TIMEX FDD 3000

The FDD3000 (Floppy Disk Drive) is the second version of the original 3-box FDD system. It consists of only one box with the power supply, the controller, and two 3″ disk drives.

It might appear to be a simple disk interface but FDD300 is almost a complete computer: It has its own processor (Z80A @ 4Mhz), RAM (64K), ROM (2K), it has two serial ports and a jack to connect a video composite monitor when you use the TT3000. Later versions have a big board, 2 gate arrays, include a Centronics port, and the ability to connect external disk drives.

The Timex FDD3000 is a very versatile system because it can be used in different setups:

  • as a disk drive running TOS (Timex Operating System) with a ZX Spectrum/TC2048/TC2068.
  • as a CP/M computer using a ZX Spectrum/TC2048/TC2068 as a terminal keyboard.
  • as a CP/M computer using the Timex Terminal 3000 and a Neptun video composite monitor.

3rd party Zebra Systems have imported the Timex FDD3000 to the USA as the Zebra FDD3000, omitted all references of Timex on the user manual, and painted over the Timex brand on the unit their brand “Zebra”.

It’s possible to connect a PC 3,5″ DSDD drive or a PC 5,25″ DSHD drive. Disks have 620K capacity and a maximum of four drives can be connected to the same controller.

In Poland, many users connected a 5 1/4″ DSDD drive with a switch to select the disk side to use both sides of a disk.

There were different versions of Timex FDD3000:

  • Original FDD 3000 Done by Timex:
  • Big cover. Like +3, but 3 times higher. Two 3″ drives slots on front;
  • Big PCB, three or two ULA’s mounted in SMD. (square shape. pins are not bent under chip);
  • One Toroidal Trafo, which gives 18V;
  • Strange and very unstable Power regulators. 12 V is done standard (7812), but +5 is rather strange. The main point of damages. Often damages RAM (4464);
  • Interface with ULA and two 2114 Ram chips. Also EPROM 2732;
  • Eprom requires special programming than other FDDs;
  • Centronics Port (Hidden);
  • 2*RS232;
  • 64K of RAM, 2K of ROM;

Unipolbrit’s FDD 3000:

  • Cover like Timex’s FDD 3000;
  • In electronics the same. Added in one 48k ram card. (some issues… i think it is ZX81 ram expansion…);
  • Big PSU inside cover;
  • Trafo gives two AC voltages – 1 for +12V and 1 for +5V, Special board with regulators (standard 7812 and 7805). FUSES!! Each 1A.;
  • Interface same as FDD3;
  • 2*RS232;
  • 64K of RAM, 2K of ROM;

STAVI’s FDD 3000 (FDD6000?):

  • Cover as TIMEX’s FDD3000, but enough enlarged, to contain two 5,25″ drives, and made of worse material (more elastic, so you cannot stand the monitor on it) I didn’t see it inside (But Jordan has one);
  • The interface changed a bit.;
  • 2*GAL (16V8) all on board, 2116 SRAM, one 10K resistor for one of GAL’s (probably for filtering, coz GAL’s work fine at 5V) the same EPROM with the same program, the same line drivers.;
  • 2*RS232;
  • 64K of RAM, 2K of ROM;