Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!news.larc.nasa.gov!grissom.larc.nasa.gov!kludge
From: kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.dec
Subject: Re: MicroVAX Meltdown
Message-ID: <1991Mar20.161229.27817@news.larc.nasa.gov>
Date: 20 Mar 91 16:12:29 GMT
References: <1991Mar19.192444.22258@murdoch.acc.Virginia.EDU>
Sender: news@news.larc.nasa.gov (USENET Network News)
Reply-To: kludge@grissom.larc.nasa.gov ( Scott Dorsey)
Distribution: usa
Organization: NASA Langley Research Center
Lines: 14

mms7r@galen.med.Virginia.EDU (M Mitchell Smith) writes:
>Last night the ``right-angle'' cable harness between the power supply
>and backplane in my BA23 MicroVAX II went up in a cloud of smoke
>(and a hearty Hi Ho Silver Away!).  The ``left-'' or ``top-'' most five
>lines (5V) and pins 8-10 (COM) got hot enough to melt the phenolic
>plastic connectors right to the pins.  Owch!

   Yup, this happens a lot.  DEC has a patch out for this one.  When this
was discovered a few years back, DEC was giving out free replacement cable
harnesses.  They still might do so.  I encourage anyone who has the old-style
harnesses to replace them.  It is possible to have a cabinet fire in machines
with the old harness which are not properly cleaned, and I can assure you
that it's not a pretty sight.
--scott