Date   : Tue, 23 Apr 1991 22:51:57 PDT
From   : Will Rose <cwr%pnet01.cts.com@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: PX-8 problems (batteries?)

The usual reason for the PX-8/PF-10 dying, especially after a period of
non-use, is the discharge/death of the *soldered-in* backup nicads. Both
devices have large nicad (or in the PF-10, drycell) batteries, but also
backup nicads of roughly AA size soldered to the motherboards.
 
I've had my PX-8/10 around 6 years, and had to replace both the PX-8 120K
ramdisk backup cell and the PF-10 backup cell about 2 years ago.  That was
with fairly heavy use of the PX-8, but less of the PF-10.  I also replaced
the PX-8 main battery pack, which in retrospect was probably unecessary;
when the ramdisk backup battery failed it dragged the system voltage down
to such an extent that nothing worked, and I thought the main battery had
died - but a new battery showed the same problem.  The PF-10 main battery
pack and the PX-8 backup battery pack are still the originals.
 
I dismantled the cases and soldered the cells in myself with no difficulty.
(On second thoughts, the backup battery on the ramdisk may have had a plug;
but the PF-10's went straight onto the board.  Anyway, you can't buy nicads
with the right plug, so you have to cut and resolder the old one).
 
I find I use the PF-10 very little now because I upload most work from
the PX-8 to a desktop for final editing on a full screen.  I still keep
all the programs on disk, however; I haven't yet reached the stage of
a PX-8 directory on the PC!  But the PX-8 has been incredibly useful in
the time I've had it - really an amazing little beast.  I'm sorry it
never caught on.  The only problem is that the ribbon cable to the
LCD works loose every year or so, and has to be reseated in its connector
just to the right of the screen.  
 
I got the batteries from Snyderscope in the US, around $25 each I seem
to recall.  Last year they had a sale on a lot of PX-8 stuff, including
PF-10s and TF-20s, ramdisk units, and so on.  Their address is:
     Snyderscope International
     1594 Hilltop Drive
     El Cajon
     CA 92020-8227
 
     Tel:  (619) 442-2299
 
However, the batteries are pretty generic (Snyderscope have them made up
locally, not by Epson).  If you took them out and showed them to your
friendly local nicad shop you might save some time and money.
 
Change of subject: if you need a serial port for an Amstrad machine,
try England where they are extremely common and shops (particularly
in London) are willing to handle overseas orders.  Get a copy of the
Amstrad PCW or 8000 Plus magazines, and check the adverts.  I can't
find the address of PCW, but 8000 Plus subscriptions are at:
 
      8000 Plus, The Old Barn, Somerton, Somerset, TA11 7PY. UK.   
 
Good luck - Will
 
"It is difficult to be a    | Will Rose
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    Confucius.              | INET:cwr@pnet01.cts.com

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