ScuzzBlog: Diaries May 2020
Entry 22nd May 2020: Post 2: Amiga 500Plus - Health Check Part 8.
Amiga 500Plus - Health Check Part 8.
It's that time again when I painstakingly open up my A500Plus
computers and check the dreaded battery damage. I have eleven of
the Amiga 500Plus if you count this one. I say that cus the
computer I feature today isn't a 500Plus but an an early Rev 5
A500 inside an A500Plus case. I count this one though cus the
case is for the Plus in the Checkmate. So I could reinstate the
500Plus if I so desired.
So why am I checking these A500Plus machines. Well, all of them
have had the battery removed. Sadly it doesn't end there cus the
corrosion never really goes away. Well not unless you are happy
to scrape the top surface of the motherboard and rebuild half the
tracks, sockets and chips. For those that know the story of Ironman
you will appreciate his dilemma of living each day under pain of
death from shrapnel moving ever closer to his heart. Well it is
like that with the Plus computers. I simply watch the corrosion
and fight it with vinegar and brown paper. [ like from the
nursery rhyme ].
I tentatively open the computers and through my cringed face I
gaze at the previous damage and simply comfort the computer. My
only joy is switching on and hoping she is working. I can do
nothing. There are those that try very hard to fight the problem
but with so much corrosion and damage to some of these computers
all I can do is live in hope.
In truth it was some silly idiot at Commodores fault. Deciding
to put the battery from the memory card onto the motherboard
pretty much signed the death certificate on any unsuspecting
computer. So many cherished machines were put in store only to
die a painful slow death without anyone ever knowing. That is
no way for any Amiga to die. And so I care for them while I
can and give words of comfort.
And to number eight in this feature and an old favourite. She
has been featured quite a lot as she is on standby for checking
my GVP sidecars. She is bullet proof. Seriously.
It is strange that in most A500Plus computers the battery has
chosen to attack component U12 and the adjacent resistor. I can
appreciate the resistor cus the legs are so close to the battery
end but often only the U12 has been hammered and everything else
is generally OK. I guess there is good reason. Don't even know
what U12 does.. perhaps I should check.
Anyhoo this was the last of my loose unboxed 500Plus machines. So
I may check one or two boxed ones, though there is one that is
deep in storage territory so that may have to wait a while.
Please note that I am using an old black and white TV for the
images and so they are not the best.
Amiga 500Plus - Health Check Part 8.
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