Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!bionet!agate!ucbvax!hplabs!hplabsz!dleigh
From: dleigh@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM (Darren Leigh)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: B2000 power supplies
Keywords: power supply repair 90 day warranty
Message-ID: <3285@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: 3 May 89 02:30:11 GMT
Reply-To: dleigh@hplabs.UUCP (Darren Leigh)
Distribution: na
Organization: Open Fly Systems
Lines: 54

Well, my power supply just gave up the ghost.  It's especially
annoying because the problem began while my machine was still under
warranty, but I just thought that amigas crashed a lot.

At first my 2000 would crash randomly with guru numbers 3 and 4.  It
was suggested to me that either I had a memory problem or that my
power supply was bad.  I took the 2 Meg card out and the crashing
stopped so I assumed it was at fault, though I was not able to spot
any bad bits with memory diagnostics.  Everything was OK for a while,
then the power supply started acting funny.  Sometimes when I turn it
on it dies immediately.  Sometimes it stays on for 30 seconds to a
minute before dying.  Once it's on, it tends to stay on.  Today I
haven't been able to get it to work at all so I pulled it out and
began looking at it with more advanced equipment.

Here's a description of what happens: I turn it on, the fan starts up
and the +5 rail turns on nicely, then the fan shuts off and I only get
a volt or so out of the +5 supply.  I guess the power supply is
getting crowbarred?

The power supply claims to be made in Hong Kong by Elec & Eltek Power
Supply LTD.  It is model number 420504-SD and has a date code of 8815.
There are two white stickers on it, one saying REV. 00 and the other
saying PASSED HI-POT.  Are there any known problems with this supply?
Known fixes?  From the feedback I got before, I gather that mine is
not an isolated problem.

I really wish that Commodore products had a one year warranty.  It
would go a long way toward proving to businesses that the Amiga is a
realiable machine.  (Is it really reliable?  As much as I love the
machine, both of my amigas were incredibly flakey.  And considering
how many monitors have been burning up lately . . .)

Until I can find a real replacement supply, I'll hack something
together from parts at hand.  I know what voltages are on most of the
connectors, but does anyone have a pinout for the long 14 pin socket?
I guess I only need to know what's on the red, green, white and brown
lines.

I called various dealers here in the Bay Area and was told that
replacement supplies are $150.  No one seems to have them in stock
either (though they always say they do until you ask them to check).
One hundred fifty seems steep -- where can I get one (or a similar one
that will fit in the case) cheaper?

In a similar vein, where in the SF bay area (southern penninsula
preferred) can I get fast and competent repair service?  I'm really
disgusted by the repair people I've been talking to who either don't
know what they're doing or tell me lies.

========
Darren Leigh
Internet:  dleigh@hplabs.hp.com
UUCP:      hplabs!dleigh