One of the most immediately obvious ways Sinclair cut costs was in its power supply and regulation circuitry, especially in the ZX81 and TS 1000.
The most trivial of components, a power switch, was omitted from every Sinclair, from the ZX80 to the ZX Spectrum. Users could unplug the power from the computer, from the outlet or use a power strip to switch the power on or off. Inserting a power switch between the power supply and computer was a quick and easy solution.
A bit more challenging was the power supply and voltage regulator. The power supply provided just enough amperage to run the computer and a 16K RAM pack. Anything beyond that required a replacement supply.
The ZX80, ZX81 and TS 1000 computers all suffered from overheating, due in part to the overall design and an undersized heat sink. Replacement power supplies and larger heat sinks were common solutions.
On the positive side, the power requirements of the Sinclair computers were minimal enough that an uninterrupted power supply could be easily made using just a few batteries.
| Name | Description | Computers |
|---|---|---|
| 2 amp Power Supply | Heavy duty replacement for the standard Sinclair/Timex supply. Supplies up to two amps to run external memory, printer, I/O modules, and other add-ons. Eliminates black bars and other problems caused by an insufficient power supply. Includes LED power indicator. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Add-A-Switch | Small power switch that inserts between the computer and the power supply. Later called the Lyon Switch. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Baby BBU | NiCad battery backup. 30 minute capacity. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Battery backup | Plans or kit to power computer for 25 or more minutes with 1K, 10 or more minutes with 16K. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Battery backup unit | Provides up to 30 minutes of power via D cell batteries. Connects between power supply and computer. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| BBU-1 | Provides up to one hour of power via NiCd batteries. Connects between power supply and computer. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| BBU-2 | Provides more than two hours of power via NiCd batteries. Includes built-in, heavy duty power supply, power indicators and power switch. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Clean Line Power Supply Regulator | Pre-regulator conditions the incoming DC voltage from the ZX/TS power pack into the minimum required to operate the computer. Also included is a system reset switch. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Control Module | Power switch, ON indicator, load/save isolation switch with load level monitor and reset control. Isolation switch prevents feedback during program save. Reset allows recovery from crashes without powering down peripherals. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Easy Z Heat Eliminators | Engineered heat transfer solution. No modification to interior of computer. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| HL-1205 Power Supply | Switching power supply. Use with 12v battery for UPS. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Improved Heat Sink | Machined from aluminum alloy. 50% thicker and more than twice the surface area of the original part. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| In-Line Voltage Dropper | Lowers voltage provided to computer so it runs cooler. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| On/Off switch | Kit with parts. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| On/Off Switch | Includes circuitry to improve reliability of loading software from cassette. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Overvolt protection | Protect all ZX80/81 ICs if voltage regulator fails by crowbar and fusing. | Sinclair ZX80, Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Line Control | Provides regulated DC power. Power switch with a visual indicator and push button system reset that allows convenient system reset or power up/down. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Line Filter/Suppressor Module | Protects against pulsed, continuous and/or intermittent radio frequency interference which can cause malfunctions in electronic equipment. Also protects against high voltage transients and surges such as those produced by lightning, switching surges, and noise spikes. Includes power switch, pilot light, 5 amp fuse and two protected outlets. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Paw Power Function Unit | Plug-in unit, twice the size of its 9V rechargeable battery. Provides power/RESET switch, up to 15 minutes of battery back-up, and a power LED (green for line, red for battery). | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Saver 1000 | Battery back-up unit, rechargable batteries. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Supply | Design and build your own supply to fit your needs. Includes how to estimate both present and future needs and covers both single and multiple-voltage. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Supply | 650 milliamp power supply with inline power switch. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Supply | 9 volt, 1 amp power supply for ZX81/TS1000. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Supply | Two filtered outputs. Output 1: 5 volts at 1.5 amps; output 2: adjustable from 6.5 to 15 volts at 1.5 amps. Incorporates push button to clear the computer, an LED power indicator and connecting plug and cable. Overcomes problem of heat in the original power pack. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Supply Buffer | Battery-backed power supply buffer; supplies 9 volts for up to 30 minutes. Fits between computer and power supply, recharges automatically. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Power Switch | Eliminates wear on power jack. 3.25 x 2 x 1 inch black case with heavy duty rocker switch. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| PSU 9v 2 amp | Mounts inside Fuller keyboard. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| QL Power Supply | Replacement power supply. Not available directly from Sinclair; this was available from third-party vendors. | Sinclair QL |
| SPS | Nine volt, two amp power supply. Provides all power needed for expanded system operation. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Surge Clamping Diodes | Prevent voltage overage. | Sinclair ZX80, Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Sync Saver SVR-1 | Battery backup power supply. Rechargeable ni-cad batteries. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| Sync Saver SVR-2 | Battery back-up power supply; alkaline batteries. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| The Cooler | Pre-regulator. Output rated at 1.5 amps; input rated at 9-35 VDC. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| UPS-1 | Battery-powered backup system. Power supply plugs into module, computer is powered from module. Activated by drop in voltage from power supply. On/off/reset switch. Uses two standard 9 volt batteries. UPS-1M includes program loading monitor to solve tape loading problems. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| UPS-2 | Battery-powered backup system. Power supply plugs into module, computer is powered from module. Activated by drop in voltage from power supply. On/off/reset switch. Use rechargable Ni-Cd batteries. UPS-2M includes program loading monitor to solve tape loading problems. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| WITWATT 1000 | Battery back-up uninterruptible power supply. Up to 7 hours operation, 4 hours with 16K. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| ZX81 Improved Heatsink | Prevents system crashes caused by overheating voltage regulator. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |
| ZXPS/1 | Heavy duty power supply designed for the ZX81 or TS1000. Fully regulated, rated at 1.5 to 2 amps. Made to supply enough power for the ZX81 or TS1000 and any add-on. | Timex/Sinclair 1000 |