*updating* 8088's - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

26 Nov 2007

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Subject: Re: *updating* 8088's
   From: Ray Arachelian <ray at arachelian.com>
   Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 13:15:02 -0500
     To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts <cctalk at
classiccmp.org>

Roy J. Tellason wrote:
  On Friday 23 November 2007 19:05, dwight elvey
wrote:

>> From: rtellason at verizon.net
>>
>> I notice that even those guys that are building relay computers
"cheat"
>> and use a single small solid-state chip for RAM. :-)
>>       
> Hi
>  I've been thinking about how one could make a reasonable
> memory, using small reed relays. If one puts a magnet close
> to one end, it will cause the reed to close. Move it back
> some and it will hold until the field is too weak.
>      ...

 Dunno if they still sell them or not,  but Radio Shack used to sell a pack of 
 20 reed switches for only a couple of bucks...

Hmm...  Wonder if it's possible to build a relay without a spring on the 
switch.  That is, you have to send current with one polarity to set the 
switch to a 1 and reverse polarity to set a zero - sort of what core 
memory does with rings...  I suppose this could instead be done by 
attaching a magnet to the switch, or using magnet as the thing inside 
the switch body, or better yet maybe a relay with a ball with a set of 
contacts as the switch and two magnets, one on each opposite side... 
you'd energize one coil for a "1" and the other for a "0" 

Hmm, could even be done with a solenoid and use the mechanical part of 
it to touch a wire for output. :-)  Wouldn't really be a relay, but 
pretty close. 
Telco stepping switches.  I have a few.

Also you can get small relays that are dual coil, one to set and 
one to reset. Widely used in automatic antenna tuners to select
L and C as needed to resonate an antenna for most any frequency.
The idea of a latching relay is once set no more power is needed.

Allison

Allison