Thati s a
separae issue. I can well beleive the decoupling is not all
it should be :-)
Heck, the PSU will barely support 2 floppy drives. It's not a
decoupling matter at all. When the printer's running, the DC output
sags.
I'd call that a decoupling (or coupling) issue. Just a very low frequency
one :-)#
How is the average user going to do that?
By plugging just about anything other than the printer into the +24v
socket on the back of the unit that everyone else in the universe
uses as a power input? Nothing like swimming against the current,
is there?
Err, if you're going to start plugging random things into connectors, you
deserve all you get. How about pluging an RS232 cable into an
IBM-compatible parallel port? It'll fit, but it'll blow a few chips. TTL
(or whatever) doesn't like having +/-12V applied to its pins.
FWIW, there is a current limit circuit on the +24V output (the '24V
Protect' blcok Q5010 to Q5013 and related components). There is a similar
circuit on the 5V rail. From what I can see, the 12V rail is not
protected, but that one is only brought out on the bus expansion
conenctor, and if you connect random things there you've got a lot more
to worry aobut that blowing a PSU fuse. My guess is that shorting out
either supply line used by the printer will do no lasting damage.
I don't know why I am defending Amstrad products. I don't much care for
them (they _are_ cheaply made, as you know I like quality desigbs). On
the other hand I think the PCW range was one of the better thought-out
'appliance' computers
Now perhaps you know how I feel when I want to
get 0.125" or 0.156"
edge connectors (which nobody stocks over here). And UNC bolts are
rarer than rocking horse manure in the UK. Much rarer.
<rant>
THAT is mostly a supply problem. I can get metric, UNC, and even
Wentworth hardware here--as well as taps and dies.
Do you mean Whitworth (as in BSW)? Those are quite common over here. And
I'll lay odds that almost everyone here has used a 1/4" BSW screw at some
point.
Can you get BA fasteners? Those were very commonly used on small
machinery, electrical stuff, etc over here. A lot are still in use. They
are not hard to get here.
I can get the connectors I mentioned from, e.g. Digikey. OK, I have to
pay the shipping charges, but I can get them. But I've not found a
company who will sell me a small quantity of UNC fasteners and send them
to England ('small quantity' means, say, 100 off 1/2" 6-32 bolts. Not
just 1 of them). Suprisingly the taps and dies can be found over here. I
can make nuts (although it's a lot of work to mill a piece of rod to a
hexagon and tap the hole), but making screws with the right heads is a
lot harder.
-tony
