Indivision ECS: strange bypass on the board... only mine?

[aotta]

Hi, i (re)bought an Amiga after many years, and some weeks ago i started modding my A600: Viper630, CF disk, pcmcia wifi, usb mouse, ecc.

Some days ago i bought also an A604 and the ECS Indivision from a famous germany sellers, but when i installed the ECS it didn't work!!
I made a lot of test, removing all HW in the amiga but always i got (after the initial logo about "good hardware") a yellow screen, somethimes a red screen, and system hangs!
The vendor was not useful since now, and he said he tested the board, but....
..... i've noticed a strange wire soldered on my ECS, as in the pictures i attached, that i think is not normal: do anyone has it too?
Thank you!

[duga]

Revision on your A600 board?

[emufan]

some pictures on manufactors website: http://www.jschoenfeld.com/products/...sion_ECS_e.htm
not sure about the revision; the bridge is not there.
you can contact them from within their website: http://www.jschoenfeld.com/home/indexe.htm (EMail link, left side)

[aotta]

Thank you for your answers, but the seller has finally reply me that is the fix added by factory in the last board....
and in another site (i know, is not kind from me this, but i was polling...) another seller has confirmed it!
Anyway, i'll try to ask to the producer as suggested, for inquiry if the fix may be connected to my faulty board!

[1time]

Hi aotta,

Please keep us informed about this subject.

[aotta]

Originally Posted by 1time

Hi aotta,

Please keep us informed about this subject.

Sure! Vesalia has asked me some photo of the board mounted..
Probably they think is not well connected!

The ECS Indy can be inserted in the A604 socket only in 1 way (if reversed of 180 degree, it doesn't fit in the case!!) and i've repaired a few old computer, unsoldering and replacing various ICs, so i know how to place a board in a 48 pin socket!

I'll send a mail to individual computer and i'll keep you informed about the anwer!
Good w-e to all!

[aotta]

Originally Posted by aotta

....
I'll send a mail to individual computer and i'll keep you informed about the anwer!
Good w-e to all!

Jens Schönfeld promptly reply to my inquiry, confirming that
"The fix is factory-made, it's an improvement on local power supply which every Indivision ECS has"

He can't help me, because the factory give supporto only to the reseller, and i've to solve the case with Vesalia...

I think he intended "which every NEW Indivision ECS has", because i've not yet found another A600 user with a working "fixed" ECS Indivision!!!

[FOL]

Originally Posted by aotta

Jens Schönfeld promptly reply to my inquiry, confirming that
"The fix is factory-made, it's an improvement on local power supply which every Indivision ECS has"

He can't help me, because the factory give supporto only to the reseller, and i've to solve the case with Vesalia...

I think he intended "which every NEW Indivision ECS has", because i've not yet found another A600 user with a working "fixed" ECS Indivision!!!

After applying fix, I tested on an A500, A2000 and A600 without issue.

Originally Posted by aotta

Sure! Vesalia has asked me some photo of the board mounted..
Probably they think is not well connected!

You would be surprised.

[aotta]

Originally Posted by FOL

After applying fix, I tested on an A500, A2000 and A600 without issue.

Did you tested the A600 with the A604 or with the A603?

I can believe the ECS Indivision shipped to me was tested, and i've never said it doesn't work on ALL a600, but i had to know why it make my 600 don't start when placing it!
Maybe i've some supply issue in the a600 M/B that make Indvision fail...

[jbenam]

Try the Indi ECS without the Viper 630. It's worth a shot.

[aotta]

Originally Posted by jbenam

Try the Indi ECS without the Viper 630. It's worth a shot.

i've just tried the Indi without the Viper 630, without the IDE CF, without the Floppy, with KS 3.1 and KS 2.05 (even with 1.3, but just for funny! .....
the only test i've not done is without the A604, and everytime the same result:
with ECS Indy Yellow screen (sometimes red), without amiga boot (or prompt for the wb!)

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by aotta

i've just tried the Indi without the Viper 630, without the IDE CF, without the Floppy, with KS 3.1 and KS 2.05 (even with 1.3, but just for funny! .....
the only test i've not done is without the A604, and everytime the same result:
with ECS Indy Yellow screen (sometimes red), without amiga boot (or prompt for the wb!)

Hi,

Did you try cleaning all pins on the edge connector, I always use a plastic scrubber and some isopropl alcohol. Also take a look inside the connector to make sure nothing has been bent/shorted/twisted/pushed back etc. If you have a friend who has an A600 try it in there, ultimately if its under warranty, swap it out

[jbenam]

Does the A604 itself works correctly? I mean, +1MB and RTC?

Clean the edge connector as Kipps said, if it still doesn't work, you need to try it on another A600.

Maybe it's a bad power-supply (gave me lots of little problems with my A600, like serial not working correctly... everything else was, though) or leaking caps.

[aotta]

Originally Posted by jbenam

Does the A604 itself works correctly? I mean, +1MB and RTC?

Clean the edge connector as Kipps said, if it still doesn't work, you need to try it on another A600.

Maybe it's a bad power-supply (gave me lots of little problems with my A600, like serial not working correctly... everything else was, though) or leaking caps.

I have also clean the connector with spray for pins
A600 seems fine (2mn chip and clock ok) and I've made a new psu from a new atx supply too..
I don't know if some caps are leaked (but all other than ecs works fine..h)
Which caps I should test, and at what voltage?
Thanks

[jbenam]

Originally Posted by aotta

Which caps I should test, and at what voltage?
Thanks

Capacitors can't be tested with a normal multimeter, it's quite a problem to detect which ones are faulty.

Usually you can see some opacization/greenish colour on their solder pads...

[aotta]

Originally Posted by jbenam

Capacitors can't be tested with a normal multimeter, it's quite a problem to detect which ones are faulty.

Usually you can see some opacization/greenish colour on their solder pads...

Well, i'll give a look closer to their pin (even is not so easy)...
waiting for one A500 for testing if ECS is working (and waiting for further info from Vesalia) i've a bit of free time!!

[jimbob]

HI Aotta, bit of a long shot but are you testing with the trapdoor cover on or off? I just installed an A604+IndiECS and noticed that the combination is kinda heavy and bends down from the motherboard without the trapdoor in place.

@FOL is this capacitor a factory fix you know about, can you tell us what issues it solves?

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by aotta

I have also clean the connector with spray for pins
A600 seems fine (2mn chip and clock ok) and I've made a new psu from a new atx supply too..
I don't know if some caps are leaked (but all other than ecs works fine..h)
Which caps I should test, and at what voltage?
Thanks

Just cleaning the pads with a spray will not remove heavy oxides on the pins, you do need to physically scrub them with a light abrasive like the plastic kitchen scrubber. 20 years of oxidation can add up

[aotta]

@jimbob: i've tried (a very hundreds of time ) with or without trapdoor cover... but you have the ECS with the "fix" too??

@kipper2k: i've used the spray and a "cotton fioc", but the A600 was no as oxidated as you think, it's in a very good state for a 20's years old! Anyway, i'll try a more "heavy" cleaning... what's about a pen rubber?

[jimbob]

Originally Posted by aotta

@jimbob: i've tried (a very hundreds of time ) with or without trapdoor cover... but you have the ECS with the "fix" too??

Na, mine doesn't have "the fix". That's why I was wondering what the fix is supposed to do since mine has some minor problems. But generally it has worked fine on a bunch of different motherboards. Sorry not much help to you.