At the time, Apple II computers generally did not require active cooling.However, the increasing scarcity of replacement hardware is convincing [Joshua Coleman] Think of one A more powerful active cooling solution for his Apple II+, Increasing the possibility that it will continue to deal with numbers in the coming decades.
Joshua mentioned that he recorded the temperature inside the Apple II+, with a maximum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (over 43 degrees Celsius). For a fully loaded Apple II system, this is not entirely unexpected, and components are built to handle this problem-the original data sheet of the 6500 microprocessor series shows that the CPU can handle temperatures up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius) . Unfortunately, we no longer deal with brand new components. Microprocessors decades ago may not have the same heat resistance as before. All components will eventually wear out, and heat will definitely accelerate the aging process.
To maintain his system, Joshua pieced together an Arduino-based cooling system for his Apple II+. The temperature/humidity sensor continuously monitors the heat inside the case-when things get too hot, the 12V fan will start to draw in fresh air on the logic board and expansion cards. The simple cooling curve reduces the wear of the fan motor and relay.
This is not the first active cooling system in the Apple II series-in the 1980s, Kensington produced a popular (if not very ugly) “System Saver” accessory, an external bolt-on fan that keeps the device cool . These are usually deployed in schools and advanced users who seek higher reliability when maximizing the use of Apple II expansion slots. This configuration may increase the temperature due to additional power requirements and reduced airflow.
This project has a lot of room for expansion.Anyone who wants to go further can find project details and Arduino code above Joshua’s blog.
This is not the first time Joshua’s Apple II hacker has appeared on this website. We recently reported on his project to print breaking news on a dot matrix printer. The video of the hacker is as follows.