Authenticity opinions

Do you even know that it was the right transformer? From what you said elsewhere, you got the specs from the SWTPC scheamitcs, not from markings on the transofrmer itself. Somebody might have used the wrong part (or tried to save money, or...) Not always. Some ICs -- the 4116 is the best known example, can do strange things (including latching up, then drawing excessive supply current and destroying themselves) if the supply lines come up in the wrong order. This has nothing to do with the system reset line. IIRC the 4116 needs the -5V bias supply applied before the +12V supply. Or make a crowbar circuit. It's just a zener diode, a couple of resisotrs and an SCR. Actually, I am suprised nobody sells crowbar 'ICs' -- 2 terminal components that contain that circuiit. Not the same a sa Transorb, becuase once a crowbar has triggered, it stays effectively shorted until the current through it drops to a low value (it is an SCR after all). -tony