16 Dec
2016
16 Dec
'16
10:35 a.m.
I have been given an H960 rack :-). I intend to use it for my PDP8/e system
(currently piled up, not connected), which consists of the :
PDP8/e processor, Full of cards, memory extension, EAE, 32KW core, boot
diode matrix ROM, RK8e, RD8e, RX8e, PC8e, etc.
PC04 paper tape punch/reader (acutally, I converted a PC05, but that doesn't
matter here)
RK05 (well, there's an RK8e in the backplane and I have a spare RK05 so
I might as well use it)
RX01
TU56 (single drive version, ths is not a TU55 as some have suggested!).
Various PSUs and step-down transformer for the TU56 and PC04
I think I have the right slide rails for the first 4 units too...
Anyway, does anyone have experience of rack-mounting a TU56? It clearly
doesn't go on slide rails, it bolts directly to the rack (hinge down the front
panel for access). I have the manuals from Bitsavers, they imply there is some
kind of spacer block that goes under the TU56. Does anyone know what that
is exactly so I can attempt to make one if it is needed.
-tony
16 Dec
16 Dec
10:51 a.m.
David Gesswein
https://www.pdp8.net/8eperiph.shtml
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 1:35 PM, Tony Duell <ard.p850ug1 at gmail.com> wrote:
I have been given an H960 rack :-). I intend to use it
for my PDP8/e system
(currently piled up, not connected), which consists of the :
PDP8/e processor, Full of cards, memory extension, EAE, 32KW core, boot
diode matrix ROM, RK8e, RD8e, RX8e, PC8e, etc.
PC04 paper tape punch/reader (acutally, I converted a PC05, but that
doesn't
matter here)
RK05 (well, there's an RK8e in the backplane and I have a spare RK05 so
I might as well use it)
RX01
TU56 (single drive version, ths is not a TU55 as some have suggested!).
Various PSUs and step-down transformer for the TU56 and PC04
I think I have the right slide rails for the first 4 units too...
Anyway, does anyone have experience of rack-mounting a TU56? It clearly
doesn't go on slide rails, it bolts directly to the rack (hinge down the
front
panel for access). I have the manuals from Bitsavers, they imply there is
some
kind of spacer block that goes under the TU56. Does anyone know what that
is exactly so I can attempt to make one if it is needed.
-tony
11:12 a.m.
Tony wrote...
Anyway, does anyone have experience of rack-mounting a
TU56? It
clearly doesn't go on slide rails, it bolts directly to the rack
(hinge down the front panel for access). I have the manuals from
Bitsavers, they imply there is some kind of spacer block that goes
under the TU56. Does anyone know what that is exactly so I can
attempt to make one if it is needed.
Yes, I rackmounted a tu56 a few weeks ago. I also saw the docs mention that spacer, but I
think it wasn't technically necessary based on where I was putting it. I will go look
at that rack shortly and let you know today.
I can tell you - be careful about putting it all the way at the top. The front deck
can't tilt downward if the upper edge doesn't have clearance.
Then again - anyone who has met me knows I'd never mount a peripheral requiring hands
on that far up in a cabinet *grin*
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for if anyone wants to get a group
purchase on the motor run caps for a TU55/56....
J
11:30 a.m.
I replaced my motor caps with some that I found on Alibaba (or maybe
Aliexpress) a couple of years ago. They are the right diameter and height
and have wire leads instead of lugs. They're also made with yummy vegatable
oil and seem to work just fine (no big loud bangs yet).
Marc
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 11:15 AM, jos <jos.dreesen at greenmail.ch> wrote:
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for if anyone wants to get a
group purchase on the motor run caps for a
TU55/56....
Count me in....
Jos
12:42 p.m.
On Fri, December 16, 2016 20:30, Marc Howard wrote:
I replaced my motor caps with some that I found on
Alibaba (or maybe
Aliexpress) a couple of years ago. They are the right diameter and height
and have wire leads instead of lugs. They're also made with yummy
vegatable
oil and seem to work just fine (no big loud bangs yet).
Marc
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 11:15 AM, jos <jos.dreesen at greenmail.ch> wrote:
Ah, these white ones. Got 4 of them for my TU-56. Pretty cheap, I believe
I paid about 4 USD/each including free shipping, got them off ebay.
'vegetable oil' indeed......
Ed
--
Ik email, dus ik besta.
BTC : 1J5fajt8ptyZ2V1YURj3YJZhe5j3fJVSHN
LTC : LP2WuEmYPbpWUBqMFGJfdm7pdHEW7fKvDz
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for if anyone wants to get
a
group purchase on the motor run caps for a
TU55/56....
Count me in....
Jos
11:18 a.m.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 7:12 PM, Jay West <jwest at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Tony wrote...
OK, thanks, Are the screws through the TU56 front flanges into the
front rails of the rack
enough to support it?
I don't care too much what it looks like. If the spacer is just a
filler panel type thing
and doesn't support the TU56 in any way then I don't need to worry about
it.
Anyway, does anyone have experience of
rack-mounting a TU56? It
clearly doesn't go on slide rails, it bolts directly to the rack
(hinge down the front panel for access). I have the manuals from
Bitsavers, they imply there is some kind of spacer block that goes
under the TU56. Does anyone know what that is exactly so I can
attempt to make one if it is needed.
Yes, I rackmounted a tu56 a few weeks ago. I also saw the docs mention that
spacer, but I think it wasn't technically necessary based on where I was putting
it. I will go look at that rack shortly and let you know today.
I can tell you - be careful about putting it all the way at the top. The front deck
can't tilt
downward if the upper edge doesn't have clearance.
ARGH. I was planning on putting it at the top of the rack. But surely it will
just catch on that plastic decor panel, I can either trim that a bit
or put spacers under
the fixing screws.
The only other think I could put at the top is the PC04, perhaps that would
be easier.
Then again - anyone who has met me knows I'd never mount a peripheral requiring
hands on that far up in a cabinet *grin*
I am tall enough that that is not a problem.
-tony
11:58 a.m.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 2:18 PM, Tony Duell <ard.p850ug1 at gmail.com> wrote:
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 7:12 PM, Jay West <jwest at
classiccmp.org> wrote:
I checked my one H960 - the TC11 is at the top, then both TU56s are
below that, where someone my height can reach the tapes. ;-)
The TU56 on a TD8E on my PDP-8/e has always been on the table. It's
never been in a rack. If I find another H967 cabinet, that will be a
good thing to check since the TU56 would be easy to use in the top
spot (there's no top-mount plastic panel on an H967, so it might fit
there just fine).
-ethan
Tony wrote...
ARGH. I was planning on putting it at the top of the rack. But surely it will
just catch on that plastic decor panel, I can either trim that a bit
or put spacers under the fixing screws. Anyway, does anyone have experience of
rack-mounting a TU56?
I can tell you - be careful about putting it all the way at the top. The front deck
can't tilt
downward if the upper edge doesn't have clearance.
12:05 p.m.
Ok I just double-checked my 8E racks, and it refreshed my memory.
The support bracket is not necessary. I believe that it provided no benefit after the TU56
was mounted... it was merely present in order to make it even possible for one person to
bolt the tu56 to the uprights. It is a non-trivial amount of weight, so holding it in
place while bolting it in is tenuous at the least and most likely impossible. The support
bracket just provides a front edge to help hold it up during installation.
Being a stickler for authenticity, I was looking for that support bracket but never did
find one. So... I wound up using one of those horizontal bars/plates that were commonly
(DEC provided) mounted above and below a stack of lead counterweights, as it's
mechanically almost identical and provides exactly the same benefit in the same spot. I
left it installed, in case I ever wanted to move the TU56.
All this occurred in the short version of the H960 (I forget... H962? The one with the
sloped front). The sloped front at the top was just the tiniest fraction too far out to
allow the TU56 deck to tilt down - despite the fact that DEC obviously took pains to make
it require no clearance overhead. Since you're using a full height H960 with a
different nameplate piece at the top... it may just work fine.
But given the weight, I'd not try it "just to see" ;) YMMV
J
12:17 p.m.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 8:05 PM, Jay West <jwest at classiccmp.org> wrote:
> All this occurred in the short version of
the H960 (I forget... H962? The one with the sloped front).
> The sloped front at the top was just the tiniest fraction too far out to allow the
TU56 deck to tilt
> down - despite the fact that DEC obviously took pains to make it require no clearance
overhead.
> Since you're using a full height H960 with a different nameplate piece at the
top... it may just
> work fine.
> But given the weight, I'd not try it
"just to see" ;) YMMV
The recommendation in the manual is to remove the front panel from the
TU56, rack mount
the chassis and put the panel back on.
I think I do have to try it to see and I am doing it on my own. But
then again, I have rack-mounted
other heavy units on my own...
-tony
Ok I just double-checked my 8E racks, and it refreshed
my memory.
The support bracket is not necessary. I believe that it provided no benefit after the
TU56
was mounted... it was merely present in order to make it even possible for one person
to bolt the tu56 to the uprights. It is a non-trivial amount of weight, so holding it in
place
while bolting it in is tenuous at the least and most likely impossible. The support
bracket
just provides a front edge to help hold it up during installation.
OK. Sounds like I can live without it. I had considered making a rail
with tapped holes
in the ends to mount across the rack on the front set of side flanges.
But I don't
think I need that.
Being a stickler for authenticity, I was looking for
that support bracket but never did find one.
So... I wound up using one of those horizontal bars/plates that were commonly (DEC
provided)
mounted above and below a stack of lead counterweights, as it's mechanically almost
identical
and provides exactly the same benefit in the same spot. I left it installed, in case I
ever wanted
to move the TU56.
I am not sure what parts you are talking about here, or why.
5:01 p.m.
I had written....
Being a stickler for authenticity, I was looking for
that support bracket but never did find one.
So... I wound up using one of those horizontal bars/plates that were
commonly (DEC provided) mounted above and below a stack of lead
counterweights, as it's mechanically almost identical and provides
exactly the same benefit in the same spot. I left it installed, in case I ever wanted to
move the TU56.
To which Tony replied....
-----
I am not sure what parts you are talking about here, or why.
-----
I am talking about a fairly common dec part, that if you have it - can substitute for the
support bracket that you are missing. It is the same dimensions, is threaded at the same
spots... the only difference was the support bracket has some metal cutouts that the
"alternate" part doesn't.
If you have a DEC rack (I know DEC did this in H967's and may have done it in
H960's) that has lead counterweights in the back.... you will note that the plates
bolted in the rack under the lead weights (and usually another plate on top of them just
to make it look nice).... that plate is basically identical to the TU-56 support bracket
you are seeking and will work functionally - exactly like the support bracket.
J
12:36 p.m.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 3:05 PM, Jay West <jwest at classiccmp.org> wrote:
Ok I just double-checked my 8E racks, and it refreshed
my memory.
The support bracket is not necessary...
All this occurred in the short version of the H960 (I forget... H962? The one with the
sloped front).
H967
http://web.aanet.com.au/~malikoff/pdp11/DEC_cabinets.jpg
The sloped front at the top was just the tiniest
fraction too far out to allow the TU56 deck to tilt down - despite the fact that DEC
obviously took pains to make it require no clearance overhead.
That is exactly what I was just wondering. Thanks!
-ethan
12:17 p.m.
From: Jay West: Friday, December 16, 2016 11:12 AM
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for
if anyone wants to get a
group purchase on the motor run caps for a TU55/56....
I have a couple of spares, IIRC, but since I also have a couple of TU55,
a couple of TU56, and a TU56H, I'd like to join in if there is a group
purchase.
Vince
12:23 p.m.
On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 01:12:45PM -0600, Jay West wrote:
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for if anyone wants to get
a group purchase on the motor run caps for a TU55/56....
Are these the big honking cans that have grown a nice little crystal
structure near one connector?
yeah, I thunk I need a pair for mu TU56H
If me being in sweden makes it to much hassle then I'm I'll try to get them
myself, no worries.
/P
5 Mar
5 Mar
1:17 p.m.
Speaking of which - I'll put out a call again for if anyone wants to get a group
purchase on the motor run caps for a TU55/56....
I need some. I have been working on my system, and just discovered that
all four of my drives have leaking motor run capacitors.
I have found some online, but they are a bit too tall (probably
workable), and specified as 1/4" too large a diameter.
Four drives x 4 caps each == 16.
JRJ
2616
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15 comments
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ard.p850ug1＠gmail.com -
billdegnan＠gmail.com -
cramcram＠gmail.com -
cube1＠charter.net -
ed＠groenenberg.net -
ethan.dicks＠gmail.com -
jos.dreesen＠greenmail.ch -
jwest＠classiccmp.org -
pontus＠Update.UU.SE -
v.slyngstad＠frontier.com