Sharp EL-8: Difference between revisions

Sharp EL-8
Manufacturer	Sharp
Introduced	1970
Calculator
Display type	VFD
Display size	8 digits
Programming
Other
Serial Numbers	1012099

Revision as of 21:32, 15 July 2022

The Sharp EL-8 was an early handheld calculator produced by Sharp starting around December 1970.

Special features

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

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

The Sharp EL-8 came in the colors black and white.

Gallery

Powered on.
Bottom case.
Badge (#1012099).
Rear of internals (with battery-bypass capacitor mod).
Front of the internals.
Powered-on without the display cage, there is copper tape against the back of the tubes and without the tape having a connection to ground the tubes will light dimly and unevenly.
Top of the keypad cage.
Bottom of the keypad cage.
Display board assembly.
Top of the logic board.
Bottom of the logic board.
Top of the power supply board.
Bottom of the power supply board (with battery-bypass capacitor mod).

Carrying case

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.

Front
Side, showing buttons

Sharp EL-81 Power brick

The Sharp EL-8 came with a Sharp EL-81 power brick for charging and powering the calculator.

Top of the power brick
Bottom of the power brick

EL-84 Battery

The Sharp EL-8's battery pack is 7.2v rechargable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) made up of 6 AA-sized cells.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 File:Sharp EL-8 Power Supply (Bottom) with Battery Bypass Capacitor Mod.jpg|Bottom of the power supply board (with battery-bypass capacitor mod).
 </gallery>
+=== Carrying case ===
+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.
+<gallery perrow="0" widths="350" heights="350">
+File:Sharp EL-8 Carrying Case (Top).jpg|Front
+File:Sharp EL-8 Carrying Case (Side).jpg|Side, showing buttons
+</gallery>
+=== Sharp EL-81 Power brick ===
+The Sharp EL-8 came with a Sharp EL-81 power brick for charging and powering the calculator.
+<gallery perrow="0" widths="350" heights="350">
+File:Sharp EL-81 Power Brick.jpg|Top of the power brick
+File:Sharp EL-81 Power Brick (Bottom).jpg|Bottom of the power brick
+</gallery>
+=== EL-84 Battery ===
+The Sharp EL-8's battery pack is 7.2v rechargable nickel-cadmium (NiCad) made up of 6 AA-sized cells.
+[[File:Sharp EL-84 Battery pack.jpg|thumb|Sharp EL-84 Battery pack for the [[Sharp EL-8]].]]
 == Facit 1111 ==
 == Addo-X 9364 ==
+== Battery-bypass capacitor mod ==
 == External Resources ==

Sharp EL-8: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 21:32, 15 July 2022

Contents

Special features

Internal design