5 Nov
2000
5 Nov
'00
1:15 p.m.
On Sun, 5 Nov 2000 THETechnoid(a)home.com wrote:
The machine has two 8" hard disks mounted on
thier sides with ends
latitudinal. They are stacked one top of each other in a sturdy rack with
some shock absorbing characteristics.
8"? Measure again, I think they're 14". BTW pay attention to the little
diagram showing which way to point your thumb when you flip the latch
holding the drives in (they swing out if you hadn't noticed), or else
it'll bite.
Sure have, it is the big red toggle on the left side
of the machine. The
hum does not change
Flipping the Unit Emergency switch won't start the machine nor make a
difference in the buzz. It only enables the power.
No, sometimes I think I hear a 'tick' in there
but I may be imagining
things. It certainly has nothing to with pressing the power key on the
face panel. I'm supposing that the panel is dependent on other things
than the power supply given the ensybeentsy chicklet power-on button....
You're probably hearing the control transformer expanding and crackling
(!) It's normal; they're all ferroresonant, meaning they operate
saturated-core and get hot. The power that goes through these
transformers gets rectified and filtered, but does not go through any
regulator stages- the transformer regulates. It uses the AC frequency and
the core saturation level as constants to maintain a regulated AC voltage
on the secondary. There is a very high voltage (550 VAC) secondary
winding with a (physically) large capacitor across it; don't disturb it,
it's necessary for the regulation.
The control logic is what's going to turn on the main power when you press
the power button. Should it come to it, there is a way to second-guess
that logic and force the power on.
Maybe the big-red switch is tarfu. I can check it
with my VOM. Should I
hear anything or see anything after hitting that switch? Docs seem to say
I should have a quiet machine but a live panel on which the chicklet power
key resides.
That's right. If the switch is off, you will get a Power Check light when
you press the power button. If it's on, the power will come on (it's
supposed to, anyway).
If this switch fails, is it possible it is at fault
for the 'no lights at
all' condition? It is one of those 'coke machine' keys and I'd rather
not
have to tap it with a drill to cycle it a few times....
No. It will (I think) default to the Normal position. I haven't looked
into my System/36 in a while, but I can if you get stuck.
Richard Schauer
rws(a)enteract.com