On Tue, 2 Aug 2016 21:44:48 -0700 Curious Marc <curiousma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Lyle, > I didn't know you had such a collection of 2100's and 21MX and E's > and F's! I need to come and visit! Marc I have way too much of a lot of stuff ;) Lyle > > On Aug 1, 2016, at 7:12 PM, Lyle Bickley <lbick...@bickleywest.com> > > wrote: > > > > Hi Hayden, > > > > On Mon, 1 Aug 2016 19:29:05 -0600 > > Hayden Kroepfl <perlpow...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > --snip-- > > > >> With regards to the power supply, I'm thinking my best bet would be > >> to do a power on with no cards in the system. Though I'm not sure > >> if all the power rails would even come up without a load on it, > >> since it sounds like it may do some power sequencing from what > >> I've read. I was wondering if anyone has some experience with > >> testing a similar power supply that hasn't been run in at least 10 > >> years? > > > > Those of us who have brought up HP2100s that have been stored (even > > in military packaging) know the power supplies can be a "bear". The > > PS is a "fold out" deal - and never used to be repaired in the > > field by FEs. They were swapped with new units - and the failing > > supply sent back to HP for refurbishing. The process was detailed > > to me by a person who sold 2100's as an OEM for many years. > > > > That being said, they are a early design switching supply - and > > should have a load when powering them on. > > > >> I'm not sure if using a variac to slowly warm up the supply and the > >> caps would be wise on one of these power supplies. I'm not sure how > >> the switching supplies would handle the low voltage at the start. > > > > I would definitely NOT use a variac on them. It's best to check the > > caps (and reform if necessary) and then power it up with a load. > > You may have to "gently" (as in slowly) turn the PS on and off a > > number of times to work out the years of "dormancy" (reforming the > > capacitors that you can't get to ;) > > > >> The only I/O card that was installed in both machines, besides a > >> terminator board in only one of them, is a serial interface made by > >> some company with the logo CMC. It uses a COM2502 UART which I was > >> surprised to find a datasheet for, however I haven't found any > >> information on the card itself. I have a photo of the card in the > >> album linked below if anyone has any information on it. > > > > The 2100 has a weird I/O addressing scheme - so check the manual > > carefully. Moving a card from one location to another in the > > mainframe changes its address! That's very different from DEC (and > > many others) who had switches or jumpers on boards to change > > addresses. interrupts, etc. > > > >> I know this email is getting a bit long, but with regards to the > >> memory both machines have a ID(16K) driver board, and two core > >> modules. However one machine has both core modules marked > >> 02100-60052 on the bridge, and the other has one marked > >> 02100-60052 and the other 02100-60054. Is there any difference > >> between these modules? I'd assume by the 16K driver in both, that > >> all of the core modules are 8KW modules. Would that just be a > >> later revision or is one a different size? > > > > Look on bitsavers: http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/pdf/hp/21xx/ > > and start reading manuals (particularly the Maintenance and > > Drawings). There a wealth of information to be found there - and > > it's what I used to get my 2100S running. > > > > --snip-- > > > >> I'd very much appreciate any help or suggestions that peopleh ave. > >> I really want to get at least one of these machines back into full > >> working order to have some fun programming with. > > > > HP2100 restoration is very doable. > > > > And the 2100 has one of the best front panels going :) > > Like how can you not like buttons that light up when you push them!? > > > > Most of my problems with my 2100S were related to the power supply - > > and a few related to memory. > > > > Wishing you the best!!! > > > > Cheers, > > Lyle > > -- > > 73 AF6WS > > Bickley Consulting West Inc. > > http://bickleywest.com > > > > "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero" -- 73 AF6WS Bickley Consulting West Inc. http://bickleywest.com "Black holes are where God is dividing by zero"
