The Expansion Bus http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-...

The expansion bus on the ZX Spectrum

All ZX Spectrum with an expansion bus that makes connecting all types of peripherals,
which enables easy access to internal signals, such as data bus and address bus of the
Z80 microprocessor, video signals, reset, etc.

This expansion bus is an extension of the plate with 28 pins over his face and other
components of the 28 tracks, there being the number five as such, as it is replaced by a
groove that serves to guide integration of peripherals. This notch prevents bad peripherals
insert the expansion bus. This is very important because misplacement of a peripheral can
cause serious damage to the ZX Spectrum.

Visually looks like (on the side of the components), being identical to the other side:

Schematically:

There are three distinct types of expansion bus, as it is

changed first in the 128k / +2 and then in the Spectrum +2 A, +3, +2 B. Here are its
features:

We can see that there is a slight modification in the 128K Spectrum +2 A which practically
do not affect most of the peripherals. In the case of the +2 A, +3 B and the different status
of some signals, including their absence caused certain peripherals will not work and others
designed for the latter may operate in the former.

1 de 4 10/5/2010 22:34
The Expansion Bus http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-...

If you look closely you can point out the differences between them. A call to the face of the
components and B in the face of slopes, as directed by the magazine and some plates
MicroHobby (Issue 2, 5, for example), however, contained other boards silkscreen
backwards (Issue 4 , 6, 128k +).

PIN 48k, 48k + 128k +, +2 +3 +2 +2 A and B

4A Not logged in Not logged in OE ROM1
20A - 5V - 5V Not logged in
23A 12V AC 12V AC -12V
28A Not logged in Not logged in RESET
4B + 9V + 9V Not logged in
13B IORQGE IORQGE Not logged in
15B VIDEO Not logged in OE ROM2
16B Y Not logged in RD DISK
17B V Not logged in DISK WR
18B U Not logged in MOTOR ON
25B ROMCS ROMCS Not logged in

In summary, video signals disappear on all models 128k, the signs appear and disappear
disk control signals +9 V,-5V, +12 AC and +2 IORQGE in A, B and +3.

You can also see that the models ROMCS 48k / + / 128k / +2 are split into two in order to
control the two blocks of 32K ROM memory of the +2 A, B and +3.

We went on to detail the signs disappear:

Signal +9 V: 4 pin power we are providing the power supply of the spectrum. Its main
function is to provide peripheral blood to 'greedy'. The burden on these peripherals will
impact on the power supply and not the internal voltage regulator.
Examples are the original source of a 48K spectrum gave a max output current of 1.4A.
Given that we consume about 700 mA 700 mA aproximandamente would remain to feed
any peripherals.

Signal-5V: It is a low intensity output. In the 48k and 48k models + 4116 RAM chip feeds
that make up the first 16K of RAM, where is located the video memory.

AC Signal 12: Departure without rectification. In the first manuals appeared as-12V, when it
never was. You can get these-12V with a simple circuit added.

Signal +12 V: Even if your situation is identical in every spectrum, the nature of it is
different. While in the spectrum 48 / + / 128K / +2 the +12 V is obtained from an internal
circuitry and therefore have the intensity of output they offer is low, +2 models A, B and +3,
the +12 V comes from the power supply, and therefore, the output intensity is higher.

IRQGE Signal: Holding the line at a high level will ensure that the ULA does not respond to
requests from the I / O. With appropriate circuitry could be used to increase the number of
devices E / S you can select the Spectrum.

Signals Y, V, U and VIDEO: In the 48k and 48k models + ULA generated video signals
attacking the LM1889 modulator. The signals V, U correspondonden to signals carrying
color and the Y signal carrying the luminance. The VIDEO signal is the signal processed by
the modulator and UHF modulator attacks who was responsible for the well-known pass
our television channel 36.

This is the famous signal VIDEO composite video signal that can be drawn to get a TV
signal quality.

2 de 4 10/5/2010 22:34
The Expansion Bus http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-...

128K models in the treatment of different television signal of the first models, hence the
signals Y, U, V and VIDEO disappear. In these models the ULA was redesigned to work
with RGB signals and the LM1889 was replaced by the TEA2000. With this new way of
working, the Spectrum could handle monitors and televisions that support these signs
getting a better picture quality. Do not appear on the expansion bus because they are
available in a special plug into the back.

SIGNAL ROMCS: Perhaps the most important signal and that generates the largest
number of incompatibilities. The operation of this signal is simple, if you connect a +5 V
signal, the ROM that holds the first 16Kb of memory disappear.

All have a ROM spectrum where they store instructions, variables, functions, etc. But this
ROM is read so that you can not change. If we'd like to introduce new functions would have
to keep these functions in RAM with the subsequent loss.

The solution provided was to allow peripherals could insert their own ROMs in the directions
where the Spectrum ROM.

The solutions:
Now, with the above we can conclude that some of these differences can be ironed out, for
example, to use a peripheral of the first bus of the second:

It uses +12 V (Pin 22A). What we must bear in mind is

the consumer going to do the peripheral. At the roots of
+2 A 12V signal gives no more than 200mA and 700 mA
+9 V
gives +3. As the voltage difference should be borne in
mind that the +9 V are unregulated. Royals 10-11V often
so we should not have problems using +12 V
Is replaced with ROM1 and ROM2 0E OE, and now there
is a ROM to disable if not two. 1N4148 diode is
sandwiched between ROMCS and ROM1 0E, and
ROMCS another between the first and ROM2 0E.

We must also cut off the signal 15B to prevent the union
of the video signal with the ROM2 0E
You could use-12V (Pin 23A) if we note that the
-5V peripheral has a regulator, not to take it would have to
modify the peripheral to put a
Available from 128k and +2 models. In the +2 A, +3 B
VIDEO and B is necessary modifications to the Spectrum this
signal in order to answer many questions

But the most important thing is to study the peripheral pins we used to add and see if we
have the necessary signals or if we can replace. For this, we can rely on an adapter that
replaces the need for signals from other pin replace previous ones.

As proof of this, we see a commercial solution to these problems. There are several
adapters, here we have one called Fixit, marketed by Datel for use with the PlusD:

3 de 4 10/5/2010 22:34
The Expansion Bus http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=pt-BR&ie=UTF-...

(Click on the images for better quality)

Following this scheme will ADACTO. Due to its simplicity, we ourselves can build one.

As you can see, this adapter solves the problems of the signals ROMCS and V. +9

For the construction of the same materials would be needed FOLLOWING:

- Bus expansion connector.

- 2-sided plate.
- 2 diodes 1N4148.

More information about the expansion bus on pages 30 and 31 of the MicroHobby 10, and
the 46 and 47 of the MicroHobby 162.

This article is courtesy of The Storage Spectrum and has been prepared by Jose Manuel
and Jose Leandro.

4 de 4 10/5/2010 22:34