I had the great misfortune of receiving an over-the -top power surge from my local utility today. The net result is that my CMI III has been smoked - at least (and hopefully, at most) in the power supply department.

No lights, no fans, no music.

As far as I can tell, at least one of the power supply caps (C18) is gone and the CMI keeps blowing mains fuses. I have a backup CMI, but I'm reluctant to slug in its PS in case the problem exists somewhere else.

Can anyone recommend a capable hardware tech who might be able to provide some guidance on this issue?

Your help greatly appreciated,
John

There is a thyristor at the input of these power supplies which will frequently blow short circuit when the wrong voltage is applied, for example plugging in 240V when 110 is set. This might be the problem here, given that you suspect that the whole house went overvoltage.

Unfortunatly, repairing this is a 3-4 hour episode to remove the power supply and fart about with the part. If you have access to a reasonable technician in the boonies where you now are, I could write a peice on the pitfalls for you. The alternative is to swap the PSU with the Rev 6 machine for now, as that is the quickest way to get the system back up. You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it. There are a few mods to the motherboard which make it hard to swap boards between the two machines to sort this out.

I hope this helps, and I hope things are good otherwise.

Best Regards,

Andrew.

: Hi all,

: I had the great misfortune of receiving an over-the -top power surge from my local utility today. The net result is that my CMI III has been smoked - at least (and hopefully, at most) in the power supply department.

: No lights, no fans, no music.

: As far as I can tell, at least one of the power supply caps (C18) is gone and the CMI keeps blowing mains fuses. I have a backup CMI, but I'm reluctant to slug in its PS in case the problem exists somewhere else.

: Can anyone recommend a capable hardware tech who might be able to provide some guidance on this issue?

: Your help greatly appreciated,
: John

And exactly where are you now?????

Ypu can contact me via:-
http://www.users.bigpond.com/adriansbruce/

You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it.
: Andrew.

: Andrew Brent,

: And exactly where are you now?????

: Ypu can contact me via:-
: http://www.users.bigpond.com/adriansbruce/

: You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it.
: : Andrew.

Long time. Nice to hear the click of your keyboard again. I appreciate the followup. I do have a good tech here (one with a fair bit of experience with this vintage of machine). Other than this particular hair-raiser, things are all going very well.

I am away in the mountains with my kids until the 12th of July and will be looking at the machine with my tech immediately upon my return.

Thanks for your advice. I will keep you apprised of our progress.

Best regards to you and your family,

John Tucker
Toasty Trails Inc.

: Hi John,

: There is a thyristor at the input of these power supplies which will frequently blow short circuit when the wrong voltage is applied, for example plugging in 240V when 110 is set. This might be the problem here, given that you suspect that the whole house went overvoltage.

: Unfortunatly, repairing this is a 3-4 hour episode to remove the power supply and fart about with the part. If you have access to a reasonable technician in the boonies where you now are, I could write a peice on the pitfalls for you. The alternative is to swap the PSU with the Rev 6 machine for now, as that is the quickest way to get the system back up. You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it. There are a few mods to the motherboard which make it hard to swap boards between the two machines to sort this out.

: I hope this helps, and I hope things are good otherwise.

: Best Regards,

: Andrew.

: : Hi all,

: : I had the great misfortune of receiving an over-the -top power surge from my local utility today. The net result is that my CMI III has been smoked - at least (and hopefully, at most) in the power supply department.

: : No lights, no fans, no music.

: : As far as I can tell, at least one of the power supply caps (C18) is gone and the CMI keeps blowing mains fuses. I have a backup CMI, but I'm reluctant to slug in its PS in case the problem exists somewhere else.

: : Can anyone recommend a capable hardware tech who might be able to provide some guidance on this issue?

: : Your help greatly appreciated,
: : John

Thanks again for your comments. It was, as you suggested, the red MOV/thyristor on the PS board that blew. Do you happen to know (or know who would know) the value of that component so I can get a suitable replacement?

I dropped the Rev 6 power supply into the Rev 9 machine. Powers up as it should - all rear panel voltages showing properly - but now it won't boot. It makes it to: "BOOT ROM V17.00 - (C) FAIRLIGHT ESP 1992" with spinning cursor. Does not get to IO/PACK etc, which I understand to be still in the realm of ROM.

Have cleaned connectors, snugged chips and reseated all ribbons and cards. Feels like the machine is looking for something on board that it can't find. Any cards from the Rev 6 machine I might try swapping to troubleshoot this new issue? For reference, I can easily email card revisions and configurations for the two machines (I can be reached at ).

Also, ribbon is connected to QFC9. No ribbon on Q777. Have I got this right?

You may or may not recall that you installed a replacement boot drive for the Rev 9 machine in an external SCSI chassis. This drive seems to be spinning up just fine.

Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
John Tucker

: : Hi John,

: : There is a thyristor at the input of these power supplies which will frequently blow short circuit when the wrong voltage is applied, for example plugging in 240V when 110 is set. This might be the problem here, given that you suspect that the whole house went overvoltage.

: : Unfortunatly, repairing this is a 3-4 hour episode to remove the power supply and fart about with the part. If you have access to a reasonable technician in the boonies where you now are, I could write a peice on the pitfalls for you. The alternative is to swap the PSU with the Rev 6 machine for now, as that is the quickest way to get the system back up. You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it. There are a few mods to the motherboard which make it hard to swap boards between the two machines to sort this out.

: : I hope this helps, and I hope things are good otherwise.

: : Best Regards,

: : Andrew.

: : : Hi all,

: : : I had the great misfortune of receiving an over-the -top power surge from my local utility today. The net result is that my CMI III has been smoked - at least (and hopefully, at most) in the power supply department.

: : : No lights, no fans, no music.

: : : As far as I can tell, at least one of the power supply caps (C18) is gone and the CMI keeps blowing mains fuses. I have a backup CMI, but I'm reluctant to slug in its PS in case the problem exists somewhere else.

: : : Can anyone recommend a capable hardware tech who might be able to provide some guidance on this issue?

: : : Your help greatly appreciated,
: : : John

: Hi Andrew,

: Thanks again for your comments. It was, as you suggested, the red MOV/thyristor on the PS board that blew. Do you happen to know (or know who would know) the value of that component so I can get a suitable replacement?

: I dropped the Rev 6 power supply into the Rev 9 machine. Powers up as it should - all rear panel voltages showing properly - but now it won't boot. It makes it to: "BOOT ROM V17.00 - (C) FAIRLIGHT ESP 1992" with spinning cursor. Does not get to IO/PACK etc, which I understand to be still in the realm of ROM.

: Have cleaned connectors, snugged chips and reseated all ribbons and cards. Feels like the machine is looking for something on board that it can't find. Any cards from the Rev 6 machine I might try swapping to troubleshoot this new issue? For reference, I can easily email card revisions and configurations for the two machines (I can be reached at ).

: Also, ribbon is connected to QFC9. No ribbon on Q777. Have I got this right?

: You may or may not recall that you installed a replacement boot drive for the Rev 9 machine in an external SCSI chassis. This drive seems to be spinning up just fine.

: Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

: Cheers,
: John Tucker

:
: : : Hi John,

: : : There is a thyristor at the input of these power supplies which will frequently blow short circuit when the wrong voltage is applied, for example plugging in 240V when 110 is set. This might be the problem here, given that you suspect that the whole house went overvoltage.

: : : Unfortunatly, repairing this is a 3-4 hour episode to remove the power supply and fart about with the part. If you have access to a reasonable technician in the boonies where you now are, I could write a peice on the pitfalls for you. The alternative is to swap the PSU with the Rev 6 machine for now, as that is the quickest way to get the system back up. You could then send me the broken Power supply and I could fix it. There are a few mods to the motherboard which make it hard to swap boards between the two machines to sort this out.

: : : I hope this helps, and I hope things are good otherwise.

: : : Best Regards,

: : : Andrew.

: : : : Hi all,

: : : : I had the great misfortune of receiving an over-the -top power surge from my local utility today. The net result is that my CMI III has been smoked - at least (and hopefully, at most) in the power supply department.

: : : : No lights, no fans, no music.

: : : : As far as I can tell, at least one of the power supply caps (C18) is gone and the CMI keeps blowing mains fuses. I have a backup CMI, but I'm reluctant to slug in its PS in case the problem exists somewhere else.

: : : : Can anyone recommend a capable hardware tech who might be able to provide some guidance on this issue?

: : : : Your help greatly appreciated,
: : : : John