Re: 5.25 card into IIGS

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

mdj wrote:
> golfrock wrote:
>
> > Hey gang,
> >
> > Thanks for the tips on running ZAXXON.  I wanted to try the 5.25
> > controller card in my IIGS to see if some of the games that did not
> > work would.  I put the card in slot 6 and it smoked the capacitor at
> > the bottom left corner of the card.  It was a card from a //e.  I have
> > an older controller card from a ][.  I put the first card in a ROM3.  I
> > have seen where people have these cards in their IIGSs.  Maybe that
> > first one was just bad.  I don't want to ruin my ROM3 mobo.
>
>
> I'd assume the first card was dodgy... but then, it might well be that
> the ROM03 itself is dodgy, so I'd avoid putting anything in there you
> can't easily replace. Although disk controllers are easily
> replaced..... ;-)
>
> I even have a small pile of already smoked 5.25" controller cards
> around here, they had a common failure mode

I've noticed several disk controllers with more than usual wear to
the ends of their "edge connector", making them a little "sloppy" in
the slot socket.

I've also noticed a few systems whose slot 6 connector was also worn
"end-to-end" a little out of spec.

If a sloppy controller card goes into a sloppy slot connector, it is
possible to short adjacent contacts, particularly if it is inserted
with the "rocking" motion that is often recommended.

If it winds up more or less centered in the connector when power is
applied--great.  But if it winds up toward one end or the other a
little too much, applying power can be a disaster.

I have also seen systems in which a solder flake or tiny strand of
wire found its way into a slot connector, making for Russian roulette
the next time it's used.

FWIW, I've never seen a decoupling capacitor on a card fail, unless
it was because its leads shorted or broke.  Undoubtedly it can happen,
but it is a very unusual event.

-michael

Parallel computing for 8-bit Apple II's!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

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