It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

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rubber_jonnie
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 2:24 pm Oh no...

:(
I'm a bit gutted...

I will spend some time with it to see if there are shorts I may have missed. Might have to remove IC's to see if there is anything bridged underneath.
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...
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stephen_usher
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by stephen_usher »

Could be a "phantom short" caused by flux which has become conductive.
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.
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2026 6:15 pm Could be a "phantom short" caused by flux which has become conductive.
Possibly, I need to have a good look but I did give it a damn good clen.
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...
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

So, I have an option for the CDP1861 replacement :)

I found an earlier incarnation that uses a bigger PCB and through hole components, so I've ordered those via a project on PCBWay so at least the creator will get something back.

In the meantime I do wonder if there is a short somewhere in the PCB from the solder paste I used, so I think I'll use a spare PCB and transfer over the components and either hand solder or hot air solder them on but not using solder paste.

No harm doing so, and what I might do is remove one IC at a time to see if a particular one is causing the machine to hang.

Also, my expansion slots are in the UK so that should be coming soon :)
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...
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HigashiJun
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by HigashiJun »

Cannot wait seeing the final result.

8-)
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

HigashiJun wrote: Tue May 05, 2026 1:49 pm Cannot wait seeing the final result.

8-)
Me either!
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...
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Well the connectors arrived today and they look spot on:

IMG20260506220030.jpg
IMG20260506220030.jpg (346.71 KiB) Viewed 707 times

They aren't soldered in yet as I've been in London all day, but they fit perfectly so pleased with the result. I think I'll wait until I have one of the expansion boards before I solder them all in as with 86 pins each, that's a lot of soldering if the expansion cards don't fit!!!

The PCB's for the alternate CDP1861 are nearly done, 93% according to the order so fingers crossed I'll have those relatively quickly as I did cheap out on the postage :)

EDIT: PCBs just shipped.
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...
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Well the alternate CDP1861 boards arrived today:

IMG20260515141109.jpg
IMG20260515141109.jpg (261.54 KiB) Viewed 591 times

As I'm away next week it'll probably mean I won't be able to build until I get back, and I'll be away 10 days...

I guess we'll all just have to be patient :)
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...
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by rubber_jonnie »

Ooops, paerhaps patience isn't my thing...

IMG20260515161013.jpg
IMG20260515161013.jpg (288.4 KiB) Viewed 583 times

Unfortunately whilst I may have the GALs I'm not sure about the rest, so that will have to wait until i get back from hols.
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...
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HigashiJun
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Re: It's long overdue - Cosmac Elf II build

Post by HigashiJun »

Enjoy your holiday !
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