Backplane 5 for RC2014 - Z80 Homebrew Computer

Name: Backplane 5 for RC2014 - Z80 Homebrew Computer
SKU: 7769
Price: 26.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.90 (5 reviews)

(5 Reviews)

A custom made 5 slot backplane for the RC2014 computer. Build a small RC2014 or extend a full one

Designed by RFC2795 Ltd in United Kingdom

Backplane 5 for RC2014 - Z80 Homebrew Computer 1

Backplane 5 for RC2014 - Z80 Homebrew Computer 2

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Backplane 5 for RC2014 - Z80 Homebrew Computer 8

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A custom made 5 slot backplane for the RC2014 computer. Build a small RC2014 or extend a full one

What is RC2014? RC2014 is a simple 8 bit Z80 based modular computer. It is inspired by the home built computers of the late 70s and computer revolution of the early 80s. It is not a clone of anythi…

What is RC2014?

RC2014 is a simple 8 bit Z80 based modular computer. It is inspired by the home built computers of the late 70s and computer revolution of the early 80s. It is not a clone of anything specific, but there are suggestions of the ZX81, UK101, S100, Superboard II and Apple I in here. It nominally has 8K ROM, 32K RAM, runs at 7.3728MHz and communicates over serial at 115,200 baud.

The RC2014 was designed such that standard stripboard could be used as the backplane. This board essentially does the same as stripboard, but has been designed specifically for the RC2014 and has a few extra features features

Expandable up to 5 daughter-boards.
DC power socket - 2.1/5.5mm barrel jack. If you wish to power the RC2014 with 6v - 14v, there are pads for mounting a LM7805 regulator and capacitors to give a regulated 5v to the board. If you are using a regulated 5v supply, such as from a USB adapter,simply jumper across the 5v Direct pads.
40 pin sockets - RC2014 modules typically uses 34 or 36 pins, but additional sockets are available for extended features.
Clearly labelled pin identifiers.
Nice rounded corners and mounting holes
Power LED
Reset button

This backplane can be used to mount the 5 essential modules (CPU, ROM, RAM, Clock & Serial I/O) for a small neat RC2014. 5 straight 40 way sockets are supplied to enable this.

Alternatively, it can be used to extend your existing RC2014, either horizontally or vertically for an extra 3 usable slots (1 slot on each board will be used for interboard connection). 40 way right angle pins and 40 way right angle sockets are supplied to enable this. You can also chain more than 1 of these boards (Sorry, I'm not sure what the maximum is yet... but if you find out, please let me know!)

What do I get?

This listing is for a kit of parts to build the backplane only. For the rest of the modules, see my other products.

PCB Only - Yup, you guessed it. Only the bare PCB!

Full Kit - This includes a PCB, 5 x 40 way headers, 5 x 100nf decoupling capacitors, 2.1mm power jack, 3mm green LED & 330r resistor, tactile switch & 2k2 resistor

**Note - No other peripherals are included. The photos are to demonstrate how you might choose to populate this board.

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RFC2795 Ltd Shipping Policy:

Products are normally shipped next working day, however during busy periods this may extend slightly.

Tracked or Tracked & Signed options are available to most locations. This may not get your kit to you any quicker, but it adds peace of mind that you know where it has got to.

It is your responsibility to pay any import duty or other taxes where appropriate.

Important note for European Union customers Tindie is unable to comply with new EU tax regulations, so unfortunately I am no longer shipping to the EU via Tindie, but do sell them through a website which is does handle the VAT and tax payments.

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (4.80)

Shipping: (5.00)

Communication: (4.80)

Adrian | April 17, 2021

Easy to solder and the perfect size for a minimal RC2014!

I realized that I had accumulated enough modules from updating and expanding my RC2014 over the years that I could build a second tiny RC2014, and this backplane was the perfect fit! The resulting system looks really neat and sits perfectly next to any laptop and/or keyboard! :)

The PCB is easy to solder and doesn't require a manual, because the PCB has clear component markings showing the value and orientation of each component.

George | Dec. 1, 2020

Excellent, easy-to-build backplane for RC2014

Excellent quality product, with clear instructions, which is easy to build even for a novice like me (this was my first build project). I am using it to expand my Minstrel 4th, for which it is works very well.

Neil | June 14, 2020

Excellent!

I purchased the Backplane 5 to extend a Minstrel 4th computer. It makes expansion of the machine very easy and I can make incremental changes to my setup while debugging each stage of the process. It slots nicely on the side of the Minstrel and each bus signal is clearly indicated. This makes connecting a 'scope or logic-analyser very easy and avoids risking any short-circuits on the main PCB. For my own setup, I didn't bother to populate the voltage regulator or reset switch locations.

The backplane provides a route to using other RC2014 compatible products, and the opportunity to connect hardware of my own design to the Minstrel 4th machine.

Soldering the connectors to the board was quick and easy, with no shorts between adjacent pins due to the carefully laid-out PCB artwork. Sure, I might have been able to cobble a backplane together using strip-board, but this off-the-shelf product is Proper Quality and matches the main PCB.

These boards are designed and manufactured to a high standard, are good value-for-money and save me hours of soldering-time.

Conrad | Sept. 24, 2018

Backplane 5 for RC2014 mini - Z80 Homebrew Computer

Backplane 5 motherboard for RC2014 mini - Z80 Homebrew Computer
Backplane 5 motherboard for RC2014 mini - Z80 Homebrew Computer

Colin | May 31, 2018

Works GREAT

Works GREAT
Good Design
Well labeled
High quality PC board with a great solder mask makes it easy to solder on the connectors and other components

Thank-You