Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!crdgw1!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrwic!wsuiar!mwjester
From: mwjester@wsuiar.uucp (loki)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.8bit
Subject: Re: Dead 850/800 transformer?  HELP!
Message-ID: <405.272d321a@wsuiar.uucp>
Date: 30 Oct 90 12:56:10 GMT
References: <346@organpipe.UUCP>
Organization: Wichita State Univ., Wichita KS
Lines: 31

In article <346@organpipe.UUCP>, garlow@lpl.arizona.edu (Kevin Garlow x2272) writes:
[...Synopsis: notices that his 850 has no power, tries plugging in the
transormer from his 800, now neither one works.  Hypotheses:...]
> 
> 		1) Both transformers chose to die within several minutes
> 			of each other, but there was no cause and effect
> 			involved.
> 
> 		2) The 850's transformer "went bad" and damaged not only
> 			the 850, but the 800 as well.
> 
> 		3) The 850 "went bad" and damaged not only the 850's
> 			transformer, but the 800's as well.
> 
> 	Which of these hypotheses sounds most plausible from a technical
> standpoint?


My vote is on number 3.  If pressed, I would look for a dead short in the
850 somewhere that killed both power supplies.  (I'm guessing that Atari
didn't protect either transformer via fuse - after all, sealed units never
need service, right?)  Maybe there's a fuse blown in the 850, but this is
unlikely - if it doesn't protect the transformer, it's not doing much.

As far as replacement goodies, I'm not sure - BRE's catalog had some 8-bit
hardware stuff last I saw, but I haven't looked at a recent one. Are there
no 8-bit magazines left for suppliers to advertise in?

Good luck!

Max J.