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General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: Audronic on 04:09, 22 October 15

Title: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 04:09, 22 October 15
Hi All

I have just picked up a Faulty CPC 464.
There is No Video out Nothing ?
Is there a list and or Order of things to check.
I have changed the Z80 (No Change) It has a 40010.
Mother board is Z70200 - MC00020 1984 it looks in good condition.
I have had a look on the Wiki and was unable to find anything.
I have a CRO / Multimeter etc .

Thanks in advance    Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 08:47, 22 October 15
First commandment of repair - "Thou shalt measure voltages"... Check that you have a steady 5V to all ICs. Test that the 40010 is getting a 16Mhz clock signal and that it's outputting a 4Mhz clock signal. Check that the power switch contact are clean (bridge the switch). Check that the connector to the tapedeck is connected and making proper contact.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: 00WReX on 11:39, 22 October 15
Everything Bryce said.  :D

If the 'ON' LED is not even illuminating, my money is in the On/Off switch.
I have had a couple of CPC's with those symptoms.
I usually (without power connected) simply flick the switch on ad off quite a few times...that may just clean the contacts a bit.
Another way to check the switch is to actually bypass it.
Where the tape / data cassette connects to the main board also is where the +5v is switched.
Simply shorting those, when the 5v is applied to the board will bypass the switch.

[attachimg=1]

Cheers,
Shane
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 12:05, 22 October 15
I don't recommend doing the bypass at the tapedeck connector because the GND pin is also just beside the "switch on" pin and being slightly off (which is easily done) could mean you've just destroyed your PSU.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 22:42, 22 October 15
Thanks

The 464 Powers up, light on,  volts every where, Xtal works , have finally got the pinout for the 40010.

I have made up a Plug with a Switch (Normally Closed) to Pins 1 and 3 and extended the earth 0 Volts from pin 2 to be used as a common for the CRO/Multimeter.
The reason for the normally closed switch is that if i press it it will turn the power off and on release it will power up the 464 a bit like a reset.

Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 08:26, 23 October 15
Ok, so let's test some more...

Does the computer beep when the DEL key is held?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 10:48, 25 October 15
Pressing the Delete key Does Not produce a Beep.


?? What Brand / Model Number Frequency Counter do you use Please. I may as well purchase one.


Ray
 
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 21:32, 25 October 15
Hmmm, tricky one. You've swapped the Z80, so at this stage it can only be the reset circuitry or the GA. Not good. Can you check some of the data lines and see if data is being sent on boot? Heave you reseated the GA and cleaned the pins on the IC?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: gerald on 22:42, 25 October 15
Could be the ROM as well
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 22:50, 25 October 15
True. It would be still nice to know what's on the data and address bus and whether they are "stuck" somewhere.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 02:42, 26 October 15
Test Results
Should the Reset Line Be HI ??

Error on the Table  A14 LO. After fitting Reset Switch it toggles LO to HI and stays there.

Ray

 
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 09:14, 26 October 15
Hmmm, Pins 11 and 13 (HSync / VSync) are really low all of the time? That would suggest that the CRTC hasn't fired up.

Bryce.


Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 09:51, 26 October 15
Hi Bryce


I will have a look around the HD6845sp.
The A14 line is a pain as it goes to the ROM 40009, and IC 109 74LS153 ( I have disabled A14 going to pin 6  BUT the A14 Line is still unwell)
it also goes to the HD6845 pin 25..


It looks like some new sockets __ Drat.
I was wondering can i burn a 27C265 to replace the 40009 ?? is there a link i can have a look at Please.


Thank goodness i am Retired and have some spare ? time.


Thanks   Ray 
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 10:16, 26 October 15
Yes, you can burn the ROM to a standard 27C256.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 00:50, 28 October 15
Progress :-

I have found IC 109 (74LS153) Pin6 overloading the A14 Line Holding the line permanently low ?

Waiting on a Slow boat from China.




Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 09:18, 28 October 15
Interesting. What state does the CPC boot to if you disconnect just that pin of the 153?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 11:44, 28 October 15
Hi Bryce


By cutting the pin free, A14 now is active (not kept low) still no display.
Went to my local IC shop and purchased some 74ls153's , put a socket in, put the chip in, A14 now low again ??? . Something is loading the line ??
I have found a 6845 in an old "Excalibur 64" in a socket, i will transfer that over soon.

Patience Ray.
Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 12:36, 28 October 15
So the 153 wasn't faulty. Good to know, I've never seen one of those go bad yet.

The 6845 doesn't have access to A14, so it won't be that. I'm not sure what A14 should be doing during startup, maybe it's meant to be at 0V?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 13:37, 28 October 15
Hi Bryce


On the circuit i have Pin 25  /cs  is marked as A14 ??




Ray

Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: arnoldemu on 13:59, 28 October 15
if a14 is held high, then the lower rom will not be executed on boot up.

it needs a15=a14=0.

So no display is probably because it's not executing the OS/lower rom!

EDIT: Ok I see A14 is held low.

CRTC will accept i/o, gate-array will not (so no colours and mode set).

Upper rom will not be accessible, this may block start up too.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 13:59, 28 October 15
Oops, you're right, I forgot about that signal, I was thinking only of the "MA" address lines on the other side.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 02:10, 30 October 15
Gotcha  all sorted. ;D


What was faulty - 1 6845 (IC 108) and an open circuit in the A14 line Pin 25 ( Suspect a VIA Open Circuit ).
Hard wired under board from Pin 4 CPU (IC 111) to pin 6 on 74ls153 (IC 109) which connects to Pin 30 on 40010 (IC 116).


Happy Ray.

PS:-  Thanks for all the helpful hints.

Now i can have a look at the Faulty CPC6128 that came with the Faulty CPC464. 

Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: 00WReX on 08:39, 30 October 15
Nice one.
That would have been very satisfying when the boot screen appeared.

Cheers,
Shane
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 09:17, 30 October 15
Congratulations!

It's always very satisfying when the boot screen suddenly appears, no matter how many CPCs you've repaired before.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 10:38, 30 October 15

Thats why the Photo's have a Gotcha Label.
Thanks for the support and various comments. :D
BUT :-  :(
The Cassette player has no output.
Are there any Links to simplify the repair process.
The Belt is good, it responds to the remote control (Relay works) and Starts,  does all the correct actions BUT No Output.
Spools fast in both directions.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks  Ray

Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 10:50, 30 October 15
What have you measured so far? I'd check with a scope whether you are getting a signal at pin 6 of the Op-amp - IC302 - LM6324 and that you are getting the signal back out on pin 8. That will at least confirm that the read head and the amplification stages are working. If you're getting nothing on pin 8, then the problem has at least been narrowed down to a handful of parts.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 23:12, 30 October 15
@Bryce (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=225)


I have done nothing at the moment i just discovered that it would not load.


What is the best practical way to do tape repairs ?
Remove the Tape player from Keyboard assembly 
Or leave it there with a long (Homemade) Connection Cable. for Power, Control and Data after removing the wires for the LED. ?


Thanks    Ray

Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 05:39, 31 October 15
The saga continues :-


Yes the second half of the LA6324 is Unwell.
Can I use an LM 324 in place of the LA6324 ?? The specs look similar .
I decided to remove the Cassette player from the Keyboard as it makes the job a little easier ??? .
I have disconnected the Data out wire (Green) and also measured there to eliminate the loading back from the 8255.


What an interesting Project.


Ray 
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 14:13, 31 October 15
Quote from: Audronic on 05:39, 31 October 15
The saga continues :-


Yes the second half of the LA6324 is Unwell.
Can I use an LM 324 in place of the LA624 ?? The specs look similar .
I decided to remove the Cassette player from the Keyboard as it makes the job a little easier ??? .
I have disconnected the Data out wire (Green) and also measured there to eliminate the loading back from the 8255.

What an interesting Project.

Ray

The LM324 has completely different characteristics. It would work, but you'd have to swap lots of other parts on the PCB to tweak the values back to where they should be. A lot of work for nothing and the LA6324 is still easily available so why go to all the bother?

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 01:21, 01 November 15
Oops the first search of EBay for the LA6324 came up with Nothing.
After your comments i had another look and have ordered some  from China.
Project on hold for 3 weeks.


Thanks     Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: pelrun on 07:45, 01 November 15
Check the big online electronics part retailers (farnell/rs/digikey), they're usually a lot better than China/ebay for a lot of things.


Edit: heh, couldn't find them there myself, nevermind :)
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 07:59, 01 November 15
@pelrun (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=1106)


Thanks for the contacts.
I have already ordered from China  LM324 10 for $1.90 AU  La6324 10 for $19.00 ???. The specs look almost exactly the same as the LM324s ???
I will go to Radio Parts in Melbourne Monday and pickup a couple of LM324's (about $2.00 each) and see how they go.


Off topic My Boss had a callsign VK3?WB his initials (Not sure about the question mark Might have been AWB).
Well done in getting the VK4CPC (Queensland ??).


Ray

Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: pelrun on 08:10, 01 November 15
Yeah, I'm in Brisbane. Wanted VK4PEL, but that's only for standard licenses (I'm advanced), so CPC was it.


Got it over a year ago, probably should update my sig...
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 21:08, 01 November 15
LA 6324: Op-amp, DIL-14 bei reichelt elektronik (http://www.reichelt.de/ICs-KA-LF-/LA-6324/3/index.html?&ACTION=3&LA=2&ARTICLE=9983&GROUPID=2911&artnr=LA+6324)

Don't know how good the Aussi suppliers are, but in Europe it's a very easy part to find. Forget the LM324 it will only cause troubles. Use the correct part.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 07:10, 02 November 15
Tape Deck Works Ok..


Replaced IC 302 and all's OK


Thanks for all the helpful advice


Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Bryce on 10:11, 02 November 15
Cool. Great repair. Very unusual that IC302 was damaged, they're actually very robust normally.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 06:15, 22 December 15
OOPs The Fat Lady Stopped Singing  ???


The Random characters have come back to visit Damn------


Removing The AY-8912 at the moment.
If that does not fix the intermittent, then Big Cutters on the 8255


I hope it is a Merry Christmas.


Yours (Mildly Peeved)   Ray  :'(
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 04:44, 23 December 15
Replacing the Ay-3-8912 appears to fix the Intermittent problem.


This is the second ay-3-8912 that i have had to replace in the 2 Faulty CPC's ??


It now is a Merry Christmas.


Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: AMSDOS on 06:46, 23 December 15
Quote from: Audronic on 04:44, 23 December 15
Replacing the Ay-3-8912 appears to fix the Intermittent problem.


This is the second ay-3-8912 that i have had to replace in the 2 Faulty CPC's ??


It now is a Merry Christmas.


Ray


Hopefully it's not something else causing it to fault out.
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: Audronic on 07:04, 23 December 15
@amsdos


The 2 ay-3-8912's that i have replaced were in:-
1) 464
2) 6128

Both machines I purchased where known to be faulty.
I wanted a technical project, the best way to learn a new (to me) machine.

Ray
Title: Re: Repairs to a CPC464.
Post by: AMSDOS on 07:06, 23 December 15
Understood.
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