It could have potentially burned through some oxidation.
Anyway...
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.
I think you may be right...or did my mistake cause a short to be "blown out"?
I once read - on an electronics forum - that shorts could sometimes be corrected by increasing the current (?!) flow through the track or component. It didn't seem particularly believable at the time, but perhaps I serendipitously proved it's veracity?
It can happen with solder whiskers but I think it's just luck. You probably knocked the Gary changing the bad connections.
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.
———
"It is not necessarily a supply voltage at no load, but the amount of current it can provide when touched that
indicates how much hurting you shall receive."
Thank you, all. As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of useful fault diagnosis guidelines that ought to be invaluable for others experiencing the same symptoms.
With regard to 'blowing out shorts' It's not something I'd like to use as a troubleshooting methodology, however I do sometimes use voltage injection with a low voltage like 1v. It's usually good enough to highlight bad ICs when they get warm, and if you get an instant high current draw then you are almost certainly looking at a short.
Glad to see it running again, and I know what you mean about just waiting for machines to die, it's inevitable, but at least having the skills to repair is a good thing
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...