EasyFlash 1CR cartridge - DIY soldering kit

Many modern Commodore 64 games and releases use the Easyflash format and the software is distributed as an EasyFlash .crt file. In order to play EasyFlash releases on a real Commodore 64/128, you need an Easyflash cartridge or a cartridge that can act like an EasyFlash cartridge. In some cases you want to store many games on a cartridge. In such cases solutions as the 1541 Ultimate II+, Kung Fu Flash or EasyFlash 3 are the way to go. However, in many cases you want dedicated cartridge for the game. In these cases the original Easyflash1 is the way to go.

The EasyFlash 1CR is a cartridge from the Commodore 64/128, that is functionally equivalent to the EasyFlash 1 by Thomas Giesel, but has been redesigned so it can be built from less components and make it compatible with more cartridge cases. Allthough it contains less components, no corners have been cut and the functionality is exactly identical as the original. The lower amount of components reduces the component cost, but also reduces the amount of work to build the cartridge and even the lower weight reduces the cost to ship it, making it possibly the most affordable Easyflash cartridge yet.

This cartridge is compatible with the large library of available EasyFlash releases and all of those releases are suitable to be installed on the cartridge. EasyFlash cartridges can also be used as so called "multicarts". In a multicart, multiple standard C64 cartridges, which can be either 8K, 16K or Ultimax cartridges, are combined on a single cartridge with a menu interface.

The cartridge has two mounting holes, which makes it compatible with a range of available cartridge cases. The following C64 cartridge cases are compatible:

• Individual Computers
• The Future was 8-bit
• Protoparts

 

More information can be found on the web page of the cartridge.

You can install software into an Easyflash cartridge with the EasyProg utility. The cartridge will be shipped with no software installed, it is ready to be programmed by the user. EasyFlash cartridges are 1MB in size. It is highly recommended that you have a C64 storage medium at your disposal that can handle 1MB files. Examples of such storage media are the SD2IEC and 1541 Ultimate.

Required soldering experience:	It can be built by beginners, but due to the large component count I don't recommend it as your first ever project.
Expected time to build: (assuming some previous experience)	+/- 35 minutes

 

You will receive:

• 1 * Easyflash 1CR PCB
• 1 * 3mm led. Normally green, if you prefer a different colour, drop me a message.
• 3 * 0.1uF ceramic capacitor
• 1 * 33pF ceramic capacitor
• 1 * 2N7000 MOSFET
• 1 * toggle switch
• 3 * BAV21 diode or equivalent
• 1 * 1.5 kΩ resistor
• 2 * 10 kΩ resistor
• 1 * 24 pin 0.6" DIP socket
• 2 * 16 pin 0.3" DIP socket
• 2 * PLCC32 socket
• 1 * 6116 type SRAM
• 1 * 74x139 IC
• 1 * 74x174 IC
  
• 1 * 74X175 IC
  
• 2 * PLCC32 512Kx8 flash ROM
  
• Instruction manual

 

You will not receive a cartridge case with this item. Would you like to buy a the cartridge with a case included? Click here.

The item here is a soldering kit version of the cartridge. The cartridge has been built from through-hole components and is easy to solder yourself. However, in case you rather prefer a pre-built cartridge, look here. Would you like to buy just the cartridge PCB and buy the rest of the components yourself? Look here.

Many thanks to Thomas Giesel for the original EasyFlash design.

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