Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!rutgers!mcnc!rti!sunpix!matthew
From: matthew@sunpix.UUCP ( Sun NCAA)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: My Apple is DEAD!
Summary: Somethings shorted
Message-ID: <595@greens.UUCP>
Date: 22 Apr 89 01:53:46 GMT
References: <23317@agate.BERKELEY.EDU}
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Research Triangle Park, NC
Lines: 48

In article <23317@agate.BERKELEY.EDU}, laba-1hi@e260-2g.berkeley.edu (Mikey) writes:
} 
} I've had a problem with my Apple //e that has gotten progressively worse.
} Sometimes, when I turn on the power, all I hear is a low clicking sound, and
} the power light on the keyboard remains dark. I used to think that the culprit
} was a bad connection somewhere, so I just shut down and retried again. It
} always worked the 2nd or 3rd time. 
} 
} Until now. Now, all I get is that mysterious buzzing/clicking sound. Also,
} I noticed that the LED on the motherboard as well as the LED's on my Disk II's
} (yes, I have antique disk drives) flicker as I hear this buzzing. Also, when
} I shut off power, the motherboard LED just flickers and fades to black instead
} of a crisp shutoff.
} 
} I suspect my power supply, but I'm not sure. Can anyone diagnose these
} problems and help me out? The life of my //e is crucial since I run a BBS on
} it. Thanks!
} --------------------------------------------------------------------------
} I'd appreciate it if you could reply via EMAIL. I'm not able to access the
} net that often. Thanks a lot!!
} laba-1hi@web.berkeley.edu............................................Mikey
} *** Call Tanelorn III! (415) 540-1180. The Apple/Mac BBS of Berkeley.  ***


The Power supply in an Apple // is called a switching power supply.  I won't go
into details, but the symptoms you are describing, correspond to shorting cond-
ition on the output of the power supply. (Power supply detects shorted output
and shutsdown, waits a little while and tries restarting. If the output is still
shorted it shutsdown again. This cycle continues until the short is removed.)

You described your Disk ][ as still being attached. As with any troubleshooting
of this type, remove the cards from all slots. If the problem is still present,
you've got a short on the motherboard. If the problem goes away, test each card
in its slot until the problem reappears.  If you can recreate the problem by 
trying one card at a time, and you have a lot of cards, you're drawing to much
power from your power supply, get a heavier one (they are available).

Hope this helps.





-- 
Matthew Lee Stier                         |
Sun Microsystems ---  RTP, NC  27709-3447 |        "Wisconsin   Escapee"
uucp: { sun, mcnc!rti }!sunpix!matthew    |
phone: (919) 469-8300 fax: (919) 460-8355 |