Note: The Prototype 160mm Card is supplied in Kitset form only (assembly required). The base price is for the double-sided silkscreened Prototype 160mm Card PCB ONLY. The optional Hardware pack (64 pin or 96 pin), is required to make a complete Prototype Card Kitset. So, if you already have the required parts, then you can just order the PCB only.

What is Europe Card Bus (ECB)

The original ECB implementation, was specified by Kontron in the late 70’s. It used only rows A & C (64 pins), of the standard DIN 41612 3 rows of 32 pins connector (for its bus signals).

Over time, hobbyists have since evolved the original Kontron ECB specification to now utilise all 3 rows (A, B & C) on the 96-pin DIN 41612 (3 row connector).

What is Minimalist Europe Card Bus (MECB)

As noted above, Europe Card Bus (ECB) is a Retro CPU Bus standard from the late 1970’s / early 1980’s.

The “Minimalist Europe Card Bus” (as I’ve called it), is a Retro 8-bit CPU Bus and PCB design standard that I decided to define & document. The purpose of which is to provide a modular platform for me to re-experience the fun of experimenting with the different 8-bit CPU’s, and the various video and peripheral devices, that I grew up with in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

My goal was that of a robust and modular design platform which allows me to create interchangeable PCB cards, based on time proven reliable bus connectors and modern low-cost prototype PCB manufacturing.

i.e. A robust, flexible, and low cost way for me to re-create some of the early microprocessor circuits, that I’d originally built using Wire-Wrap methods back in the day.

As evident from the name, the Bus itself is based on a Minimalist implementation of the original Europe Card Bus (ECB) standard.

Prototype 160mm Card Design

Prototype 160mm Card Design Parameters:

• Implement the original Eurocard standard card size of 100mm x 160mm
• Corner mounting holes, as per the MECB Standardised Board Mechanical Specification.
• A 64-pin or 96-pin header, clearly labelled with the A, B & C rows and pins 1 – 32, for ease of access to all bus signals including MECB through to Expanded ECB.
• Power bus bars along the two sides of the card, to distribute the +5V and Ground power connections.
• All remaining board space (with exception of mounting hole clearance), to be utilised for free use through-hole pads, in a 0.1″ perf-board style grid.
• With the exception of the top edge 3 rows (see below), all grid holes are connected in groups of 3, to facilitate easy wiring of 0.3" and 0.6" DIP packaged IC's.
• 3 rows of grid holes at the top edge of the board form a simple non-connected grid, to facilitate mounting 0.1" pin profile board connectors.

Note: There are also Prototype Cards available in the standardised MECB 100mm x 100mm card size, including with an on-board glue-logic PLD (either 16V8 or 22V10). There are also Grid Card equivalents available (plain Grid, instead of 3x1 connected pads). Please see the seperate Lectronz product listings.

What You Get

To satisfy everyone's differing needs, I've split the Prototype 160mm Card Kitset into an optional add-on pack selection.

Firstly, note that the base price is for the double-sided silkscreened Prototype Card PCB Only.

Then you add an optional Hardware Pack (either 64-pin or 96-pin), to complete the Kitset, depending on your Bus and parts requirements.

Optional Hardware Pack includes:

• 4x M3 Nylon PCB Spacer 12mm
• 8x M3 Nylon Bolt 6mm (for Spacer mounting)
• 2x M2.5 Stainless Steel Bolt 10mm (2 required for Right Angle Connector)
• 2x M2.5 Stainless Steel Hexagonal Nut (for above Bolts)

and

64-pin Pack

• 1x Right Angle Male DIN41612 364 Keyed Bus Connector (3 row 64 pins)
• 2x 40 pin PCB Headers (to be cut into 2x 32 pin headers)

Or

96-pin Pack

• 1x Right Angle Male DIN41612 396 Keyed Bus Connector (3 row 96 pins)
• 3x 40 pin PCB Headers (to be cut into 3x 32 pin headers)

Prototype 160mm Card BOM

The following is a full Bill Of Materials (BOM) to allow fully assembling your Prototype 160mm Card, ready for adding your own project designs.

Note that the PCB is supplied, and all components are available via the optional Hardware Packs.

Default (PCB Only)

Optional Pack

Via the Documentation link (below) you'll also find related videos, and other videos presenting different components of the my retro 8-bit computing projects.

Your Prototype 160mm Card Kitset order is shipped in a robust cardboard carton with packing, for safe delivery via New Zealand International Air Parcel (see example shipping photo).

We pride ourselves with our "Next Business Day" Shipping Policy, and robust carton packaging. We also build to order, so if you order items with an "Assemble it for me" option selected, it may slightly delay shipping (while we build it for you).