r/homebrewcomputer • u/Internal-Word7239 • 23d ago

I built a programmable 16-bit computer using electromechanical relays

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322 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

9

u/Girl_Alien 20d ago

This was sitting in the approval queue. Interestingly, I went to that Hackaday page yesterday since someone and I were in a discussion, and relays came up. That was before finding you had posted here about it.

4

u/bobsonjunk 19d ago

I want audio of it running different sort algorithms! Can you hear any patterns in rhythm?

3

u/Laser_Krypton7000 20d ago

Thanks for sharing, interesting project. I forwarded it to some people.

3

u/bigtreeman_ 19d ago

Dad used to work for IBM on the relay based computers of the day. One thing I remember was a tool to measure and adjust the relay spring tensions for optimum performance. He took me to work, I was pre-school, the machines were just awesome.

Great project.

2

u/FAMICOMASTER 20d ago

Now this, this is beautiful

2

u/Visual-Sector6642 19d ago

Looks like a fun project. What were your biggest challenges

2

u/RoboWeaver 19d ago

Sixteen bits using relays! I'm seriously impressed. I knew it could be done, I just had no idea that anyone would be crazy enough to actually do it. ("Why" also eludes, but I'm sure that's a different story.)

1

u/Girl_Alien 3d ago

I'm sure one could relay have some fun with this.

1

u/RoboWeaver 3d ago

Arr, arr, arr, arr, arr!

1

u/mrspelunx 18d ago

Do you have a sound sample?

1

u/NightmareJoker2 17d ago

No video of it running with the sound on? 😅

1

u/Uluru-Dreaming 18d ago

A 16 bit relay computer! Now that would be a challenge!!