Following on from our Commodore 64 and Amiga Machine Hubs, I’m excited to announce the latest addition to Smiggy's World — the Commodore Plus/4, C16 & C116 (TED Series) Machine Hub!

When Commodore released the 264 series in 1984, they took a very different architecture path compared to the C64. While these machines offered 121 colors, built-in BASIC 4.0, and a sleek physical design, they also introduced a unique set of repair challenges — from fragile custom chips to unconventional connector layouts.

Whether you're fixing a blank screen on a Plus/4, recapping a C16, or restoring a rubber-key C116, this new hub brings all your essential bench reference tools into a single, clean workspace.

What’s Inside the TED Series Hub?

1. Machine & Board Specifications

Clear, quick-reference breakdowns for the major TED-family hardware variants:

  • Commodore Plus/4: 64 KB RAM, built-in 3+1 software suite, and an expanded keyboard layout.
  • Commodore 16: 16 KB RAM packaged in the classic dark-gray breadbin case.
  • Commodore 116: Europe-only rubber-key membrane model with a ultra-compact layout.

2. Thermal & Overheating Safeguards (MOS 7501/8501 CPU & 8360 TED)

The 7501/8501 CPU and 8360 TED (Text Display Identifier) ICs are notorious for running extremely hot and failing prematurely. The hub includes:

  • Critical thermal management advice (heatsink attachment and thermal pad recommendations).
  • Modern FPGA and CPLD-based chip replacement options (CPU adapters, TED replacements).

3. Diagnostic Checklist for Common Bench Faults

Step-by-step diagnostic workflows tailored specifically to the 264 series architecture:

  • Black Screen / No Border: Isolate power supply rail failures, defective 8360 TED, 7501 CPU lockup, or faulty PLA/RAM.
  • Garbled Text / Screen Artifacts: Identify failing 4164/4416 DRAM chips or corrupted system ROMs.
  • Keyboard/Joystick Unresponsiveness: Troubleshooting the TED chip scanning lines and cassette/joystick input lines.

4. Custom IC Pinout References

Direct access to full pinouts and functional summaries for key 264-series integrated circuits:

  • MOS 7501 / 8501 CPU — Central processor with built-in I/O capabilities.
  • MOS 8360 TED — Text Display Identifier handling video, audio, and timers.
  • MOS 6529 / 8529 — Single-port I/O expansion chip.
  • MOS 251641-02 PLA — Programmable Logic Array custom logic IC.

5. Connector & Port Pinout Tables

Avoid frying ports with non-standard pin configurations during testing:

  • Mini-DIN Joystick Ports (C16 / Plus/4): Pinout configurations and 9-pin D-Sub adapter wiring diagrams.
  • 8-Pin DIN A/V Output: Composite and S-Video pin mappings for optimal picture quality.
  • Datasette Port (7-pin Mini-DIN): Wiring and power line specifics for C16/Plus/4 tape units.

Try It Out

Head over to smiggy.com/commodore-ted to explore the new hub. As with all tools on Smiggy's World, you can view it in high-contrast Amber Terminal or Matrix CRT display modes for that true 80s bench vibe!

Got feedback or a specific repair trick for the 264 series? Drop a comment below or reach out via the contact page. Happy soldering!