Unusual Altair 8800 power supply. Upgrade kit, factory error, or something else?

[Joseph Lang]

Rev 0 used a small (too small;-) transformer and suffered. The later PS used a larger transformer, but the layout had to be swapped to clear the card cage.

Joe

> On Nov 11, 2015, at 2:48 PM, Tom Moss <tomjmoss at googlemail.com> wrote:
> 
> I don't quite understand how the transformer would get in the way? Was the
> rev 0 card cage mounted further back than later revisions? With mine,
> there's nothing stopping me mounting it the "right" way around, but I've
> got an aftermarket backplane.
> 
> Tom
> 
>> On 11 November 2015 at 19:36, Joseph Lang <joe.lang.0000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> It not the rev 0 back panel for sure. I don't think it was a mistake
>> either. If they used the same layout as rev 0 the transformer would
>> interfere with  the card cage.
>> 
>> Joe
>> 
>>> On Nov 11, 2015, at 2:14 PM, Tom Moss <tomjmoss at googlemail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Hi All,
>>> 
>>> I have what appears to be an Altair 8800 with the original Rev 0 front
>>> panel, but the rear panel and PSU is a back-to-front version of what's
>>> standard on the 8800b.
>>> 
>>> Pictures at http://imgur.com/a/2EVRS
>>> 
>>> I'm guessing this is a factory error, since the bare patch for the bridge
>>> rectifier and case holes are inverted too. But I'm aware of an upgrade
>> kit
>>> (8800b-PS) that was offered to 8800 owners. So I'm guessing that's where
>>> the PSU and panel came from.
>>> 
>>> Can anyone shed some light on this? Are there others like it?
>>> 
>>> Regards,
>>> -Tom
>>