Introducing and powering the VIC-20

I recently bought this Commodore VIC-20 with an Arfon Micro/VIC Expansion included. In this video I give it a clean, open it up for an inspection, and see if I can find a way to get it powered up!

[@jokeyrhyme]

I love the look 'n' feel of the keyboards on those old machines

[@brimsor]

Yeah this one and the Commodore 64 are reasonably nice to type on. The ZX Spectrum leaves a lot to be desired though haha

[@MD_il_microcanale]

hello, as well as being your new subscriber, I welcome you to the owner club of this fantastic expansion! I also made some videos about it. My vic 20 arfon has a PET keyboard and a VIC gold-ceramic chip. The arfon expansion card is still a prototype, ie without the manufacturer's logo!
I would like to leave you some links here, where I try it with demos, but I believe that the YT algorithm can eliminate the message if I insert links

[@brimsor]

Hey, sorry for the long delay in responding! I'd love to check out your videos on the topic, I'm planning to get back to the Vic-20 soon

[@nefaurora]

Very Interesting that you can even power up the VIC-20 by reversing the power flow through the userport. I did not even know that this was even possible. In the video, Because you are using PAL, Some VIC games like GORF were created for NTSC format, so to compensate, PAL machines can move the screen using the cursor keys or joystick to center the screen. Also, The reverse is also true, If you are in NTSC and run a game originally created in PAL format and run it on an NTSC machine, It will do the same exact thing for NTSC users. IT was just an ingenious way for the machine to compensate for NTSC vs. PAL Format differences that is in the VIC's design. Also, I noticed that while your VIC does not have the RARE PET Keyboard, IT DOES have the RARE Unobtainium PET keyboard Shift Lock key switch, which was used on a few rare updated keyboards. That switch alone (If it is working and locks) is worth more than your entire VIC-20 itself. No lie. You might want to Keep that switch for yourself, or pick up a newer VIC or C64 keyboard that has a newer Shift Lock installed, and Sell off the VIC Keyboard you have because it has the uber rare PET Keyboard Shift Lock installed in it. Just letting you know! And finally, I think your problem with your VIC is the Character ROM or BASIC ROM chips. They should both be socketed for easy removal and replacement. Tony K. ;)

[@brimsor]

Thanks a lot for the info! Since the video I had learned that fact about the adjustable display, very interesting little feature there. Hoping to get back to this project soon, real life took over for the last year or so unfortunately