I name that component in...

[Charlie]

Apart from lazyness the main reason my projects proceed so slowly is the need to stop & fix the other computers in my collection...
...Today it's the turn of the HDD-Killer. (again!)

Rather than blowing the magic smoke out of an irreplaceable component as before it's hopefully zapped something fixable this time.

So you electronics Gurus - who can tell me what this is & possibly where to get another..?

Do you like the way I've highlighted it in an 'it's on the way to Heaven' kind-of way?

Thanks in advance.

[Charlie]

P.S.
It looks somewhat like a 'power-regulator' you'd see on a PC mobo to me - somewhat like the bigger things center-right in the piccie...
...could I rob + butcher one of them..? (from an old mobo)

[DDNI]

Try this SMD resource site
http://www.tkb-4u.com/code/smdcode/smdcodeB.php
or
http://clivetec.superihost.com/index.htm

If you can speak French, this forum seems to discuss your component...

http://www.abcelectronique.com/forum...d.php?p=319536

good luck

[Charlie]

Thanks DDNI

0ooo - That little bugger looks like some kind of voltage-protection jobbie...
. . . if I can't find a suitable replacement I may just try bridging it!
Maybe do long enough to get my data back. (again)

[TheCorfiot]

@Charlie

Can't see clearly from the photo my friend,
Is it in series with the 0V line / GND Return, (ie over current protection) or strapped across the +12V & Gnd (Over voltage protecion)?

If strapped across do not bridge it out of circuit as you will be shorting the PSU input.

In series means overcurrent being drawn by the HD, Bridge but with extreme caution, would recomend using a DVM set to current mode & watch the Current draw as you switch on. The -ve connection to DVM would be on the Socket side.

TC

[Charlie]

Thanks for the warning TC.
Courtesy of DDNI I found the data sheet which says it's for overvoltage protection - so I guess bridging it would be a bad idea.
The left hand end's connection snakes all over the shop so tracing it's going to need a meter...
. . . I think I'll just pull it & see what happens.

[TheCorfiot]

@Charlie.

Overvoltage okay.... on the +12V line, does the system use the +12V line for anything else on the Mobo for example.???

I think it would be a good idea to set up a Meter on the PSU's +12V supply of this system & keep monitoring it whilst the system is powered up, If anything odd happens watch the voltage reading.

TC

[Eclipse]

The black line indicates positive. It's either a diode or cap I'd say.

[Charlie]

Time to power it and see...

Now, my resident HDD-killer is my Uber RiscPC. From memory, like other 32 bit Acorns, the mobo only uses +5v & ground - 12v is only supplied by molex direct from the PSU to peripherals that use it. So before I plugin I'll use a spare PSU as that's going to be the likely trouble-maker...
... I've been intending to rebuild that psu for some time anyway.

[Charlie]

Whoooo - Ahhhhh! I love fireworks!

Much smoke (& flames) from the old HDD!

That will be b*ggered, then! I note one of the SMT chips has got a crater in it that would do Vesuvius proud...
...ho, hum lets see if fleaBay can provide another logic-board before I have to go down the 'where else did I keep that data?' route.

Don't you just love retro-hardware..?

P.S.
Don't worry, TC. Yours has been 100% trouble-free since the day it came from the dealer 20 years ago - My Uber RiscPC seems to be a bit of a rogue.

[Merlin]

What make and model is the hard drive, on the off chance one of us may have a spare compatible controller board lying around?

[Charlie]

Thanks Merlin.
It's a Seagate ST320413A 20GB - my sincere thanks for your kind thought...

...why the laughter..?

It was only a few months ago I started a similar thread regarding the same computer killing the exact same model of drive - Though that time it was a suicide-woodlouse taking a leak on the HDD pins & shorting it that did the damage.

Deja-vu anyone..?

[hit]

maybe i missed something, but why not just create a backup of the hdd on a linux box, using 'dd' for example.
the image or the hdd itself should get mounted using adfs filesystem (
http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Filesystems-HOWTO-9.html#ss9.1 )

edit: the hdd itself, look like a standard ata / ide device. i thinks its easier to find a spare pc with such connectors.
maybe the one next to you?

[Merlin]

I shall consult my hard drive graveyard and the scrap junk pile at work and get back to you.

@ hit

The controller is screwed, he won't get anything off the drive without a working controller.....

[hit]

oh, the pcb from the hdd itself? thats not that good :/

[TheCorfiot]

@Charlie

Good luck with the search mate, I hope you find something suitable

TC

[Charlie]

Thank you!

I discovered the last time (yes, the last time) this happened that I don't just need a logic board for the same model of drive. I need from the same size drive AND the same firmware revision!!!
Chances are I'm going to have to rebuild the install from scratch (again) but if lucky the drive I'm currently winning on fleaBay will do...

...still, the fireworks were entertaining!

[chiark]

The woodlice are having their revenge... You won't have seen them wandering in, making the changes then wandering out smirking and chuckling: they're too careful for that.