Just when I thought it was safe, my microscope died. Annoyingly it was when I wanted to do an inspection of the Amiga's expansion port.
The 'scope itself works, but the LED ring used for illumination isn't illuminating much at all.
It looks like this little fella is responsible:
Annoyingly the part number is obscured by the damage, so I don't know what it is, though I'm thinking it's a mosfet. A teeny tiny mosfet.
So as I am currently replacing some of my older kit I'll get a better replacement and in the meantime I need to figure out an alternative way to get power to the LED ring.
Ho hum.
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Stuff and Things.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.
Does anybody have any recommendations for good quality PLCC chip pullers?
All I can ever seem to find are these:
And frankly they work for about 4 or 5 extractions and then the teeth start slipping having worn out. Then it's chuck them away and start again. Meh.
All I can ever seem to find are these:
And frankly they work for about 4 or 5 extractions and then the teeth start slipping having worn out. Then it's chuck them away and start again. Meh.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- chronicthehedgehog
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Re: Stuff and Things.
I bought these a few months ago - cheap NOS on ebay. I don't know whether they're still in production but I think CK are generally a well respected tool maker. Admittedly I've only used them a few times but they seem OK.
Still available on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254836979511 ... R8rL_sGZZQ
EDIT:Still available on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254836979511 ... R8rL_sGZZQ
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.
Thanks I'll go have a look. I have ordered some cheap ones that'll do me for a bit, but I've ordered one of these as well now.chronicthehedgehog wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:58 pm I bought these a few months ago - cheap NOS on ebay. I don't know whether they're still in production but I think CK are generally a well respected tool maker. Admittedly I've only used them a few times but they seem OK.
ck.jpg
EDIT:
Still available on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254836979511 ... R8rL_sGZZQ
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- HigashiJun
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- Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2020 7:21 am
- Location: Tokyo
Re: Stuff and Things.
Yeah, those cheap chinese extractors are crap and they tend to scratch your chips...
Better to invest in a good brand.
Better to invest in a good brand.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.
As @chronicthehedgehog said, CK are not a bad brand, so we'll see.HigashiJun wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2025 1:07 am Yeah, those cheap chinese extractors are crap and they tend to scratch your chips...
Better to invest in a good brand.
I have really nice DIP extractor tools, though my favourite is my little Wera chip lifter, but PLCC lifters just seem to rely on the fact that the tools are ultimately a consumable.
And you're right, they do scratch your chips.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- HigashiJun
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- Location: Tokyo
Re: Stuff and Things.
A German brand should be good, so yes, worth trying.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Stuff and Things.
These arrived today along with some cheaper ones I ordered as a back up.chronicthehedgehog wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:58 pm I bought these a few months ago - cheap NOS on ebay. I don't know whether they're still in production but I think CK are generally a well respected tool maker. Admittedly I've only used them a few times but they seem OK.
ck.jpg
EDIT:
Still available on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254836979511 ... R8rL_sGZZQ
The CK ones are way better and worth the money IMHO. The black plastic that you squeeze to extract IC's is much stiffer and the metal puller arms are more rigid and better formed too. Fat Agnus just pops out vertically, unlike the cheaper ones where you squeeze but it just isn't enough to pull the IC out.
I'd definitely recommend the C.K. pullers.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
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- Posts: 12203
- Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
- Location: Essex
- Contact:
Re: Stuff and Things.
Also arrived today - my replacement microscope. A bit expensive at just under £100, but overall hugely better then my old £30 one with no LEDs because an unidentifiable component popped!!
The kit was actually pretty comprehensive, I received:
The camera
A microscope tube for focussing
An LED light ring that is separate but attaches to the focusing tube. This plugs direct into the mains.
A flexible arm and everything you need to mount it to the arm, and to mount the arm to the desk.
A USB cable, and HDMI cable and a PSU. The USB cable allows you to use it with a camera app on a PC if you wish.
The picture clarity is great and it should be a big help when I try to swap really tiny parts from a donor board to another Nintendo Switch. I had been putting it off due to a lack of magnification but there is no excuse now.
It even has a remote control
Also just in a spare Gotek which I will probably need to flash with FlashFloppy.
The kit was actually pretty comprehensive, I received:
The camera
A microscope tube for focussing
An LED light ring that is separate but attaches to the focusing tube. This plugs direct into the mains.
A flexible arm and everything you need to mount it to the arm, and to mount the arm to the desk.
A USB cable, and HDMI cable and a PSU. The USB cable allows you to use it with a camera app on a PC if you wish.
The picture clarity is great and it should be a big help when I try to swap really tiny parts from a donor board to another Nintendo Switch. I had been putting it off due to a lack of magnification but there is no excuse now.
It even has a remote control

Also just in a spare Gotek which I will probably need to flash with FlashFloppy.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- chronicthehedgehog
- Site sponsor
- Posts: 346
- Joined: Sun May 08, 2022 6:11 pm
- Location: The Midlands
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Re: Stuff and Things.
rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Thu Feb 06, 2025 5:59 pmThese arrived today along with some cheaper ones I ordered as a back up.chronicthehedgehog wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:58 pm I bought these a few months ago - cheap NOS on ebay. I don't know whether they're still in production but I think CK are generally a well respected tool maker. Admittedly I've only used them a few times but they seem OK.
ck.jpg
EDIT:
Still available on ebay https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254836979511 ... R8rL_sGZZQ
The CK ones are way better and worth the money IMHO. The black plastic that you squeeze to extract IC's is much stiffer and the metal puller arms are more rigid and better formed too. Fat Agnus just pops out vertically, unlike the cheaper ones where you squeeze but it just isn't enough to pull the IC out.
I'd definitely recommend the C.K. pullers.
Good to hear
