PDP 11 gear finally moved

Did you see anything on the panel when it died (was the numeric display still alight) ? You had better hope that the +5V line didn't go high and cook all the ICs in the machine. DEC PSUs of that vintage do have crowbar circuits though. The PSU in this machine is relatively repairer-friendly. There is a big mains transformer in the centre of the PSU chassis (at the back of the CPU). It takes mains in (there are 2 primary windings, each 115V, they are connected in parallel for US mains and series for European mains). It has several secondaries, each of about 20V-30V AC Under the mains transformer is a little unit that contains the mains switching relay and control circuits, and a simple linear PSU for the +15V rail. I think the LTC (line time clock), ACLO and DCLO (power failure signals) come from that too. The main supply rails (+5V and -15V) come from 'bricks' that fit either side of the transformer. These are swtiching regulators that take in the 20V or so from the transformer and bring it down to the desired voltage. Although they are switchers, the maximum voltage inside is just the rectified input (say about 40V DC) and is thus a lot nicer to work on than a mains-operated switcher. The bricks are based round the 723 IC along with some transistors, an inductor, flyback diode, capacitors, etc. What I would do is disconnect the logic backplane power (at the distribution connectors under the PSU) then take the PSU covers off, take out the bottom 2 screws each side and loosen the top on so the PSU can hinge away from the CPU and remove the power bricks. Power up the transformer on its own (maybe with a series light bub) and check that is OK. Then try to debug the bricks. If you have a bench PSU with current limiting run them (one at a time) off that (they will happing run from a DC input) and see what happens. The +5V brick just needs the 20V-30V input, the -15V one _also_ needs a +15V supply. -tony