmer or a zero-insertion socket and
- 1 x Z88 Card connector.
When the Extender card is used with a Z88, the 'Card Flap' needs to be modified, to allow the PCB to go through the flap.
Flash Chip Programmer
Fitting the plastic card case and a zero-insertion socket allows the Z88 to program chips up to 512K (like the Flash chip (AM29F040B)) with ROMcombiner, or ROMupdate.
This could be used to program the 512K Flash chip that can be used instead of the ROM in slot 0 of the Z88.
Up to 1M chips may be programmed by using an additional adapter card that fits into the DIL socket and using the additional signal A19, which is on a pad.
If this socket is used, the 2 x 34 way connectors cannot be fitted.
Note:
To allow the PCB to come out of the Z88, the card flap needs to be removed and a Pushbutton Switch, Off-(On), SPST-NO fitted in parallel instead
The Extender Card cannot be used to program EPROM because the Vpp signal (Pin 19 on the Z88) has been connected to Vcc.
Program Z88 Flash Card
Using a 32 way DIL and 8 way SIL header plugs, this card can be used with an external EPROM programmer (like the Dual Powered Willem Universal EPROM Programmer+27C256) or the W-USB programmer 1.5 EPROM programmer to program Z88 EPROMs or Flash cards up to 1M.
This allows developers designing software with the Emulator, to 'build' the image there and then download the file to the EPROM programmer to use on the Z88, saving time and complexity of saving the file first to the Z88 and then blowing the Flash or EPROM there.
Full instructions on how to use the card with this programmer is given.
Components required
As this card can be used for different purposes, not all the components are required, nor can one card be built to use all the functions. Non-standard components are available from us, or faulty Z88 motherboards and memory cards may be canabilised to extract the Z88 card connectors and memory card cases. The standard components shown here are linked to the Farnell site. If you would prefer us to get these for you, we can and will add a 'handling fee' to cover our costs.
Function required | |||||||
EPROM Programmer | |||||||
Program Z88 Card | |||||||
Testing Prototype Board | |||||||
Testing Z88 Card | |||||||
Using an ICE | |||||||
Components required | |||||||
Z88 Plastic Card Case | Rakewell | ||||||
Z88 Modified Card Case | Rakewell | ||||||
Z88 Modified Card Flap | Rakewell | ||||||
or remove and fit switch | 163-4693 |
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Z88 Card connector | Rakewell | ||||||
HEADER, IDC, STRAIGHT, 34WAY | 2 | 109-6992 |  | ||||
CABLE ASSY, RIBBON 34WAY | 101-2214 | ||||||
SOCKET, IC, ZIF, 32WAY | 113-6782 | ||||||
PCB, EUROCARD, FR4, 2.54MM | 0.25 | 117-2137 | | ||||
HEADER, STRAIGHT, 16WAY | 4+2 | 124-8124 | | | |||
SOCKET, VERTICAL, 16WAY | 4 | 341-9174 | |||||
HEADER, RIGHT ANGLE, 0.1", 8WAY | 1 | 588-775 | |||||
HOUSING, 26AWG, 8WAY (A19) | 2 | 109-8717 | | ||||
RIBBON CABLE, IDT, 8WAY (A19) | 1 | 131-3461 | | ||||
SWITCH, 3POLE4POLE, 3 POS, PCB | 1 | 112-3676 3698 | |||||
KNOB, 15.7MM, BLACK, YELLOW LINE | 1 | 144-1137 | |||||
WIRE, PTFE, A, GREEN, 1/0.4MM, 25M | 1/25 | 118-4004 |
Circuit Diagram
The circuit diagram of this card can be viewed by clicking here (which will open in a new window).
Additional Features
If this card is produced again, the following points will be considered.
- Vpp signal to be separated from Vcc