Great, why does stuff suddenly die like this!!
So the HX-20 has a weird system, whereby the power comes from the battery, and you don't run the machine from mains power, rather the PSU charges the battery and the machine runs from battery only.
Well something weird is going on, because it won't power on, but the battery doesn't seem to charge, well unless it is already fully charged(I have my doubts based on when I last charged it), as it's only pulling 10-15ma when charging via a bench PSU configured as per the HX-20 specs.
I suppose the battery could be bad, but need to start digging deeper.
This is a project I really didn't want.
Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
- rubber_jonnie
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Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
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...
Re: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
@rubber_jonnie oh hard luck with that RJ.
Sounds like another learning opportunity. Reminds me of a MacBook Pro that wouldn’t charge one day but would the next.
Sounds like another learning opportunity. Reminds me of a MacBook Pro that wouldn’t charge one day but would the next.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
- stephen_usher
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Re: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
Can you clip leads onto the battery terminals and power from a bench power supply as a test?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
Have managed to get the technical manual downloaded, so that's a start.
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: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
I have indeed, though I will revisit, it's barely drawing anything, less than 100ma when powered on. I need to look at how the battery powers it. Of course that may be totally normal for this machine.stephen_usher wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 5:47 pm Can you clip leads onto the battery terminals and power from a bench power supply as a test?
I am getting 5v to most ICs, but the best the display will do is flicker, though it does beep on power up, which is slightly encouraging.
What makes this one hard is that it's dual CPU and virtually no 74LS ICs, it's all kinda weird. I think if I can figure out power to begin with, that would be a good place to start, as I'm not 100% convinced it's right, and the weird symptoms are very similar to a low battery.
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: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
So, minor update, I decided to reassemble the machine as it has a lot of internal shielding and it looks like their may be a connection between all the boards on GND.
And it kind of worked, i got the display and menu up, but later it went off piste again.
So I have been looking into the tech manual and it's a nightmare with all the functions broken down into sections and no master schematic!!
This may take some time!
And it kind of worked, i got the display and menu up, but later it went off piste again.
So I have been looking into the tech manual and it's a nightmare with all the functions broken down into sections and no master schematic!!
This may take some time!
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...
- PeckPeekPoke
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- Location: New England
Re: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
Good luck reviving that old HX-20. It'll be really cool to bring to the beach when it runs. Here is some hopefully useful info:
https://fjkraan.home.xs4all.nl/comp/hx20/index.html
https://fjkraan.home.xs4all.nl/comp/hx20/index.html
FOR GREAT JUSTICE. TAKE OUT EVERY ZIG
800xl+U1mb, STfm, STe, 030
800xl+U1mb, STfm, STe, 030
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oh boy, the Epson HX-20 is poorly.
I'm sure the problem is something minor since it did power up properly once today. Thanks for the link, looks like an interesting resource.PeckPeekPoke wrote: ↑Sun Jul 24, 2022 7:56 pm Good luck reviving that old HX-20. It'll be really cool to bring to the beach when it runs. Here is some hopefully useful info:
https://fjkraan.home.xs4all.nl/comp/hx20/index.html
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...