Roland R5 power supply or connector

[Circuitbenders]

Before i go to the effort of building a replacement PSU i don't suppose anyone has a spare Roand R5 power supply or even just one of their wierd power connectors going spare? I assume its the same PSU as used on the R8 but i'm not sure.

In their infinite wisdom Roland chose to use a +10v / -10v dual power supply with a strange 3 pin D shaped power connector on the R5. This does seem like a rather gratuitous way of getting people to pay them stupid money for a replacement PSU if they need one. It looks like i'm going to have to just build a new power supply and bodge in a different power socket if i can't get hold of an original.

[Circuitbenders]

Well it works fine with the ±12v rails from a PC power supply, bit bulky though.

[LoneStar81]

Late reply, but still: I have some spares laying around I want to get rid of, including an R-5 / R-8 PSU, a mostly-finished-bent R-5 and an R-8 in parts. You'll only need a power plug adaptor since this one is EU-type.
If you want, you can have the stuff for cheap, like postage plus a favour of some sort or anything.

[Circuitbenders]

i would definately be interested, i've sent you a PM. 

[LoneStar81]

*bump* PM

[Circuitbenders]

sorted!

[aravindhome]

Hi... Just joined this forum for the sole purpose of finding an adapter for my Roland R8. If anybody has more lying around and would like to part with one, I would be more than grateful to get them from you.

You can PM me anytime with the info......

Thanks a ton,

Raj

[Circuitbenders]

for another R5 i have, i built a new external +/-10v PSU in a small case, and stuck a new three pin DIN plug on the side of the machine to connect them together. it seemed a whole lot easier and cheaper than trying to get hold of a replacement supply, or even one of those roland power plugs.

[rundlej]

Hi, I am also on the hunt for a replacement power supply as mine has gone missing somehow. Roland want about £45 for a new one - wow!

If anyone could offer some tips on how to get hold of any parts I could use to replace it then that would be great too.

Thanks

[Circuitbenders]

You don't really need +/- 10v as +/- 12v does the job fine, but you will never find a 3 pin connector like the one the R5 uses. As i say, i added a new 3 pin DIN plug on the side and put together a power cable leading from a new power supply in an external box.

Theres loads of schematics for dual rail power supplies on the net, but this one from MFOS can be used with an external  AC transformer, which is a bit safer than messing around with a mains transformer if you've never built a PSU before
http://www.musicfromouterspace.com/analogsynth_new/WALLWARTSUPPLY/WALLWARTSUPPLY.php

I've built that one a couple of times on stripboard and it works fine. You can replace the suggested positive and negative regulators with 10v ones if you can find them, but i don't think its that much of a problem. In fact i don't see any reason why the R5 wouldn't work perfectly fine on a +/- 9v supply. It has internal regulators that take it down to 5v anyway so having a +/- 9v input will just generate slightly less heat than +/- 10v.

The only reason i can see that Roland specify +/- 10v is so they can charge a stupid amount for a new PSU. Its perfectly safe to use the +/- 12v outputs from an old PC power supply if you don't want to build anything.

[Acid Army]

im looking to purchase a R8 connector adapter  as i olnly have a USA  . one and live in UK  please any feedback gratefully welcomed .. kENNY

[Circuitbenders]

Do you mean a power supply? If so you'll have to contact Roland who will charge you about £50, or build one yourself and use a new socket.

You can't buy the connector plugs, as they only existed on the R8 and R5.

I've just put up a new page on the site that has some pictures of what i did http://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/newsarchive/rolandR5.html

[dustyfinga1.0]

This is an OLD thread, but I too am looking for the elusive ACH-120 PSU for an R-5 and R-8.  Before I build a MFOS bipolar supply, does anyone have one available for sale??  I would greatly appreciate it!  Thx.

[acrilico78]

Just a heads up 5 years later concerning that infamous power supply which nobody can find.

Initially, i have built mine over a computer PSU with a DIN connection.

Today i realised that this plug (which you can find anywhere) works like a charm !

[Circuitbenders]

We just put up a new page on the main site detailing just replacing the whole power supply with a normal 12v barrel plug one by using an internal cheap chinese dual power rail generator board.

Take a look here;
https://www.circuitbenders.co.uk/tutorials/R8power/R8power.html