Work on the 380Z

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I’ve been having a look at the RML308Z recently. One of the capacitors in the power supply went pop when I first powered it on. This is not unusual for machines of this age and it’s a good idea to inspect the caps before powering on a new machine. I decided to chance it and POP.

It turns out to be a tantalum on the 12v and a visual inspection wouldn’t have shown anything.

It’s very easy to open the case and look at the boards, even to take them out but to get to the PSU is a right pain. There isn’t a PSU in the usual sense. There is a portion of the machine that takes mains electricity and passes it through a collection of seperate bits, all bolted to different parts of the case.

Anything beyond a board swap is a bit tricky.

 

Anyway. I haven’t got a suitable replacement cap so I snipped of the remains of the old one and re-assembled. A look at the circuit diagram show this is for taking out the ripple and so isn’t vital – I don’t think.

I’ve now powered it on again and it’s nearly working…

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