Cracking open brick-type transformers

From: technoid <technoid_at_cheta.net>
Date: Sun May 21 17:59:07 2000

Sorry for the blank message previous.... I am getting used to a new e-mailer
as my own x86 machine's hdd died the other day...

I have had good success with a hot knife in cutting open sealed "brick"-type
power packs and know that replacing the fuse concealed therein is likely to
restore function.

Another method I found a few years later is a hacksaw. Hack at the top of the
supply until you can cleanly remove the top part of the brick. This leaves a
much neater pack when you are done and easy access for future replacements...

An Atari enthusiast like myself then bested the above method by tapping out the
original (usually four) plastic 'welds' at the bottome of the pack and freeing
the guts rather quickly and cleanly.

Depending on your method of entry, an external fuse holder is either nice or
neccessary. I usually put them on with the hot knife method. Other methods lend
themselves better to re-entry for subsequent failures.




Richard Erlacher wrote:

> A friend of mine routinely had to crack open his TRS-80 PSU's. He did this
> with some care, but mostly a plastic mallet and a chisel. Once the deed
> was done, he used MEK to glue the case back together. This seemed to me
> like a lot of trouble. I'd put in an externally accessible fuse holder
> arrangement of some sort so I didn't have to do this more than once.
>
> Dick
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Fred Cisin (XenoSoft) <cisin_at_xenosoft.com>
> To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 21, 2000 10:24 AM
> Subject: TRS-80 Model 1 Power supply (was: Warning: Most of DejaNews
>
> > On Sat, 20 May 2000, Earl Evans wrote:
> > > BTW, anyone have a spare TRS-80 Model 1 power supply hanging around?
> :-)
> > > Or, could tell me how to build/repair one?
> >
> > The good news is that MOST (but certainly not ALL) problems with the model
> > 1 power supply are nothing more than a blown fuse! All that is usually
> > needed is to solder in a new fuse.
> >
> > The bad news is that the case is glued together.
> >
> > Fortunately the glued joint tends to be substqantially weaker than the
> > rest of the case.
> >
> > Although some, such as Tony, might have a much better way to open the
> > case, brute force will usually do. Swinging it by the cord (now I'm SURE
> > that Tony would have a better way :-), slam it down onto a carpeted floor.
> > Gradually increase the level of violence until it cracks open, without
> > getting rough enough to shatter it all over the place.
> >
> > Solder in a new fuse, and glue the case back together.
> >
> >
> > A Dremel saw might do the job, but this is the technique that we used at
> > the 6th? West Coast Computer Faire to repair half a dozen of them. (Show
> > management insisted that there was NOTHING WRONG with the power provided)
> >
> >
> > I sold some of my model 1 stuff at VCF, and Eric got most of the rest.
> >
> > --
> > Grumpy Ol' Fred cisin_at_xenosoft.com
> > <A HREF= "http://www.xenosoft.com/dogears" >DogEars</A>
> >
Received on Sun May 21 2000 - 17:59:07 BST

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