Date   : Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:20:49 -0500
From   : jules.richardson99@... (Jules Richardson)
Subject: Easter Disaster

Ian Wolstenholme wrote:
> I've done it again!  I've done something very silly and I'm really very
> annoyed about it.  I have completely killed one of my favourite Beebs,
> Station 112, my workhorse Master 128 which has had just about every new
> bit of Beeb kit passing through here over the last 3 or 4 years connected 
> up to it!

Hmm, my workhorse machines for those kinds of purposes were the ones with 
missing keys, broken/faded cases, running off junk PC PSUs etc. for just that 
reason :-)

> I was trying to test a non-working bit of kit to see if it was getting the
> right Volts and Amps to it with my multimeter, and as a check, I tried
> measuring the Amps on the Master 128.  Nothing actually happened, I
> didn't get any bangs or flashes or explosions or noises, but when I tried
> to turn the Beeb off and back on, all I got was the continuous tone and I can't
> get it to start up.

Do all the PSU lines out OK? I'd start there...

... then do a complete removal of the beeb's system board too and check for 
contaminants, bent connector pins, unseated ICs etc. etc. before worrying 
about damaged components.

It seems unlikely that hooking up a meter would have killed it, unless you 
accidentally shorted something out (and even then ICs can be pretty forgiving 
at times).


cheers

Jules