2 Oct
2005
2 Oct
'05
8:38 a.m.
Tony Duell wrote:
I do remember, in the dim distant mists of 1991 (probably caused by all
the McEwens 80/- at RGIT student union bar prices) a whole run of
Amstrad 2086 and similar models coming back to us (Amstrad dealer in
Aberdeen where I whiled away the time I was supposed to be in classes I
didn't like). Eventually we discovered that if you put alkaline HP7
batteries (AA size) in the battery compartment, the clock wouldn't work
and the machine wouldn't boot. Replacing them with el-cheapo
zinc-carbon batteries brought the machine to life.
The only difference that I could find was that the alkalines had a cell
voltage of around 1.65-1.7 volts, feeding the clock with something
nearer to 7 volts. I have no idea why this upset it, but the battery
voltage circuit reported this as flat batteries.
Gordon.
I just checked
my Sharp PC-1211 (which is the same thing) and the
battery is almost dead - the screen is hard to read but it still
works. Given that I've had it for 20 years or so that's not too bad!
I'll pick up a new battery later today (should last another 20 years!).
I've been told (not checked it myself) that the original battery for the
PC1211/Radio Shack PC1 was 4 mercury cells in series, giving 5.4V or so.
4 alkaline cells give 6V, and the machine doesn't work correctly at that
higher voltage (it doesn't do any damage though). On the other hand _3_
alkaline cells are rumoured to work.