There's info on pdp-8 power supplies, including schematics, at http://highgate.comm.sfu.ca. Some of the technical documentation may help in checking out the supply.

Hmmm.... I remember a couple of incidents in the computer room, where TU78's took up smoking, on one occaision prompting the system operator to push the BIG RED BUTTON! Needless to say, a great time was had by all (It's a bit of a long story)! FWIW, in the other incident, the op on duty flipped the breaker, opened the back of the cabinet, and literally BLEW the flames out (Yup, he got an award for that one....). Will

I've only ever seen an RK07 PSU and 11/24 PSU erupt in smoke, no flames, but the operators at Ohio State University's DEC-20 lab told me about an incident. For those that don't remember, computers used to have log books for maintenance records (I have log books for a couple of -8's and a couple of VAXen). A friend of mine noticed the following in the log book... (dates simulated for effect) Date Time Initials Action 06/03/81 11:05 jfs TU-77 catches fire 06/03/81 11:08 jfs TU-77 puts itself out 06/03/81 13:23 jfs TU-77 won't load tapes, DEC field service called. When the call was placed, it went something like this... Operator: Our tape drive caught fire. Field Servoid: Was it a TU-77? Op: yes. FS: OK. I know what to bring. One board swap later, all was well. Apparently, it was a common problem. At the place I worked, we never had our TU-78 catch fire; Pertec must have learned something by then. -ethan

I'd not worry about anything on the low voltage side of the machine - the boards etc. While tantalum capacitors can short out and catch fire, they're no real problem. They look a little spectacular, but that's it.