Looking for an A500+ power supply

[JonB]

Hi there

Noob here, just scored an A500+ with lots of battery damage. Gary needs a new socket, poor fellow, and one of the logic chips is covered in green smeg plus lots of track discolouration, but can't see any breaks yet.

Out with the vinegar!

Anyway, this is in good condition otherwise but I only have the bare unit and I want to resurrect it as cheaply as possible, so I am looking for a power supply and a set of workbench disks (can these things not be downloaded nowadays?). Obviously don't want to pay too much for the brick because I don't know if the board is fixable yet. Maybe borrow one?

Cheers

JonB

[roy bates]

theres tons of power supplys on ebay.

the 500+ is deffinitley fixable ive done a few now,the last one i had to replace a 48 pin socket and gary plus a 74ls244.

its resonably easy if you know how.and have the tools for the job.

[JonB]

Yes Roy, Gary's new socket is on order and I'm hoping the logic chip's legs can be cleaned so I can stick it in a socket. Got the iron and solder sucker on standby!

Can't test without a power supply though. Hoping to snag one cheap from a fellow enthusiast.

[Lobotomika]

There are many options when it comes to Amiga PSUs. You can get an A1200 or an A600 psu and it'll work fine on your 500+ (also my original Amiga model) Also you convert PC PSUs for the job but they look terrible. Anyway, I thought the old heavy bricks were the strongest of the bunch until recently but have a look at what I found:

(I hope it's actually correct and will help you)

[JonB]

Well, I have just won one on eBay for £9.50. Not sure which one it is, take a look....

[roy bates]

you wont generally be able to tell wich amiga it was from going by the picture it could of been for the 500 500+ or even the 600.

unless it was advertised for the 500 or 500+

[JonB]

...here's a picture of the battery damage. Game over, or fixable in your opinion?

[roy bates]

fixable,youll definitely have to replace the 48 pin socket dont bother trying to clean the 74ls244 just replace it there dirt cheap.

wip the battery out as soon as you can.

oh try to get some flux paste ,it'll make your life so much easer.

[JonB]

Thanks Roy

Got the sockets, new 74LS244 and flux paste. Just a matter of finding time. I had a look at the tracks with a light behind them, they all seem unbroken (but of course, may have been converted to non conducting green sludge). Once I get Gary's socket off and the logic chip, I'll do some continuity checks.

Question. The sludge appears to be under the PCB coating. Should I scrape the coating off or just leave working tracks alone? I'm thinking they may continue deteriorating.

[roy bates]

try soaking it in vinegar,but remove the chips first and then clean it with water and let it dry out all day,then do the soldering of the chips and sockets with new working parts.

dont bother soaking gary,just clean the legs lightly with wire wool.

[JonB]

Ok, thanks. He's me mate, Gary is. Not too mucky to be honest... thank heavens.

[JonB]

Well, it's done, the 244 is replaced and lots of fine soldering with prototyping wire to restore the tracks around it. Tested fine. Gary has a new socket, but there is other corrosion to the right of the battery (now removed). But this is near the audio filter according to the PCB. Surely this is not needed to boot up?

The power supply arrived today (why so HUGE?) and I rushed upstairs to try it out. I have a black screen with a green LED on the keyboard. No disk activity. What next?