05-05-2018, 09:30 PM
Had this in storage since obtained, had a basic clean up and that was it but with a spare end weekend and coming across it in a storage box this weekend I decided to have a go.
Based on the ARM250 series processor the A3010 is quite a nice little machine and was touted for educational use in schools. This one was on the top of my worry list as the battery backup in this (and in other computers of the same vintage) were prone to leakage and PCB damage. Getting the lid off was a doddle, three screws, lift the upper lid back and away. Then the fun started.
Once getting the keyboard and shielding off, something was amiss. Capacitor C157 didn't look right, and closer investigation found that it had not been soldered in as part of the original manf process, connection into the board was relying on a wedge fit into the through plated holes. How it had got through quality control is a mystery. Cleaning up and a touch of solder sorted that one out.
Moving onto the battery, a solder in NiCad type. There was signs of rot on the negative lead but once it was out the true state of the battery was revealed with a clear leak starting on one of the seal edges. The replacement was made up of a pair of 1.5v AA batteries in a holder, plus a 120R resistor and an 1N4004 diode wired in series, the diode allowing battery power to the backup systems but not allowing the computer to try and charge the AA cells. This pack was mounted on a bare space next the motherboard, the diode and resistor protected in a section of heat shrink tubing.
Part assembled and minus the upper lid, power was restored to a basic black screen and prompt. When changing battery backup systems this often happens but is easy to fix. Holding down the R key while powering up does a partial system reset and gets the GUI operational. Holding down the DELETE key on power up does a complete and full system reset and restoration.
Overall a nice machine.
Based on the ARM250 series processor the A3010 is quite a nice little machine and was touted for educational use in schools. This one was on the top of my worry list as the battery backup in this (and in other computers of the same vintage) were prone to leakage and PCB damage. Getting the lid off was a doddle, three screws, lift the upper lid back and away. Then the fun started.
Once getting the keyboard and shielding off, something was amiss. Capacitor C157 didn't look right, and closer investigation found that it had not been soldered in as part of the original manf process, connection into the board was relying on a wedge fit into the through plated holes. How it had got through quality control is a mystery. Cleaning up and a touch of solder sorted that one out.
Moving onto the battery, a solder in NiCad type. There was signs of rot on the negative lead but once it was out the true state of the battery was revealed with a clear leak starting on one of the seal edges. The replacement was made up of a pair of 1.5v AA batteries in a holder, plus a 120R resistor and an 1N4004 diode wired in series, the diode allowing battery power to the backup systems but not allowing the computer to try and charge the AA cells. This pack was mounted on a bare space next the motherboard, the diode and resistor protected in a section of heat shrink tubing.
Part assembled and minus the upper lid, power was restored to a basic black screen and prompt. When changing battery backup systems this often happens but is easy to fix. Holding down the R key while powering up does a partial system reset and gets the GUI operational. Holding down the DELETE key on power up does a complete and full system reset and restoration.
Overall a nice machine.