Emulator Pi1541-III of 1541 Disk Drive + Epyx Fastload Cartridge, RPi3A+

The device is an emulator of the 1541 disk drive based on Raspberry Pi 3A+.

PCB color: Black.

Functionality:

Pi1541 allows playing disk images on Commodore computers using a 32GB microSD card. Compatible models include:

• Commodore 64
• Commodore 128
• Commodore VIC-20
• Commodore 16
• Commodore Plus/4

The set includes:

• Power cable with USB plug for the included 5V power supply.
• 5V power supply.
• Serial IEC cable for the disk drive.
• Epyx Fastload Cartridge with a reset button (button colors available: white, red, green, yellow, blue).
  The cartridge speeds up disk operations up to 8 times.
• Knob in gold, black, silver, red, and blue colors.

Technical highlights, no fluff:

• Compatibility at its best:
  Nearly 100% compatibility with the original, including support for many fast loaders (even those with copied originals and demo scene gems). Unlike SD2IEC, this device runs 6502 code in full cycle-exact mode, just like in 1982.
• Sci-fi working modes:
  • Minimal SD2IEC mode (for browsing PRG and D64 files).
  • Full 1541/1581 emulation after loading a disk image.
  • Support for reading, writing, multiple channels, and sequential files.
• Classy hardware:
  • Built on Raspberry Pi 3A+ (lacking RJ45 and 3 USB ports compared to Raspberry Pi 3B/3B+).
  • PCB with logic level converter (5V CBM → 3.3V Pi).
  • IEC connectors and chain option (cascade connection with other drives – real or emulated).
  • Version III equipped with a 1.3" OLED display and rotary encoder – folder navigation like on a smartphone, without cumbersome joystick control.
• Media support:
  • Store hundreds of D64 files on an SD card (up to 32GB+).
  • Browse files via Pi keyboard/screen or C64 commands (LOAD "*",8, LOAD"*",8,1 or simply Commodore + Run/Stop button – only possible with the Epyx Fastload cartridge).
  • Write support – but remember, it’s retro! Always back up before your cat sits on the card.
• Power and assembly:
  • Powered by the included 5V power supply.
  • Compact casing.

Based on the project:

https://github.com/tebl/C64-Pi1541-III

Watch the video:

YouTube Video