10 Feb
2020
10 Feb
'20
3:17 a.m.
I'm trying to non-destructively open up a MicroVAX 2000.
I've removed the bottom "dressing" section (which holds some of the I/O
connectors)? but the next step isn't obvious. None of the manuals I have
cover dismantling and the net doesn't have an IPB or similar available.
Other people have managed to get inside (I can see their results) so I
must be missing something obvious ...
Thanks.
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
10 Feb
10 Feb
11:13 p.m.
On Mon, Feb 10, 2020 at 10:21 PM Antonio Carlini via cctalk <
cctalk at classiccmp.org> wrote:
I'm trying to non-destructively open up a MicroVAX
2000.
I've removed the bottom "dressing" section (which holds some of the I/O
connectors) but the next step isn't obvious. None of the manuals I have
cover dismantling and the net doesn't have an IPB or similar available.
Other people have managed to get inside (I can see their results) so I
must be missing something obvious ...
There are four screws on the bottom, two on each side that hold the top
cover on. Once removed the cover should theoretically slide off (looking
at the front of the unit, pull it toward you), but is often very tight and
will need a bit of coaxing to separate it from the rear panel.
- Josh
Thanks.
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
12 Feb
12 Feb
2:42 a.m.
On 11/02/2020 07:13, Josh Dersch wrote:
There are four screws on the bottom, two on each side that hold the
top cover on.? Once removed the cover should theoretically slide off
(looking at the front of the unit, pull it toward you), but is often
very tight and will need a bit of coaxing to separate it from the rear
panel.
- Josh
Thanks. Actually while waiting for this post to appear, I found some
"after" pictures on the web which made it clear which direction things
had to go, so the cover is off.
I've now undone three more screws and disconnected enough that the "top"
section is now completely free. So the bottom now contains the PSU, the
RD54 and the back panel.
One more screw and a few further connectors later and I can slide the
memory board (?) sideways enough to unclip the battery.
It has started to leak but it seems to only have affected the nearby
metalwork: a bit of cleaning with vinegar should clear that up. I have
to check more carefully, but so far it looks like I've been quite lucky.
So, once I've cleaned it up, I need to test it the PSU before I hook it
up to the rest of the system. Any ideas on that front?
Thanks again,
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
4:44 a.m.
Antonio Carlini wrote:
[snip]
One more screw and a few further connectors later and I can slide the
memory board (?) sideways enough to unclip the battery.
It has started to leak but it seems to only have affected the nearby
metalwork: a bit of cleaning with vinegar should clear that up. I have
to check more carefully, but so far it looks like I've been quite lucky.
Beware electrolyte wicking along the battery leads and reaching the board
that way. I have had damage done to some of the tiny tracks in the area of
the serial ports which may have been caused by this. Check carefully around
the area where the battery connector plugs into the board.
So, once I've cleaned it up, I need to test it the PSU before I hook it
up to the rest of the system. Any ideas on that front?
VAXStation/MicroVAX 2000 machines which do not have a disk have instead
a little load board with several resistors mounted on it which the power
connector for the disk is plugged into. I think I came across a similar
load board in a TK50 drive or something like that. If you can find one
of these boards, it makes a great dummy load for testing the PSU. If
not, how about a 6V and a 12V headlight bulb?
Regards,
Peter Coghlan.
Thanks again,
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
8:02 a.m.
On 12/02/2020 12:44, Peter Coghlan via cctalk wrote:
Beware electrolyte wicking along the battery leads and
reaching the board
that way. I have had damage done to some of the tiny tracks in the area of
the serial ports which may have been caused by this. Check carefully around
the area where the battery connector plugs into the board.
The resistor leads in that area do show some slight deposits, as does
the pad by the ThinWire connector right at the edge of the board.
Other than that all I can see is a slight amount of deposit on three of
the pins of the tall memory connector (interestingly, only furthest from
the battery lead) and also the MicroVAX/VAXstation jumper and pins.
Some of the solder mask in that area looks like it will lift off, but
the track underneath seems OK.
There's also a little bit on the 12MB expansion board, but hopefully
that will just wash off.
I guess I won't know for sure until I try powering up.
VAXStation/MicroVAX 2000 machines which do not have a
disk have instead
a little load board with several resistors mounted on it which the power
connector for the disk is plugged into. I think I came across a similar
load board in a TK50 drive or something like that. If you can find one
of these boards, it makes a great dummy load for testing the PSU. If
not, how about a 6V and a 12V headlight bulb?
I have enough dead HDDs around that a load isn't the problem. If it's
just +5V and +12V that will be easy. If it's more than that then that
might be more interesting.
Antonio
--
Antonio Carlini
antonio at acarlini.com
1539
days inactive
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days old
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