Sharp EL-8
Other names | Facit 1111, ADDO-X 9364 |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Sharp |
Introduced | 1970 |
Calculator | |
Display type | VFD |
Display size | 8 digits |
Programming | |
Other | |
Serial Numbers | 1012099 |
The Sharp EL-8 was an early handheld calculator produced by Sharp starting around December 1970.
Special features[edit | edit source]
Since the calculator uses the Itron font tubes it does not feature leading-zero supression, to help with readability (e.g. it would display '00000001' to display '1').
The calculator uses separate 'minus equals' and 'plus equals' keys, as well as a single key for multiplication and division, this was common for the time period.
Internal design[edit | edit source]
The calculator uses 3 PCBs internally, one for the logic, one for the display, and another for the power supply, the logic board and display board slot into a card-edge connector mounted to the keypad assembly, with the power board being connected to the display board via a wired connector and mounted with screws.
The calculator uses a reed-switch keypad, Vacuum Fluorescent Displays (8x Itron DG10L and 1x Itron SP8A), and 9 Integrated Circuits, the Rockwell AC2261, AU2271B, DC1152A, NRD2256, the Hitachi HD3121, and the NEC μPD190C.
Sharp EL-8[edit | edit source]
The Sharp EL-8 came in the colors black and white.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Carrying case[edit | edit source]
The Sharp EL-8 came with a carrying case, the zipper latches shut and the carrying handle can button into 2 positions, with the handle extended or retracted.
Sharp EL-81 Power brick[edit | edit source]
The Sharp EL-8 came with a Sharp EL-81 power brick for charging and powering the calculator.
EL-84 Battery[edit | edit source]
The Sharp EL-8's battery pack is a 7.2v rechargable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) pack made up of 6 AA-sized cells.
Facit 1111[edit | edit source]
ADDO-X 9364[edit | edit source]
Battery-bypass capacitor mod[edit | edit source]
To bypass the requirement of the battery pack you can put a capacitor across the battery terminals, a 470uf 16v cap is approximately what you want.
This mod uses D-SUB pins ("nixie pins") soldered to the capacitor, and the capacitor hot-glued in-place of the battery, to make the mod reversible.
External Resources[edit | edit source]
- Sharp EL-8 on The Old Calculator Museum
- Sharp EL-8, Facit 111, and Addo-X 9364 on the Vintage Calculators Web Museum
- Sharp EL-8 on the Datamath Calculator Musem
- Sharp EL-8, EL-8M on John Wolff's Web Museum