SC702 – RCBus Backplane

SC702 is an RCBus modular backplane with 6 vertical bus sockets, 1 horizontal bus socket, and one horizontal bus plug.

A 12-slot version of this backplane is also available: SC710

Downloads

Warnings

Assembly: Ensure the bus sockets are pressed firmly against the PCB alone their entire length

Errata

Nothing known

Suppliers

KitsWebsiteFromCurrency
Small Computers DirectSCDirectUKGBP
Stephen C CousinsTindieUKUSD
Small Computer CentralLectronzUKEuro/USD
PCBsWebsiteFromCurrency
Small Computers DirectSCDirectUKGBP
Stephen C CousinsTindieUKUSD
Small Computer CentralLectronzUKEuro/USD
Assembled and TestedWebsiteFromCurrency
Not available
Components
See parts list
Small Computers Direct does not collect VAT for EU countries
Tindie does not collect VAT for EU countries
Lectronz does collect EU VAT for orders up to 150 EUR

Parts List

ReferenceQtyComponent
PCB1SC702, v1.0, PCB
C1 to C66Capacitor, ceramic, 100 nF
JP1, 3 and 5
JP6 to JP10
8Header, male, 2 row x 3 pin, straight
JP2 and 42Header, male, 2 row x 5 pin, straight
Jumper34Jumper shunt
K1 to K66Header, female, 2 row x 40 pin, straight
P11Header, male, 2 row x 40 pin, angled
S11Header, female, 2 row x 40 pin, angled
Spacer6Spacer, 10mm, M3, nylon
Screw (for spacer)12Machine screw, 6mm, M3
Component details and sourcing

Printed Circuit Board

User Guide

This backplane section can be used as an extension to other backplane sections or it can be used as the only backplane in the system.

Input/output port functions
I/O Address ReadWrite
nonen/an/a
Jumper options
JumperFunction
JP 1, 3, 5JPx.1 Connect P37 signal between bus sockets
JPx.2 Connect P38 signal between bus sockets*
JPx.3 Connect P39 signal between bus sockets*
* See daisy chain details below
JP 2, 4JPx.1 Connect TX signal between bus sockets
JPx.2 Connect RX signal between bus sockets
JPx.3 Connect P37 signal between bus sockets
JPx.4 Connect P38 signal between bus sockets*
JPx.5 Connect P39 signal between bus sockets*
* See daisy chain details below
JP6 to 10JPx.1 Connect P42 signal between bus sockets*
JPx.2 Connect P43 signal between bus sockets*
JPx.3 Connect P44 signal between bus sockets
* See daisy chain details below

JP 1 to JP10 allow some signals to be isolated between bus sockets. This can be helpful if there are several modules that use these signals for different functions.

Typically the signals will be connected straight through to each bus socket by fitting jumper shunts horizontally, as illustrated to the left.

Alternatively, a daisy chain can be created from pin 39 to 38. This requires a jumper shunt to be fitted in the position illustrated to the left. A second daisy chain can be created from pin 43 to 42.

A daisy chain is created with two pins on each module. One pin is an output signal while the other is an input signal. The jumper connects the output of one module to the input of the next. The illustration below shows the jumper positions required to create a daisy chain between four modules, in bus sockets K1 to K4.

Daisy chains are typically use to create a priority ‘chain’. In the case illustrated above the output is from pin 39 of one module and this is connected to the input pin 38 on the input of module to the right. This creates a priority chain where the modules on the left are a higher priority than modules on the right.

Typical uses for a daisy chain are the Z80 mode 2 interrupt priority, IEI and IEO signals. This is specified as using pins 39 and 38. The second chain, using pins 43 and 42 can be used for a DMA priority chain.

Priority chains require all bus slots in the chain to be occupied by suitable modules. A gap can be left by fitting a pair of jumper shunts horizontally to pass the input and output signals straight through to the bus socket not use the chain signals, rather than being crossed from output to input pins.

The illustration above configures the backplane for a daisy chain where bus socket K3 does not receive a crossed chain signal and thus should not contain a module which is part of the chain. Socket K3 can be empty or can contain a module which does not have connections to pins 39 or 38.

Assembly Guide

Below is the suggested order of assembly. A general guide to assembling circuit boards can be found here.

  • Decoupling capacitors C1 to C6
    These can be fitted either way around
  • Header pins P1
  • Bus socket S1
  • Header pins JP1 to JP10
  • Bus sockets K1 to K6
    Ensure the bus sockets are pressed firmly against the PCB along their entire length

Compatibility

This backplane conforms fully to the RCBus specification v1.0 and thus supports: RCBus-2014, RCBus-Z80, RCBus-68xx, RCBus-9995.

The RCBus specification includes RCBus-2014 (both RC2014 standard 40-pin bus and RC2014 enhanced 60-pin bus) and also the full 80-pin RCBus. The 80-pin RCBus provides support for advanced Z80 features, such as the interrupt daisy-chain, as well as support for other processor families.

The following table indicates electrical compatibility with SC702. Check firmware and software details for any required software support.

Product (80-pin)?Compatibility notes
SC126
Z180 motherboard
Adds Z180 SBC/
motherboard
SC701
Backplane 6+1
Adds 6 module sockets
RCBus 80-pin and PSU
SC702
Backplane 6+1
Adds 6 module sockets
RCBus 80-pin
SC703
Power from 12v
Adds power supply (8 to
12 volt input) and reset
SC704
I2C bus master
Adds I2C bus master
and I2C EEPROM
SC705
Serial ACIA
Adds one serial port
Typically set to 0x40
SC706
Z80 CPU
Adds Z80 CPU and
main bus clock
SC707
Memory 128k
Adds 128k RAM and
128k flash ROM
SC708
Z80 SBC
Adds CPU, ROM, RAM
clock and reset
SC709
Backplane 12+1
Adds 12 module sockets
RCBus 80-pin and PSU
SC710
Backplane 12+1
Adds 12 module sockets
RCBus 80-pin
SC711
Prototyping
Prototyping module
SC712
Power from 5v
Adds power supply (5
volt input) and reset
SC713
RCBus tool
n/aSimple reference tool
No electrical function
SC714
Memory 512k
Adds 512k RAM and
512k flash ROM
SC715
Compact flash
Adds Compact Flash
storage
SC716
Z80 SIO/2
Adds two serial ports
Typically set to 0x84
SC717
Z80 PIO
Adds parallel I/O
using Z80 PIO
SC718
Z80 CTC
Adds counter/timer
using Z80 CTC
SC719
Digital I/O
Adds digital I/O
Eight in, eight out
SC720
Z80 motherboard
Adds Z80 SBC/
motherboard
SC721
Memory 512k
Adds 512k RAM and
2 x 512k flash ROM
SC722
Z180 CPU
Adds Z180 CPU with
two serial ports
SC723
Backplane 3
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
SC724
Breakout
Prototyping breakout
module
SC725
SIO+CTC
Adds two serial ports
and 4 counter/timers
SC726
Clock generator
Generates CLK and
CLK2 bus signals
SC727
Real time clock
Adds real time clock
for time and date
SC728
Module riser
Simple module riser
for RCBus 80-pin
SC791
Z80 system
Modular Z80 system
SC792
Z180 system
Modular Z180 system
Product (40 pin)?Compatibility notes
SC114
Z80 motherboard
Z80 SBC/motherboard
SC130
Z180 motherboard
Z180 SBC/motherboard
SC133
Backplane 11+1
Adds 11 module sockets
RCBus 40-pin and PSU
SC134
LED output port
Adds eight LED
outputs
SC135
Digital output port
Adds eight digital
outputs
SC136
Digital input port
Adds eight digital
inputs
SC137
I2C bus master
Adds I2C bus master
SC139
Serial ACIA
Adds one serial port
Typically set to 0x40
SC141
Backplane 12+1
Adds 12 module sockets
RCBus 40-pin
SC142
Power from 12v
Adds power supply (8 to
12 volt input) and reset
SC143
Flash ROM
Adds 128k flash ROM
SC145
Compact flash
Adds Compact Flash
storage
SC147
Backplane 6+1
Adds 6 module sockets
RCBus 40-pin
SC148
Power from 5v
Adds power supply (5
volt input) and reset
SC149
Z80 CPU
Adds Z80 CPU and
main bus clock
SC150
Paged RAM 128k
Adds 128k of paged
RAM
SC151
Paged ROM 128k
Adds 128k of paged
ROM
Other suppliers?Compatibility notes
RC2014
Mini system
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
RC2014
Pro system
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
RC2014
Zed system
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
RC2014
Micro module
Adds CPU, ROM, RAM
serial, clock and reset
RC2014
Backplane 5
If header pins fitted it
adds 4 x 40-pin sockets
RC2014
Backplane 8
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
RC2014
Backplane Pro
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image.pngNo male header pins
for expansion
RC2014
Z80 CPU
Adds Z80 CPU
RC2014
SIO/2 dual serial
Adds two serial ports
at 0x80 to 0x87
RC2014
Compact flash
Adds Compact Flash
at 0x10 to 0x17
RC2014
Dual clock
Generates CLK and
CLK2 bus signals
RC2014
Pageable ROM
Adds 64k paged ROM
RC2014
64k RAM
Adds 64k paged RAM
RC2014
Memory 512k
Adds 512k RAM and
512k flash ROM
RC2014
Digital I/O
Adds eight LED outputs
and eight push buttons
RC2014
Real time clock
Adds real time clock
for time and date
RC2014
RP2040 VGA terminal
Connect VGA monitor
and USB keyboard
RC2014
Pi Pico terminal
Connect VGA monitor
and USB keyboard
RC2014
YM2149 sound card
Adds authentic retro
sound
Weird electronics
Flock v2
Adds floppy disk
and real time clock

Notes

  • This product is designed for hobby use and is not suitable for industrial, commercial, or safety-critical applications.
  • The product contains small parts and is not suitable for young children.

Homebrew 8-bit retro computing