Padial LPE-4EXP slot expanders available

Leonardo Padial has done it again! As we reported several years ago, he released the famous SD/MMC card controller for MSX in 2008, making no less than 4 different versions available. It seems that Leonardo likes to release a huge quantity of hardware pieces at the same time so, why should it be different now?

Following the same line, now is the time for a slot expander. Well, 3 slot expanders to be precise. All of them can be connected to an MSX slot (without cable), and can be (optionally) used with a external power supply if needed. For this last option an extra 50 wire SCSI cable is needed that can be bought for € 20,-.

The specifications of the slot expanders are as follows:

LPE-4EXP-V3B: 4 slot expander. Basic model €80,-.
LPE-4EXP-V3SC: 4 slot expander. Basic model €100,-. Can optionally be connected to the MSX with an SCSI-mini 50 cable (€ 20,-). This option needs the € 20,- LPE-SCSI-V1 cartridge.
LPE-EV4EXP8B-V4: 4 slot expander. Basic model €140,-. This model can not only be connected to the MSX in the same way as the LPE-4EXP-V3SC model, but is also prepared for future CPU expansion cards.

The MSX is used as the main source power by default but through jumpers, a PC or micropower (with 12V rectifier) power supply can be used as well.

One important feature of LPE-4EXP-V3B and LPE-4EXP-V3SC versions consists of another jumper with two different
functions. It allows to disable the slot#1 and enable it later (to read a ROM for example) or to repeat the slot#0
in the slot#1. On the other hand, the LPE-EV4EXP8B-V4 version only allows to disable slot#1. It offers new
options such as multi access implemented on hardware. It features 2 CPLDs that contains the slot access protocol and
the MSX Z80 protocol respectively, both for expansion purposes as outlined above.

According Padial, availability of these slot expanders is limited. The new slot expanders haven't been added to Padial's website yet, but interested buyers can contact him through the e-mail address listed on his website to buy one.

Relevant link: Leonardo Padial's website

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Comments (13)

By djh1697

Paragon (1702)

10-07-2012, 23:41

A cool device! Will you be able to use a MegaRAM in the same expansion slot with an SCC in slot 1, like the Brazilian slot expander allowed? This is nice to see

By Buleste

Master (158)

11-07-2012, 11:09

Do these work on just MSX2 upwards or will they work on MSX's?

By MicroTech

Champion (388)

11-07-2012, 14:13

Very nice piece of hardware
I have a question: when LPE-4EXP-V3SC board is externally powered, which is the maximum length of the miniscsi cable?

By Leonardo Padial

Expert (73)

11-07-2012, 16:27

to @MicriTech:
- When is powered from MSXs or externaly only change the position the main Jumper red (5V), black (+12V) and blue (-12V), but the SCSI-II cable is 1m length. Other length do non had been probed.

By Retrofan

Paragon (1339)

11-07-2012, 18:02

Very nice hardware, but what about a casing?

By Leonardo Padial

Expert (73)

12-07-2012, 07:57

to Retrofan:
this HW don't need casing.

By edoz

Prophet (2482)

12-07-2012, 14:55

they look very nice and solid. I like the one with the scsi cable.. hmmm ... let's see how high my msx butget is at the moment ... What could you do with a CPU extentions bdw ? Maybe i have to be prep. for the future...

By Manuel

Ascended (19469)

12-07-2012, 16:36

If the expander is externally powered, does it also power up the MSX? (I have seen this in the past with some slot expanders... the expanders feeding the entire MSX...)

By meits

Scribe (6544)

12-07-2012, 21:05

Also, some older slotexpanders (if not all) with external power were dangerous if you forgot to switch off the power before inserting/ejecting a cartridge... How's that on this one?

By Leonardo Padial

Expert (73)

12-07-2012, 21:29

To Manuel:
If the expander is externally powered, don't power up the MSX. The Power Jumper change the position for feed external or from MSX, and only feed the slotexpander. See jumper red (5V), black (+12V) and blue (-12V).

To Meits:
All MSX cartridges aren't Hot-Plug. In both cases the power mush removed before.

By MicroTech

Champion (388)

17-07-2012, 09:09

Other questions:
1) which is the distance between slot connectors? In the photo I get the impression they are quite near: for example, is it possible to insert a music-module in a slot and a cartridge in the next slot?
2) pin 14 (PS_ON) of molex connector can be used to switch on/off external power supply, how is this signal connected in LPE-4EXP-V3SC board?
Thanks

By Leonardo Padial

Expert (73)

18-07-2012, 18:37

To MicroTech:
1) The distance between slot connectors is 20 mm. One wide cartrige mush be in slot#0.
2) The pin 14 (PS_ON) is all time actived, tied to pin 15 (COM) acros one wire. You can remove it and conect one external switch POWER ON/OFF.
Other alternative is put in the main 220V the external switch POWER ON/OFF.
In both cases the low voltage Jumper mush be in external Power feed SIDE. See jumper red (5V), black (+12V) and blue (-12V).

By Leonardo Padial

Expert (73)

05-08-2012, 20:37

To Buleste:
> Do these work on just MSX2 upwards or will they work on MSX's?

Test over VG8020/20 MSX1:
The LPE-4EXP-V3SC 4 slot expander with a SCSI-mini 50 cable of 1m and LPE-SCSI-V1 card, had been tested with SONY cartridges, SD/MMC card and 512KBRAM card. All run OK (The 512KBytes had been detected directy for the firmwarwe of SD/MMC-V8BKP card).

Padial LPE-4EXP slot expanders available

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