This technical manual was OCR'ed for the

Sinclair world by Andy Dansby.

andydansby@yahoo.com

All intellicial information contained

inside this technical manual is the
property of Amstrad.

Thank you Clive for the ZX Spectrum.

S E R V I C I N G M A N U A L
F O R
ZX S PE C TR U M
L I S T O F C O N T E N T S
I N T R O D U C T I O N
S E C T I O N 1 S Y S TE M D E S C R I P T I O N
S E C TI O N 2 D I S A S S E M B L Y / A S S E M B L Y
S E C T I O N 3 S E T T I N G U P A N D S Y S TE M TE S T
S E C T I O N 4 F A U L T D I A G N O S I S A N D R E P A I R
S E C T I O N 5 PA R TS L I S TS
i L I S T O F I L L U S T R A T I O N S i
F i g N o .
ZX S pect r um B l o c k D i a g r a m 1 .1
E x p a n s i o n R A M R A S / C A S T i mi n g (R ead C y c l e s h o wn ) 1 .2
Keybo ar d M a t r i x I n t e r c o n n e c t i o n s 1 .3
ZX S pe c t r um ( I s s u e 2 ) C i r c u i t D i a g r a m 1 .4
ZX S pect r um ( I s s u e 3 ) C i r c u i t D i a g r a m 1 .5
Keybo ar d F o rmat 4 . 1
S peaker L o ad I n p u t Wa v e f o r ms 4 . 2
E x p a n s i o n M emory 1 C L o c a t i o n s 4 . 3
I s s ue 3 L i n k s vs 1 C M a n u f a c t u r e r and Type 4 . 4
P r i n t e d C i r c u i t B o ar d ( I s s u e 2 ) C o mpo ne nt L a y o u t 5 .1
P r i n t e d C i r c u i t B o ar d ( I s s ue 3 ) C o mpo ne nt L a yo ut 5 . 2
Pr i n t e d C i r c u i t B o ar d ( I s s u e 3 B ) C o mpo ne nt L a yo ut 5 . 3
Pr e p a r e d b y T H O R N ( E M I ) D A TA TE C H L TD
f o r S I N C L A I R R E S E A R C H L TD M A R C H 1 9 8 4
S i n c l a i r R esear ch L t d.
( i )
- I N TR O D U C TI O N
Thi s m a n u a l i s f o r us e by a u t h o r i s e d S I N C L A I R
d e a l e r s , eng i neer s a n d r e pr e s e nt a t i ve s as a g u i d e
t o rect i fyi ng f a u l t s on t he S I N C L A I R ZX S PE C TR U M
p e r s o n a l co mput er .
The m a n u a l refers p r i n c i p a l l y t o t he I ssue 2 and
I ssue 3 S pect rums but pr o vi des a b a c k g r o u n d to the
I ssue 1 ver si o n i n the secti on d e a l i n g wi t h
m o d i f i c a t i o n hi s t o r y.
B a s i c kno wl e dg e o f ZX S PE C TR U M o p e r a t i n g
procedures i s assumed as i s kno wl edg e of current
wo r k s h o p pr a c t i c e r e l a t i n g t o mi c r o c o mp u t e r s .
N O TE : E s s ent i al mo d i f i c a t i o n s a r e r equi r ed
on some I ssue 2 S pectrums. R ef er to
M o d i f i c a t i o n H i s t o r y (S ect i on 4 ) and
i mpl ement as necessary.
- SAFETY MEASURES
Th i s i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l c o n t a i n s c e r t a i n
W A R N I N G a n d C AUTI O N -
n o t i c e s w h i c h MUST be- f o l l o w e d b y t h e user t o
e n s u r e SAFE o p e r a t i o n a n d t o r e t a i n the
e q u i p m e n t i n a SAFE c o n d i t i o n .
An y a d j u s t m e n t , m a i n t e n a n c e and r e p a i r o f the
opened a p p a r a t u s u n d e r v o l t a g e s h a l l b e
c a r r i e d cut o n l y b y a s k i l l e d p e r s o n w h o i s
A W A R E O F THE H AZ ARD I N V O L V ED .
SECTION 1
SYSTEM D ESC RI P TI O N
Su b -Se c t i o n L I ST O F C O N TEN TS P a g e No.
1 I n t r o d u c t i o n 1.1
2 Ar c h i t e c t u r e 1.1
3 Z80A C PU 1.2
4 Memory O r g a n i s a t i o n 1.4
Re a d / W r i t e O p e r a t i o n s 1.4
5 I n p u t / O u t p u t 1.6
TV P i c t u r e G e n e r a t i o n 1 .6
Ke ybo a r d S c a n n i n g 1 .8
Tape I n t e r f a c e 1 .1 0
6 Power S u p p l i e s 1 .1 1
C i r c u i t D i a g r a ms
ZX S pe c t r um, I s s ue 2 F i g . 1 .4
ZX S pe c t r um, I s s ue 3 F i g . 1 .5
1. I N TRO D UC TI O N
1.1 A b l o c k d i a g r a m o f t h e c o m p l e t e Z X SP EC TRUM m i c r o -c o m p u t e r i s g i v e n i n
Fi g u r e 1.1. I t i s v a l i d for a l l b u i l d s t a n d a r d s , fitted w i t h e i t h e r
16k or 48k bytes of d y n a m i c RAM memory. A l t h o u g h f u n c t i o n a l l y
i d e n t i c a l , d e t a i l e d c i r c u i t c h a n g e s h a v e b e e n i n t r o d u c e d t o i m p r o v e
r e l i a b i l i t y and t o a s s i s t w i t h m a n u f a c t u r e . The p r i n t e d c i r c u i t b o a r d
l a y o u t h a s a l s o b e e n m o d i f i e d . D e t a i l s o f t h e s e c h a n g e s are
h i g h l i g h t e d w h e r e necessary i n t h e f o l l o w i n g p a r a g r a p h s , and i n l a t e r
s e c t i o n s r e f e r r i n g t o f a u l t d i a g n o s i s and r e p a i r .
2. ARC H I TEC TURE
2 . 1 The a r c h i t e c t u r e of the S pect r um s ho wn i n F i g u r e 1 . 1 i s t y p i c a l of
ma n y mi c r o c o mp u t e r systems i n t hat i t c o mpr i s e s a s i n g l e
mi c r o p r o c e s s o r bo a r d (i n t h i s i n s t a n c e a Z8 0A or u 78 0 C P U ) , a read
o n l y memory ( R O M ) , a n e x p a n d a b l e R A M memo ry a nd a n i n p u t / o u t p u t
s e c t i o n h a n d l i n g t he k e y b o a r d , t ape and TV d i s p l a y f u n c t i o n s . The
l a t t e r i s r e c o g n i s a b l e as t he l o g i c gate ar r ay ( U L A ) and t he t hr e e
f u n c t i o n a l b l o c k s sho wn i n t he r i g ht o f t he d i a g r a m.
2 . 2 The computer i s b u i l t o n a s i n g l e pr i nt e d ci r cui t bo ard whi ch a l s o
i n c l u d e s a r e g ul a t e d power s u p p l y f ed f r o m an e xt e r na l 9 V power p a c k .
The keybo ar d ma t r i x i s part o f t he u p p e r case a s s e mb l y and i s
co nnect ed t o t he bo a r d v i a two r i b b o n cabl es KB 1 and KB 2 . A
d e s c r i p t i o n o f each s ect i o n f o l l o ws .
1 .1
3 . Z8 0A C PU
3 . 1 The Z8 0A i s an 8 - bi t s i n g l e - I C c e n t r a l p r o c e s s i n g u n i t ( C P U ) . I t i s
c l o c k e d at 1 4 .0 M H z f r o m an e x t e r n a l s o ur ce c o n t r o l l e d by t he l o g i c
g at e ar r ay ( U L A ) and ha s a s t a n d a r d t h r e e bus i n p u t / o u t p u t
a r r a n g e me n t . These b u s e s are t he D a t a B u s , A d d r e s s B us and C o n t r o l
B us r e s p e c t i v e l y .
3 . 2 D at a B us. D 7 - D 1 0 c o n s t i t u t e s a n 8 - bi t b i - d i r e c t i o n a l d a t a bus wi t h
a c t i v e h i g h , t r i - s t a t e i n p u t / o u t p u t s . I t i s us ed f o r d a t a e x c h a n g e s
w i t h t he memo ry a nd wi t h t he U L A .
3 . 3 A ddr ess B us. A 1 5 - A O c o n s t i t u t e s a 1 6- bi t a d d r e s s bus wi t h a c t i v e
h i g h , t r i - s t a t e o u t p u t s . The a d d r e s s bus p r o v i d e s t he a ddr e s s f o r
memory (up t o 64 k byt e s ) da t a e x c h a n g e s and f o r d a t a e x c h a n g e s wi t h
t he U L A . I t i s a l s o us ed d u r i n g t he i n t e r r u p t r o u t i n e (see b e l o w)
whe n s c a n n i n g t he ke ybo a r d ma t r i x .
3 . 4 C o nt r o l B us . The c o n t r o l bus i s a c o l l e c t i o n o f i n d i v i d u a l s i g n a l s
wh i c h g e n e r a l l y o r g a n i s e t he f l o w o f d a t a o n t he a ddr e s s and da t a
b u s e s . The b l o c k d i a g r a m o n l y s ho ws f i v e o f t h e s e s i g n a l s a l t h o u g h
o t hers o f m i n o r i mp o r t a n c e are ma de a v a i l a b l e a t t he e x p a n s i o n port
(see F i g u r e s 1 .4 a nd 1 .5 f o r d e t a i l s ) .
3 . 5 S t a r t i ng wi t h memo r y reguest f M R E Q ) , t h i s s i g n a l i s a c t i ve l o w
i n d i c a t i n g whe n t he a ddr e s s bus h o l d s a v a l i d a ddr e s s f o r a memo ry
read o r memory wr i t e o p e r a t i o n . I n p u t / O u t p u t reguest ( I O R Q ) i s a l s o
act i ve l o w but i n d i c a t e s when t he l o we r h a l f o f t he a ddr e s s bus h o l d s
a v a l i d I / O a ddr e s s f o r t he U L A d u r i n g I / O r e a d / wr i t e o p e r a t i o n s .
3 .6 The read and wr i t e s i g n a l s ( R D and W R ) ar e a c t i ve l o w, and one o r
o t her i s a c t i v e i n d i c a t i n g t ha t t he C PU w a n t s t o read o r wr i t e da t a t o
a memory l o c a t i o n o r I / O d e v i c e . A l l t h e c o n t r o l s i g n a l s d i s c u s s e d s o
f a r are a c t i ve l o w, t r i - s t at e o u t p u t s .
The c o nt r o l s i g n a l de s c r i be d her e i s t he i n t e r r u p t
3 . 7 l a s t m a s k a b l e
( I N T ) . Thi s i nput i s act i ve l o w and i s g ener at ed by t he U L A once
every 2 0 ms . E ach t i me i t i s r ecei ved t he C PU ' c a l l s ' t he ' m a s k a b l e
i n t e r r u p t ' r o u t i n e d u r i n g wh i c h t he r e a l - t i me i s i n c r e me n t e d and t he
keyboard i s s c a nne d.
3 . 8 C PU C l o c k . R e t u r n i n g t o t he C PU c l o c k me n t i o n e d e a r l i e r i n t h i s
sect i o n, t he U L A i s abl e t o i n h i b i t t h i s i n p u t b r i n g i n g t he C PU t o a
t e mpo r a r y h a l t . Th i s me c h a n i s m g i ve s t h e U L A a b s o l u t e p r i o r i t y ,
a l l o w i n g i t t o access t he s t a n d a r d 1 6k R A M wi t h o u t i n t e r f e r e n c e fro m
t he C PU (see R A M d e s c r i p t i o n ) . S wi t c h i n g t r a n s i s t o r TR 3 ensur es t hat
t he cl o ck a m p l i t u d e i s +5 V r at her t h a n some a r b i t r a r y TTL l e v e l . Th i s
i s e s s e n t i a l i f t he C PU i s t o o per at e e f f e c t i v e l y w h i l e e x e c u t i n g f ast
ma c h i n e code pro g rams o f the ' s p a c e i n v a d e r ' ^'
1 .2
3 . 9 D ynami c M emory R ef r es h. The C PU i n c o r p o r a t e s b u i l t - i n d y n a mi c R A M
r ef r es h c i r c u i t r y . A s part o f t he i n s t r u c t i o n O P code f et ch c y c l e ,
t he C PU per f o r ms a memory request a f t e r f i r s t p l a c i n g t he r e f r e s h
addr es s on t he l o wer ei g ht bi t s of t he addr es s b u s . A t t he end of t he
cycl e t he addr ess i s i ncr ement ed so t ha t over 2 5 5 f et ch c y c l e s , each
row o f t he d y n a mi c R A M i s r e f r e s he d. Th i s me c h a n i s m o nl y a p p l i e s t o
t he o p t i o n a l 3 2 k e x p a n s i o n R A M i n t he 4 8 k S pe c t r um. A n a l t e r n a t i v e
r ef r es h met ho d i s adapt ed for t he s t a nda r d 1 6K R A M .
4 . M E M O R Y O R G A N I S A T I O N
4 . 1 I n the s t a nda r d 1 6k S pect r um t her e are 3 2 k bytes of a d d r e s s a b l e memory
e qu a l l y d i v i d e d between R O M and R A M .
4 . 2 The l o wer 1 6k bytes of memory (addresses 0000 - 3 F F F ) are i mp l e me n t e d
i n a s i n g l e R O M ( I C 5 ) w h i c h h o l d s t he mo n i t o r p r o g r a m. T h i s pr o g r am
i s a c o mpl e x Z8 0 ma c h i n e code pr o g r a m d i v i d e d br o a dl y i n t o t hr ee par t s
o ne each c o ve r i ng t he i n p u t / o u t p u t r o u t i n e s , t he B A S I C i nt er pr et er and
e xpr e s s i o n h a n d l i n g . D e t a i l s o f t he pr o g r am c o nt e nt , a l t h o u g h o u t s i d e
t he scope o f t h i s m a n u a l , ar e referred t o as neces s ar y.
4 . 3 The upper 1 6 bytes of memory (addresses 4 000 - 7 F F F ) are i mp l e me n t e d
u s i n g ei ght 1 6k bi t dynami c R A M s ( I C 6- I C 1 3 ) . A ppr o xi ma t e l y h a l f o f
t h i s space i s a v a i l a b l e t o t he user f o r w r i t i n g B A S I C o r ma c h i n e code
pr o g r a ms . The r e ma i n d e r i s used t o h o l d t he system v a r i a b l e s
i n c l u d i n g 6k bytes reserved for t he memory ma ppe d d i s p l a y area.
4 . 4 I n t he 4 8 k S pect r um an a d d i t i o n a l 3 2 k bytes of R A M are pr o vi ded
( addr esses 8 000 - F F F F ) w h i c h ar e i mp l e me n t e d u s i n g e i g h t 3 2 k bi t
dyna mi c R A M s ( I C 1 5 - I C 3 2 ) . The R A M , p r o v i d i n g ext ra memory space f o r
t he u s e r , i s n o r ma l l y f i t t e d d u r i n g m a n u f a c t u r e but may be added
r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y u s i n g t h e R A M expander k i t . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e R A M s ,
t he k i t i n c l u d e s t he addr ess m u l t i p l e x e r and r e a d / wr i t e co nt r o l I C s
I C 2 3 - I C 2 6. B o ar d space and t he necessary di s cr et e co mpo nent s ar e
a l r e a d y pr o vi de d o n t he bo a r d.
4.5 Read/Write O p e r a t i o n s
4.5.1 The f o l l o w i n g d e s c r i p t i o n s h o u l d be read in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e
c i r c u i t d i a g r a m s g i v e n in Fi g u r e s 1.4 and 1.5.
4.5.2 Read O n l y Memory (ICS). The CPU addresses t h e RO M d i r e c t l y d u r i n g
memory read cycles u s i n g the address b u s A13-AO. MREQ and RD e n a b l e
t h e RO M and t h e RO M o u t p u t s r e s p e c t i v e l y . A t h i r d i n p u t (CS) d e r i v e d
b y the ULA 'RO MC S) selects the RO M, p r o v i d e d t h e h i g h e r order address
b i t s A14 and A1 5 are b o t h low. These are reserved for a c c e s s i n g the
RAM memory w h i c h starts w i t h address 4000 (i.e. address A14 set). An
external RO M 1 C select i n p u t , s u p p l i e d v i a t h e e xp a n s i o n port o n p i n
25A, s e l e c t i v e l y d i s a b l e s the on-board ROM b y p u l l i n g the select i n p u t
h i g h . By v i r t u e of R33 p l a c e d on the UL A side of the RO M the UL A
RO MC S o u t p u t i s e f f e c t i v e l y i n h i b i t e d . Interface 1 uses t h i s
1.4
m e c h a n i s m a l l o w i n g t he C PU t o read t he e x t e n s i o n R O M i n t he i n t e r f a c e
f o r m i c r o d r i v e and R S 2 3 2 a p p l i c a t i o n s .
4 . 5 . 3 L i n k s H a nd N , s ho wn d i r e c t l y a bo ve I C 5 , a l l o w a second so ur ce R O M t o
be f i t t e d. The H i t a c h i ( H ) and N E C ( N ) R O M s use d i f f e r e n t p i n s f o r
t h e e n a b l e a n d select i n p u t s (i . e. p i n s 2 0 a n d 2 7 ) . Th e l i n k s a l l o w
t he i n p u t s t o be r ever sed a c c o r d i n g l y .
4 . 5 . 4 S tandard 1 6k R A M (I C 6- I C 1 3 ). The e i g ht 1 6k R A M I C s m a k i n g up t he
s t a n d a r d 1 6k x 8 bi t R A M memo r y are o r g a n i s e d as a m a t r i x of 1 2 8 ro ws
x 1 28 c o l u mn s . Th u s , separat e 7- bi t row and c o l u mn addresses are
r e g u i r e d t o access any one o f t he l o c a t i o n s . These a ddr e s s e s ar e
s u p p l i e d by t he C PU o n addr ess bus A 1 3 - A O v i a an address mu l t i p l e x e r
I C 3 / I C 4 . The l o w o rder a ddr e s s b i t s A 6- A O g i v e t he r o w a ddr e s s and
ar e s e l e c t e d at t he b e g i n n i n g o f t he memo ry access cycl e when
i n i t i a l l y t he R A S o ut put f r o m t he U L A i s h i g h . L a t e r , as t he r o w
a d d r e s s i s l a t c h e d , R A S goes l o w s e l e c t i n g t he h i g h o r der addr es s b i t s
A 1 3 - A 7 g i v i n g the c o l u m n addr ess.
4 . 5 . 5 The R A S / C A S o u t p u t s f r o m t he U L A are g e n e r a t e d i n seg uence i n r e s po ns e
t o M R E Q a nd A 1 4 f r o m _ t h e C PU . The D R A M WE o u t p u t , a l s o f r o m t he U L A i s
a decode o f t he R D / W R wa v e f o r ms t e l l i n g t he R A M t o expect e i t he r a
read or a wr i t e cycl e.
4 . 5 . 6 I t i s a l s o appar ent from t he ci r cui t d i a g r a m t hat t he U L A can access
R A M by g e n e r a t i n g a set of addr es s es i n d e p e n d e n t of t ho s e g ener at ed by
t he C PU . The addr es s port fo r t he R A M i s t h e r e f o r e d u a l l e d by t he
i n s e r t i o n o f s ma l l v a l u e r e s i s t o r s ( R 1 7 - R 2 3 ) o n t he a ddr e s s
m u l t i p l e x e r si de o f t he R A M . Th i s e n s u r e s t hat wher e t her e i s l i k e l y
to be c o n f l i c t between the U L A and C PU , the U L A address has pr i o r i t y.
P r i o r i t y i s a s s i g n e d o n t he b a s i s t ha t t he U L A mu s t access t he memo ry
mapped d i s p l a y area i n the R A M at set i n t e r v a l s i n order t o b u i l d up
t he v i d e o f o r t he TV d i s p l a y . I f t he U L A i s abo ut t o access t he R A M
a nd i t det ect s e i t he r A 1 4 or A 1 5 (i . e. t he C PU i s a l s o abo ut t o access
t he R A M ) t he U L A i n h i b i t s t he C PU c l o c k t e mp o r a r i l y h a l t i n g t he C PU
memory t r a n s a c t i o n u n t i l i t s o wn t r a n s a c t i o n i s c o mp l e t e d .
4 . 5 . 7 R esi st o r s R l t o R 8 , i n seri es wi t h t he dat a bus l i n e s , per f o r m a
s i m i l a r f u n c t i o n t o t he a ddr e s s po r t pl r s i s t o r s de s c r i be d abo ve. They
e n s u r e t hat t he U L A does not ' s e e ' C PU wr i t e da t a w h i l e t he U L A i s
a c c e s s i n g t he R A M .
4 . 5 . 8 R e f r e s h f o r t he s t andar d 1 6k d y n a mi c R A M i s a c c o mp l i s h e d d u r i n g n o r ma l
read cycles, i . e. most rows are refreshed each t i me t he U L A accesses
t h e memory mapped d i s p l a y ar ea d u r i n g p i c t u r e c o mp i l a t i o n ; t h e
r e ma i n i n g rows are r ef r eshed as a resul t of ot her read cycl es a l s o
k n o wn t o o ccur a t r e g u l a r i n t e r v a l s w i t h i n t he r ef r es h p e r i o d .
1 .5
4 . 5 . 9 3 2 k E x p a n s i o n R A M ( I C 1 5 - I C 3 2 ) . The e i g ht 3 2 k I C s m a k i n g up t he 3 2 k x
8 bi t e x p a n s i o n R A M are i n fact 64 k I C s wi t h ei t her row or c o l u mn
dr o p- o ut r e n d e r i n g one h a l f o f the memo ry n o n - f u n c t i o n a l . I n o r der t o
a c c o mmo da t e t he Texas I n s t r u me n t s R A M (Type TM S 4 5 3 2 ) o r t he o p t i o n a l
O KI R A M (Type M S M 3 7 3 2 ) a s et o f l i n k s ar e p r o v i d e d , v i s i b l e o n t he
c i r c u i t d i a g r a m abo ve t h e a ddr e s s m u l t i p l e x e r I C 2 5 / I C 2 6 . These l i n k s
not o n l y cat er f o r t he d i f f e r e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r ( I s s u e 3 S pect r ums o n l y )
but a l s o a l l o w , i n bo t h i n s t a n c e s , one o f two 1 C v e r s i o n s t o be
s e l e c t e d d e p e n d i n g o n w h i c h h a l f o f t he R A M (top, bo t t o m, l e f t o r
r i g h t ) i s f u n c t i o n a l . The l i n k s ar e r e s p e c t i v e l y TI a nd O KI
( ma n u f a c t u r e r - I s s u e 3 S pe c t r ums o n l y ) , - 3 / - 4 (TI v e r s i o n ) and - H / - L
( O KI v e r s i o n - I s s u e 3 S pe c t r ums o n l y ) .
N O T E : I t i s e s s e n t i a l when r e p l a c i n g I C s i n t h i s area t hat a l l R A M s
c a r r y t he same m a n u f a c t u r e r s par t n u mb e r a nd t hat t he l i n k s
ar e sel ect ed a c c o r d i n g l y .
4 . 5 . 1 0 The e x p a n s i o n R A M i s o r g a n i s e d as a m a t r i x of 1 2 8 rows x 2 5 6 c o l u mn s
(TI R A M s ) or 2 5 6 rows x 1 2 8 (O KI R A M s ) . Th u s , s epar at e 7/ 8 bi t row
and c o l u mn a ddr e s s e s ar e r e qui r e d t o access any one o f t he s e
l o c a t i o n s . These addr es s es are s u p p l i e d by t he C PU o n a ddr e s s bus
A 1 4 - A O v i a a n a ddr e s s m u l t i p l e x e r I C 2 5 / I C 2 6 . F or e x a m p l e , whe n
a c c e s s i n g t he TI R A M the l o w order addr es s b i t s A 6 t o A O g i v e the row
a ddr e s s ; A R i s h e l d l o w o n the - 3 v e r s i o n s e l e c t i n g t he t o p h a l f o f
t he memory and h i g h o n t he - 4 v e r s i o n s e l e c t i n g t he bo t t o m h a l f . The
c o l u mn a ddr e s s i s g i v e n by t he h i g h order addr es s b i t s A 1 4 - A 7.
4 . 5 . 1 1 R o w / c o l u mn addr es s s e l e c t i o n and R A S / C A S t i m i n g f o r t he R A M i s decoded
i n I C 2 3 / I C 2 4 f r o m i n p u t s s u p p l i e d by t he C P U , i . e. addr es s l i n e A 1 5
s e l e c t i n g addresses 8 000 u p wa r d s , and M R E Q h e r a l d i n g a memory read or
wr i t e cycl e. A t h e o r e t i c a l t i m i n g d i a g r a m i l l u s t r a t i n g t h e R A S / C A S
wa v e f o r ms i s g i v e n i n F i g u r e 1 .2 .
5 . I N PU T/ O U TPU T
5 .1 The i n p u t / o u t p u t s ect i o n of t he S pect r um i s cent er ed r o und t he U L A
( I C 1 ) . The f u n c t i o n s pe r f o r me d w i t h i n t he devi ce i n c l u d e TV v i d e o
c o m p i l a t i o n , ke ybo a r d s c a n n i n g and t ape i n p u t / o u t p u t . I t a l s o d e r i v e s
and co nt r o l s t he C PU cl o ck ( < j > C P U ) u s i n g an ext er nal 1 4 M H z cryst al XI ,
a n d d r i v e s t h e l o u d s p e a k e r when a ' B E E P ' i n s t r u c t i o n i s b e i n g
execut ed. E a c h o f t hese s e c t i o ns and t he s u p p o r t i n g c i r c u i t s ar e
de s c r i be d b e l o w.
5 . 2 TV Pi ct ur e G enerat i on
5 . 2 . 1 The v i d e o c o m p i l a t i o n s e c t i o n o f t he U L A o per at es i n c o n j u n c t i o n wi t h
t he memory ma p p e d p i c t u r e d i s p l a y area i n t he s t a n d a r d 1 6k R A M , t he
c o l o u r ( c h r o mi n a n c e ) mo d u l a t o r ( I C 1 4 ) and t he U H F mo d u l a t o r . Th i s
c o mb i n a t i o n pr o duces a h i g h r e s o l u t i o n , 2 4 l i n e x 3 2 c h a r a c t e r , ei g ht
c o l o u r TV d i s p l a y .
1 .6
F I G 1 .2 E X P A N S I O N R A M R A S / C A S T I M I N G (R E A D C Y C L E S H O WN )
1 .7
5 . 2 . 2 U s i n g t h e 1 4 M H z c l o c k t h e U L A d e r i v e s l i n e a n d f i e l d t i m i n g
c o mp a t i b l e wi t h t he e xt e r na l TV r ecei ver . V i d e o i s d e r i v e d by
a c c e s s i n g t he memory ma ppe d d i s p l a y ar ea i n t h e R A M i n a set seg uence
at set t i me s t h r o u g h o u t t he p i c t u r e f r a me . The addr es s es are
n e c e s s a r i l y i n d e p e n d e n t o f t he C PU and a p p e a r o n t he U L A a d d r e s s l i n e s
A 6 t h r o u g h A O as t wo s e pa r a t e bytes t i me d by t he R A S / C A S r o w/ c o l u mn
a d d r e s s select l i n e s .
5 . 2 . 3 The net r e s u l t i s t hr ee separ at e v i d e o wa v e f o r ms o u t p u t s f r o m t he U L A
o n p i n s 1 5 , 1 6 and 1 7. These car r y t he l u m i n a n c e s i g n a l Y ,
i n c o r p o r a t i n g t he l i n e and f i e l d s ync, a n d two u n m o d u l a t e d c o l o u r -
d i f f e r e n c e s i g n a l s U and Y m a k i n g t he S p e c t r u m c o m p a t i b l e wi t h bo t h
c o l o u r and mo n o c h r o me r e c e i ve r s .
5 . 2 . 4 F r o m t h e U L A t h e c o l o u r d i f f e r e n c e s i g n a l s a r e a p p l i e d t o t h e c o l o u r
m o d u l a t o r I C 1 4 v i a t wo l e v e l s h i f t i n g n e t wo r k s . These ma t c h t he U L A
o u t p u t l e v e l s wi t h t ho s e r e g ui r e d a t t he B - Y and R - Y i n p u t s t o t he
m o d u l a t o r . I n t he I s s ue 2 S pect r um t he l e v e l s h i f t i n g n e t wo r k i s
p a s s i v e , i n c o r p o r a t i n g two p o t e n t i o me t e r s V R 1 , V R 2 . These are
r e g u i r e d t o s et - up t he chr o ma b i a s l e ve l o n I C 1 4 pi n 3 s uch t hat t he
v o l t a g e d i f f e r e n c e me a s u r e d bet ween p i n 3 a n d t he c o l o u r d i f f e r e n c e
s i g n a l s o n p i n s 2 a nd 3 r e s p e c t i v e l y i s n o m i n a l l y 0V d. c. I n t he
I s s ue 3 S pect r um t wo a c t i v e n e t wo r k s i n c o r p o r a t i n g I R S and TR 9
e l i m i n a t e t he p o t e n t i o me t e r s , g r e a t l y i m p r o v i n g c o l o u r s t a b i l i t y .
5 . 2 . 5 The l evel s h i f t e d c o l o u r d i f f e r e n c e s i g n a l s , i n p u t t o I C 1 4 , are t h e n
e n c o d e d , b y g u a d r a t u r e m o d u l a t i n g two 4 . 4 3 M H z c hr o ma s u b - c a r r i e r s .
The s u b - c a r r i e r s are g ener at ed wi t h t he a s s i s t a n c e o f an e x t e r n a l
c r y s t a l X2 and a C R l e a d / l a g ne t wo r k i n t r o d u c i n g a 9 0 p h a s e s h i f t
bet ween p i n s 1 and 1 8 . (A f u r t h e r d i f f e r e n c e bet ween t he I s s u e 2 and
3 S pect r ums l i e s i n t he b i a s o s c i l l a t o r . The e a r l y i s s u e s i n c o r p o r a t e
a t r i mme r TC 2 a l l o w i n g t he c hr o ma s u b - c a r r i e r f r e g u e n c y t o be
a d j u s t e d ; o n t he l a t e r i s s ue s t he f r e g u e n c y i s f i x e d ) . The r e s u l t a n t
m o d u l a t e d c o l o u r d i f f e r e n c e s i g n a l s are f i n a l l y mi x e d p r o d u c i n g a
c o mp o s i t e c hr o ma s u b - c a r r i e r at I C 1 4 p i n 1 3.
5 . 2 . 6 A t t h i s p o i n t t he chr o ma s i g n a l i s a . c . c o u p l e d t o t he bas e o f TR 2 and
added t o t he i n v e r t e d l u mi n e n c e s i g n a l o n TR 1 c o l l e c t o r . The
r e s u l t a n t c o mp o s i t e v i d e o i s t h e n b u f f e r e d and a p p l i e d t o a n
e n c a p s u l a t e d U H F m o d u l a t o r o p e r a t i n g o n E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d c h a n n e l 3 6.
5 .3 Keyboard S c a n n i n g
5 .3 .1 E very 2 0 ms (i . e. o nce per m a s k a b l e i n t e r r u p t ) , t he C PU s y s t e ma t i c a l l y
s cans t he ke ybo a r d r e c o r di ng wh i c h 'keys '(i f a n y ) h a v e been pr e s s e d.
The s c a n n i n g me t ho d i s d e s c r i b e d b e l o w wi t h t he a i d o f F i g u r e 1 .3 . A s
t he f i g u r e c l e a r l y i l l u s t r a t e s t he k e y b o a r d c o n s i s t s o f an 8 x 5
m a t r i x , t he i n t e r - s e c t i o n o f each row and c o l u mn b r i d g e d by a n o r m a l l y
o pen s wi t c h c o nt a c t . The row ' o u t p u t s ' a nd c o l u mn ' i n p u t s ' are s ho wn
co nnect ed by s e pa r a t e r i b b o n c a b l e s KB 1 and KB 2 , one t o t he U L A and
t he o t her t o t he h i g h order addr es s l i n e s A 1 5 - A 8 . P u l l - u p r e s i s t o r s
R 64 t h r o u g h R 68 e n s u r e t ha t when t he a ddr e s s bus i s i n t he h i g h Z
s t at e, o r no ne o f t he k e y - s wi t c h e s i s c l o s e d , r o w o u t p u t s KB O t o KB 4
r e m a i n h i g h .
5 . 3 . 2 Wh e n t h e k e y b o a r d s c a n n i n g r o u t i n e s a r e e nt e r e d t h e C PU p e r f o r ms
s u c c e s s i v e I / O read cycl es s e t t i n g t h e I O R E Q a n d R D l i n e s t o t h e I J L A ,
l o w. A t t he same t i me , t he I / O port a d d r e s s e s p l a c e d o n t he u p p e r
h a l f o f t he a ddr e s s bus are m o d i f i e d wi t h each cycl e s uch t h a t each o f
t he a ddr e s s l i n e s A 1 5 t h r o u g h A 8 i s set l o w i n t u r n , t he o t her l i n e s
r e m a i n i n g h i g h .
5 . 3 . 3 The seg uence s t a r t s wi t h I / O port a ddr e s s F E d r i v i n g a d d r e s s l i n e A 8
l o w. The ke ybo a r d ma t r i x a l s o sees t h i s p o t e n t i a l o n c o l u m n 6 a p p l i e d
v i a D 6 and t he r i b b o n c a b l e KB 2 . Th u s , wh e n any o f t he s wi t c h e s o n
t he i n t e r - s e c t i o n wi t h c o l u mn 6 i s p r e s s e d , t he c o r r e s p o n d i n g row
o u t p u t s u p p l y i n g t h e U L A v i a t h e seco nd r i b b o n c a b l e ( K B 1 ) , i s p u l l e d
l o w. The row s i g n a l ( s ) i s s u b s e g u e n t l y i n v e r t e d by t he U L A and p l a c e d
o n o ne o f t he f i v e l o w o r der da t a bus l i n e s . F o r e x a m p l e , i f t he C A PS
S H I F T ke y i s pr es s ed r o w o ne o u t p u t d r i v e s d a t a bus D O h i g h a nd s o o n.
The s eg uence e nds wi t h I / O a d d r e s s 7 F whe n c o l u m n 8 i s a d d r e s s e d . I n
t h i s i n s t a n c e , o p e r a t i o n o f t h e S PA C E k e y d r i v e s D O h i g h . C l e a r l y ,
t h e ke ybo a r d s c a n n i n g r o u t i n e s ma k e t h e d i s t i n c t i o n bet ween t h e C A PS
S H I F T a n d S PA C E k e y b y k n o w i n g wh i c h a ddr e s s l i n e i s b e i n g d r i v e n .
5 .4 Tape I nt e r f a c e
5 . 4 . 1 Wh e n L O A D i n g o r S A V E i n g pr o g r a ms u s i n g a casset t e r eco r der , t he U L A
t r a n s f e r s i n f o r m a t i o n bet ween t he M I C and E A R so cket s and t he da t a
b u s , p e r f o r mi n g A / D a nd D / A c o n v e r s i o n s a s r e g u i r e d . S i nce t he L O A D
a n d S A V E f u n c t i o n s a r e m u t u a l l y e x c l u s i v e , a s i n g l e p i n o n t h e U L A
(i . e. p i n 2 8 ) i s used bo t h f o r i n p u t and o u t p u t . S e pa r a t e I / O
r e a d / wr i t e c y c l e s t o port a ddr e s s 2 5 4 c o n f i g u r e t he p i n a c c o r d i n g l y .
D u r i n g t he L O A D o p e r a t i o n t he C PU e xe c ut e s s u c c e s s i v e I / O read c y c l e s ,
r e a d i n g t he E A R i n p u t o f f d a t a bus 6. Wh e n p e r f o r m i n g a S A V E
o p e r a t i o n , t he C PU execut es s u c c e s s i v e I / O wr i t e c yc l e s , t h i s t i me
w r i t i n g dat a t o t he M I C o ut put v i a da t a bus 3 .
5 . 4 . 2 To e n s u r e t h a t I / O c yc l e s a r e co r r ect l y i mp l e me n t e d , t h e I O R E Q l i n e
s u p p l y i n g t he U L A i s gat ed wi t h addr ess l i n e A O vi a TR 6. T h u s , i f any
memo ry t r a n s a c t i o n s o ccur wher e A O i s h i g h (i . e. not port a ddr e s s 2 5 4 )
t h e n t h e I O R E Q i n p u t i s fo rced h i g h i n h i b i t i n g a n y at t empt t o p e r f o r m
an I / O cycl e.
5 . 4 . 3 L o uds peaker ( B E E P) O pe r a t i o n. I t s h o u l d be no t ed t hat w h i l e S A V E i n g ,
t he l e v e l o f t he M I C o ut put i s b a r e l y s u f f i c i e n t t o d r i v e t he
l o u d s p e a k e r v i a D 9 and TR 7 ( D 1 0) . H o we v e r , d u r i n g t he e x e c u t i o n o f a
B E E P i n s t r u c t i o n t he C PU wr i t e s i n s t e a d t o port 2 5 4 o n da t a bus 4 .
T h i s e f f e c t i v e l y bo o s t s t he M I C o u t p u t , d r i v i n g t he l o u d s p e a k e r s o
t hat t he B E E P t o ne can be e a s i l y h e a r d . D u r i n g t he e x e c u t i o n o f such
an i n s t r u c t i o n t he casset t e recorder i s not r u n n i n g so t her e i s no
c o n f l i c t a t t he M I C / E A R sockets.
1 .1 0
6. PO WE R S U PPL I E S
6. 1 The o n - b o a r d po wer s u p p l y u n i t r ecei ves a 9 V u n r e g u l a t e d s u p p l y f r o m
t he e x t e r n a l S i n c l a i r ZX power pack and d e r i v e s t he f o l l o w i n g i n t e r n a l
s u p p l y r a i l s :
( a) r e g u l a t e d +5 V f o r t he 1 C l o g i c c i r c u i t s , t he U L A and t he U H F
m o d u l a t o r ,
(b) - 5 V and +1 2 V f o r t he s t a nda r d 1 6k d y n a mi c R A M ,
(c) +1 2 V f o r t he c o l o u r m o d u l a t o r c i r c u i t s .
6. 2 The e x t e r n a l power pack i n c o r p o r a t e s a m a i n s t r a n s f o r me r , f u l l wa ve
r e c t i f i e r and c a p a c i t i v e s mo o t h i n g . A t h e r ma l f us e i s f i t t e d at t he
t r a n s f o r me r i n p u t .
6. 3 The o n - b o a r d power s u p p l y u n i t i n c o r p o r a t e s a 78 05 r e g u l a t o r , d e r i v i n g
t he +5 V po wer r a i l , and an i n v e r t e r stage TR 4 / TR 5 . The l a t t e r r a i s e s
t he l evel o f t he +9 V u n r e g u l a t e d s u p p l y t o i n excess o f +1 2 V . The
r e s u l t a n t s g uar e wave at t he j u n c t i o n o f TR 4 c o l l e c t o r and t he
i n v e r t e r c o i l i s s u b s e g u e n t l y r e c t i f i e d and smoothed by D 5 / C 4 4
p r o d u c i n g t he +1 2 V o ut put f o r t he R A M . A d d i t i o n a l s mo o t h i n g , i mp a r t e d
by R 6 2 / C 4 5 , pr o duces t he +1 2 V s u p p l y f o r t he TV c i r c u i t s free f r o m
n o i s e g ener at ed by t he R A M . The s g uar e wave at TR 4 c o l l e c t o r a l s o
s u p p l i e s t he Z e n e r / r e c t i f i e r di o de c o mb i n a t i o n D 1 6/ D 1 2 g e n e r a t i n g - 5 V
f o r t he R A M , and i s a v a i l a b l e at t he e x p a n s i o n port f o r use by
p e r i p h e r a l s . The +1 2 V , +5 V and - 5 V are a l s o ma d e a v a i l a b l e .
SECTION 2
DISASSEMBLY/ASSEMBLY
Sub-Section LIST OF CONTENTS Page No.
1 D i s a s s e m b l y 2.1
2 As s e m b l y 2.1
1. DISASSEMBLY
1 .1 U n p l u g a l l i n p u t / o u t p u t l e a d s a nd t u r n t he c o mp u t e r u p s i d e - d o wn t o
reveal f i v e s e l f - t a p p i n g screws. R emo ve the screws. H o l d the two
h a l v e s o f t he case t o g et her and r e t u r n t he co mput er t o t he keys
u p p e r mo s t p o s i t i o n . The t o p h a l f o f t he case can no w be s e pa r a t e d
fro m the bottom h a l f , a l t h o u g h i t r e ma i n s connected t o i t by two
f l e x i b l e k e y b o a r d r i b b o n c o n n e c t o r s . C a r e s h o u l d b e t a k e n not t o
d a ma g e t he r i b b o n c o n n e c t o r s . A s a n a i d t o r e a s s e mb l y , t he l i e o f t he
co nnect o r s wi t h i n the case s h o u l d be no t ed.
1 . 2 To remove t he bo a r d f r o m t he l o wer h a l f o f t he c a s e , remove o ne s e l f -
t a p p i n g screw ( adj acent t o I C 2 2 so cket ) and l i f t out t he bo a r d. I t
may be a d v a n t a g e o u s t o ma k e up two short p l u g g a b l e e x t e n s i o n s f o r t he
k e y b o a r d c o nne c t o r s i n order t o i mp r o v e a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o t he b o a r d .
1 . 3 To c ha ng e e i t h e r t he k e y b o a r d me mb r a n e o r t he r u b b e r ke ybo a r d mat i t
i s f i r s t ne c e s s a r y t o remove t he e s c u t c h e o n p l a t e ( t e mp l a t e ) . Thi s i s
at t ached t o the case by d o u b l e - s i d e d a d h e s i v e t ape a r o und the edges.
The t e mp l a t e i s removed by i n s e r t i n g a s c r e wd r i v e r at one end and
l e v e r i n g i t away f r o m t he case. I t i s no t n o r m a l l y p o s s i b l e t o r emo ve
the t e mpl a t e wi t ho ut damag e.
2 . A S S E M B L Y
2 . 1 A s s embl y i s car r i ed out u s i n g the reverse pr o cedur e to t hat of
d i s a s s e m b l y . D o not o v e r t i g h t e n s e l f - t a p p i n g f i x i n g scr ews.
2 . 2 When r e p l a c i n g a keyboard co mpo nent , note that t he membr ane keys i nt o
p r o j e c t i o n s o n the case. P l a c e t he keypad over the me mb r a n e and
e n s u r e t hat i t i s p o s i t i o n e d and seated p r o p e r l y . F a u l t y i n s t a l l a t i o n
can resul t i n depressed keys be i ng t r apped under the t empl at e d u r i n g
s ubs e que nt key o p e r a t i o n s . To i n s t a l l t he t e mp l a t e , p l a c e d o u b l e -
si ded a d h e s i v e t ape a r o u n d a l l f o u r e d g e s , l o c a t e i t i n p o s i t i o n o n
the case and appl y f i r m pr es s ur e a r o und the edges (1 2 mm tape on si des
and bo t t o m, 6 mm at t o p ) .
2 . 1
2 . 3 Wh e n a l i g n i n g t h e t o p h a l f o f t h e case wi t h t h e bo t t o m h a l f e n s u r e
t hat t he two k e y b o a r d r i b b o n c a b l e s are not t r a p p e d bet ween p r o j e c t i n g
c o mp o n e n t s w i t h i n t h e case. I n t h e i r correct p o s i t i o n s t her e i s
s u f f i c i e n t room f o r t he c a b l e s t o t a k e up a c o mf o r t a b l y c u r v e d
p o s i t i o n i n s i d e t he cas e. I f a c a b l e i s t r a p p e d and bent d o u b l e , a n
o pen c i r c u i t w i l l so o ner o r l a t e r r e s u l t .
SECTION 3
SETTING UP AN D SYSTEM TEST
Su b -Se c t i o n L I ST O F C O N TEN TS P a g e No.
1 G e n e r a l A l i g n m e n t 3.1
I n t r o d u c t i o n 3.1
V o l t a g e C h e c k 3.1
C o l o u r Adjustment 3.1
Su b -C a r r i e r O s c i l l a t o r 3.2
14MHz O s c i l l a t o r 3.2
2 S ystem Test 3 . 3
1 . G E N E R A L A L I G N M E N T
1 .1 I n t r o d u c t i o n . The I s s u e 3 S p e c t r u m m o d i f i c a t i o n r emo ves t he need fo r
a d j u s t me n t o f t he c o l o u r t u n i n g u s i n g p o t e n t i o me t e r s and t r i mme r s .
The r e f o r e , t he s e t t i n g - u p p r o c e d u r e f o r t h i s b o a r d i s c o n f i n e d t o
c h e c k i n g t hat t he i n t e r n a l l y g e ne r a t e d po wer s u p p l y v o l t a g e s and t wo
o s c i l l a t o r f r e qu e n c i e s are co r r ect . A d j u s t me n t i n s t r u c t i o n s a p p l y
s t r i c t l y t o t he I s s u e 2 S pect r um b o a r d s o n l y but a r e g e n e r a l l y
r e l e v a n t t o t he I s s u e 1 S pe c t r um a s w e l l .
To carry out t he s e t t i ng up p r o c e d u r e i t i s f i r s t neces s ar y t o remove
t he ZX S PE C TR U M from t he case ( S e c t i o n 2 , A s s e m b l y / D i s a s s e m b l y ) . F o r
c o n v e n i e n c e t he ke ybo a r d may a l s o b e d i s c o n n e c t e d .
1 . 2 V o l t a g e C h e c k . C he c k t hat t he i n t e r n a l l y g ener at ed po wer v o l t a g e s ar e
a s f o l l o w s :
Circuit Reference Nominal Val ue Tol erance
IC6 pin 9 + 5V 0.25V
IC6 pin 1 - 5V - 5. 5V to -4V
IC6 pin 8 +12V 1.2V
LT side of C52 +12VA 1.2V
1 .3 C o l o u r A d j u s t me n t . Po t e n t i o me t e r s V R 1 and V R 2 are us e d t o e f f e c t i v e l y
n u l l t he v o l t a g e s bet ween p i n s 4 and 2 ( f o r V R 1 ) and p i n s 2 and 3 ( f o r
V R 2 ) o n I C 1 4 ( L M 1 8 8 9 ) . To a l l o w f o r t h e r ma l d r i f t , t h e p o t e n t i o me t e r s
are set f o r n o n - ze r o v o l t a g e s ; f u r t h e r mo r e t hese v o l t a g e o f f - s e t s are
set t o s a t i s f a c t o r y but n o n - o p t i mu m l e v e l s i n p r o d u c t i o n , and o p t i m u m
v a l u e s may be us e d t o a d v a n t a g e i n s e r v i c i n g . The r e l e v a n t f i g u r e s
a r e g i v e n i n t h e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e - v o l t a g e s a r e g i v e n r e l a t i v e t o p i n
3 of L M 1 8 8 9 .
3 .1
1 .4 S ub- C a r r i e r O s c i l l a t o r . The c h r o mi n a n c e s u b - c a r r i e r o s c i l l a t o r
f r e qu e n c y s h o u l d be 4 . 4 3 3 61 9 M H z 5 0 H z . T h i s f r e qu e n c y may be
c he c ke d/ a dj us t e d by u s i n q one of t wo me t h o d s , l i s t ed i n (a) or (b)
b e l o w.
A p p l y power t o t he power socket u s i n q a b e n c h po wer s u p p l y set at 9 V .
C u r r e n t c o n s u mp t i o n w i l l be a p p r o x i m a t e l y 5 00 mA t o 700 mA f o r t he 1 6k
S pectrum and 700 mA to 9 00 mA f o r t he 4 8 k S pect rum.
( a) F eed t he S pect r um m o d u l a t o r o u t p u t v i a a c o - a x i a l c a b l e i n t o a
s t a n d a r d c o l o u r TV r e c e i ve r . M e a s u r e t he f r e qu e n c y o f t he l o c k e d
TV c hr o ma s u b - c a r r i e r .
(b) C o nnect pi n 1 7 of I C 1 4 (L M 1 8 8 9 ) vi a a 4 . 7 pF c a p a c i t o r and a l ead
t o t he f r equency met er . I t i s r eco mmended t ha t t h i s i s do ne
u s i n q a j i q ma de up f r o m an 1 C test c l i p . Pi n 1 8 o f t h i s c l i p
mu s t be r emo ved t o m i n i m i s e st ray c a p a c i t a n c e . C o nne c t a 1 0k ohm
r e s i s t o r bet ween t he i n p u t t e r m i n a l s o f t he f r e que nc y met er .
M e a s u r e t he f r e qu e n c y a nd a d j u s t t r i mme r TC 2 i f t he me a s u r e d
f r e qu e n c y i s o u t s i d e t o l e r a n c e .
1 .5 1 4 M H z O s c i l l a t o r . Th i s f r e qu e n c y i s not r e a d i l y set by w o r k i n q t o a
s p e c i f i e d f r e que nc y and t o l e r a n c e . O n I s s u e 2 b o a r d s t r i mme r TC I
s h o u l d b e a d j u s t e d t o m i n i m i s e t he e f f e c t s o f beat f r e qu e n c i e s wh i c h
caus e waves o f d i s t o r t i o n t o f l o w acr o s s t he s cr een. These are
p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p a r e n t wi t h c e r t a i n c o l o u r c o m b i n a t i o n s , e. g. red I N K
o r green P A P E R , and t he p h e n o me n o n i s s o me t i me s r ef er r ed t o as ' d o t
c r a w l ' . I t i s stressed t hat adj us t ment of t h i s frequency i s not
s t r a i g h t - f o r w a r d , a s d e v i a t i o n s due t o t e mp e r a t u r e c ha nqe are e a s i l y
v i s i b l e ; t u n i n q s h o u l d b e a d j u s t e d t o m i n i m i s e r a t he r t h a n remove t h i s
e f f e c t . Pr o ceed as f o l l o w s :
(a) S et up the S pectrum to d i s p l a y qreen PA PE R wi t h red I N K.
( b) Type- i n t hr e e o r f o u r l i n e s o f c h a r a c t e r s and mo n i t o r t he screen.
(c) A d j u s t t r i mme r TC I t o m i n i m i s e t he e f f e c t s o f d i s t o r t i o n .
3.2
Po t . I C 1 4 F a c t o r y S e t t i nq O p t i mu m ( m V ) O v e r a l l R a n qe
P i n N o . ( mV ) V o l t a g e T o l e r a n c e ( mV )
V R 1 4 1 3 0 2 0 +5 0 - 5 +4 5 to +1 5 0
V R 2 2 75 2 0 - 5 0 - 5 0 - 4 5 to - 1 00
+5
2. SYSTEM TEST
2.1 The system test for the Sp e c t r u m m a y be u n d e r t a k e n u s i n g the ZXTP
t a p e d p r o g r a m (see 1.1 Test E q u i p m e n t in Se c t i o n 4) l o a d e d
c o n v e n t i o n a l l y ; t h i s r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e k e y b o a r d i s c o n n e c t e d . The
test s h o u l d b e c a r r i e d out w i t h the Sp e c t r u m c o n n e c t e d t o its own
p o w e r s u p p l y .
2.2 The test p r o g r a m e xe r c i s e s a l l o f the Sp e c t r u m c i r c u i t r y w i t h the
e x c e p t i o n o f t h e SAV E f u n c t i o n . To test t h i s f u n c t i o n a s m a l l ,
p o s s i b l y one l i n e p r o g r a m s h o u l d b e t y p e d i n , SAV ED a n d t h e n V E R I F I E D
a s d e s c r i b e d i n the i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l .
3.3
SEC TI O N 4
FAUL T D I AG N O SI S AN D REP AI R
Su b -Se c t i o n LIST OF CONTENTS Page No.
1 I n t r o d u c t i o n 4.2
Test Eq u i p m e n t 4.2
M o d i f i c a t i o n History 4.3
Mo d i f i c a t i o n s - Issue 1 Board 4.4
M o d i f i c a t i o n s - I s s u e 2 Bo a r d 4.5
32k Ext e n s i o n Memory - (16k-48k) 4.5
H i t a c h i v s N EC RO M 4.6
2 Fa u l t D i a g n o s i s 4.6
Te c hni que s 4 . 6
Power S u p p l y U n i t 4 . 7
I n i t i a l i s a t i o n 4 . 7
M emory C heck 4 . 8
Keybo ar d S t r u c t u r e 4 .1 0
F a u l t - F i n d i n g G u i d e 4 .1 1
3 Re p a i r 4.19
4 16k to 48k Up g r a d e 4.19
I n t e g r a t e d C i r c u i t s / L i n k Se t t i n g s 4.19
Issue 2 Board 4.20
Issue 3 Board 4.20
1. I N TRO D UC TI O N
1.1 Test Eq u i p m e n t
Se c t i o n 4 i s i n t e n d e d a s a g u i d e t o f a u l t d i a g n o s i s a n d r e p a i r o f the Z X
SPEC TRUM. I t i s a s s u m e d that u s e r s h a v e a r e a s o n a b l e k n o w l e d g e o f
e l e c t r o n i c s e r v i c i n g , theory a n d s t a n d a r d f a u l t - f i n d i n g t e c h n i q u e s a n d
h a v e access t o the test e q u i p m e n t a n d t o o l s r e q u i r e d t o carry out t h e
t a s k . The t a b l e b e l o w c o n t a i n s a l i s t o f t h e m i n i m u m r e c o m m e n d e d test
e q u i p m e n t a n d m a t e r i a l s .
EQUI P MEN T
O s c i l l o s c o p e wi t h
O s c i l l o s c o p e probe ( x l O )
V a r i a b l e power s uppl y u n i t
M o no cassette recorder
M a i n s e xt e ns i o n l e a d
M u l t i me t e r
C o l o u r T e l e v i s i o n
ZX Pr i n t e r
ZXTP test t ape
B l a n k t ape
D o u b l e -s i d e d a d h e s i v e tape
SP EC I FI C ATI O N / MAN UFAC TURER
R i s e Ti me : 0. 02 u s / c m
0 to 3 0V d. c.
W i t h RECORD and PL AYBAC K f a c i l i t i e s
'Sa f e b l o c ' type
G e n e r a l p u r p o s e
O p e n Ma r k e t
S i n c l a i r
Open Mark et
1 2 mm and 6mm wi de , T e s a f i x 9 5 9
( B . D . F . TE S A ) o r 3 M e qu i v a l e n t
E n g i n e e r s wh o a r e a l r e a d y f a m i l i a r wi t h t h e S i n c l a i r ZX8 1 w i l l f i n d some
s i m i l a r i t i e s i n t he ZX S P E C TR U M . The S pect r um, ho we ve r , i s a mo r e
s o phi s t i c a t e d de vi c e wi t h c o l o u r and s o und c i r c u i t r y .
The ZX S PE C TR U M i s s u p p l i e d wi t h e i t he r 1 6k or 4 8 k of o n- bo a r d R A M . The
1 6k v e r s i o n i s wi r e d so t hat i t can be e x p a n d e d to 4 8 k by the a d d i t i o n
o f a numbe r o f a p p r o p r i a t e p l u g - i n I C s . F o r d e t a i l s o f t he memo r y
u p g r a d e , see s ub- s ect i o n 4 of t h i s s e c t i o n.
S ee S ecti on 5 , F i g u r e s 5 .1 and 5 . 2 f o r the l a y o u t s of the I ssue 2 and
I ssue 3 bo ar ds r e s p e c t i v e l y .
4. 2
1 .2 M o d i f i c a t i o n H i st o ry
Two ma j o r m o d i f i c a t i o n s h a v e been i mp l e me n t e d o n t he S pect r um bo a r ds :
( a) A m o d i f i e d l a y o u t o f b o a r d ( i . e. I s s ue 1 , I s s u e 2 and I s s ue 3 )
I ssue 1 . Thi s l ayo ut a l l o we d fo r the 1 6k R A M to be mo unt ed
di rect on t he bo a r d, wi t h the 3 2 k ext ens i o n c o n s i s t i n g of a
s u b s i d i a r y b o a r d m o u n t i n g o n t o s pe c i a l O I L c o nne c t o r s .
A p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 6,000 u n i t s were m a n u f a c t u r e d .
I ssue 2 . Th i s l a yo ut a l l o w s f o r a l l 4 8 k o f R A M t o be mo u n t e d
d i r e c t o n t he b o a r d ; s o c ke t s , ready f o r a memo r y u p d a t e , ar e
f i t t e d on 1 6k v e r s i o n s . A s ma l l numbe r of I s s ue 2 u n i t s were
ma n u f a c t u r e d u s i n g di s c c a pa c i t o r s f o r 4 7 p F and 1 00 ) j F v a l u e s ,
but s u b s e g u e n t l y a x i a l s were i n t r o d u c e d .
I ssue 3 . Thi s l ayout i nco r po r at es advanced c i r c ui t r y f o r the
c o l o u r t u n i n g , r e mo v i n g t he need f o r p o t e n t i o me t e r s and t r i mme r s
and t he a s s o c i a t e d a d j u s t me n t . I t a l s o a l l o w s f o r O KI I C s t o be
used i n t he 3 2 k e xt e ns i o n memory. The h e a t s i n k i s a l s o
r e d e s i g n e d and i s r e l o c a t e d at t he back of the case.
(b) The F e r r a nt i U L A , t ype 5 C 1 02 , p l u s s pi der a d d i t i o n r epl aced by
U L A type 5 C 1 1 2 .
5 C 1 02 . Th i s U L A h a s a t i mi n g f a u l t wh i c h was cur ed by c o n n e c t i n g
a 74 L S O O 1 C mo unt ed on a mi n i a t u r e bo ard and spi der. Thi s U L A
was f i t t ed t o a p p r o x i ma t e l y 4 0,000 u n i t s .
5 C 1 1 2 . Thi s i mpr o ve d U L A has no s pi der m o d i f i c a t i o n , but has
ei t her a di o de or r esi st o r or t r a ns i s t o r connected to i t. The
d e t a i l s ar e:
D i o de/ r esi st o r mod : 4 k7 r esi st o r from +1 2 V to pi n 3 0 on I C 2 and
d i o d e ( I N 4 1 4 8 ) f r o m p i n 3 0 of I C 2 t o p i n 3 3 of I C 1 .
Tr a ns i s t o r mod : TR 6 (ZTX3 1 3 ) co nnect ed as f o l l o w s :
B ase t o I C 2 , p i n 3 0.
E mi t t er to I C 1 , pi n 3 3 .
C o l l e c t o r to I C 2 , p i n 11.
6C 001 Thi s U L A a l t e r s t he t i mi n g o f t he c o l o u r burst s i g n a l , and
i mp r o v e s t he pe r f o r ma nc e o f t he S pect r um wi t h c e r t a i n t e l e v i s i o n
sets (e. g. H i t a c h i , G r u n d i g ) . I t a l s o c a us e s t he screen p i c t u r e
to be shi f t ed by one char act er wi d t h to the l ef t .
N O T E : Th e v a l u e s o f c e r t a i n c o mpo ne nt s var y d e p e n d i n g o n wh i c h
bo ar d and wh i c h U L A i s used as f o l l o w s :
4. 3
Bo a r d Issue N o 2 2 3
UL A Type 5C112 6C001 6C001
Component
R 4 7 2 2 0 a I k I k
R 4 9 8 k2 1 0 k 1 0 k
R 5 6 2 2 0 n 4 7 0 f i I k
R 6 3 2 2 0 n 4 7 0 n I k
1 .3 M o d i f i c a t i o n s - I ssue 1 B oard
A n u mb e r o f m o d i f i c a t i o n s were i n t r o d u c e d , a n d t he s e s h o u l d be checked
fo r a nd, i f necessar y, i nt r o duced r e t r o s pe c t i ve l y:
( a ) 1 00 pF c a p a c i t o r bet ween R A S and g r o u n d - ne c e s s a r y o n l y when
u s i n g U L A 5 C 1 02 .
( b) 4 70 pF c a p a c i t o r bet ween I C 2 , p i n 2 8 and g r o u n d - r e qui r e d o n l y
when I C 2 and R A M I C s are a l l o f N E C ma n u f a c t u r e .
(c) 1 k r esi st o r between R A S and 2 3 V and 1 k r esi st o r between C A S and
1 2 V , o n l y whe n R A M I C s are o f N a t i o n a l m a n u f a c t u r e . R 5 7 ( 3 3 0n)
mus t be r emo ved, and the 4 70 pF capaci t o r i s not r equi r ed.
(d) 4 7 k resi st or between pi n 1 3 of L M I 8 8 9 and g r o und - r equi r ed o n l y
i f t he d i f f e r e n c e bet ween wh i t e a nd y e l l o w c o l o u r s i s i n a d e qu a t e .
(e) I f di sc c a p a c i t o r s are us ed f o r C 4 1 and C 4 9 (4 7 n F ) they mus t be
r e p l a c e d by a x i a l c o mp o n e n t s .
( f ) C a p a c i t o r C 4 6 ( 1 uF e l e c t r o l y t i c ) s h o u l d be r e p l a c e d by a h i g h
t emper at ur e co mpo nent .
(g) T h i s mo d i f i c a t i o n i s r e qu i r e d f o r e f f i c i e n t o per at i o n o f c e r t a i n
m a c h i n e code s o f t wa r e and s h o u l d be i m p l e m e n t e d o n a l l u n i t s . I t
has been i mpl e me nt e d i n ma n u f a c t u r e fo r a l l U L A s 5 C 1 1 2 - 2 and
l a t e r .
D 1 4 r e p l a c e d by C 67 (1 00 p F )
R 2 4 c h a n g e d fro m 3 k3 t o I k
R 2 7 c h a n g e d f r o m 68 0 n to 4 70 n
R 7 3 ( I k ) added bet ween I d/ 3 2 and +5 V
( h ) A s i g n i f i c a n t cause o f pr o bl e ms has been f o und t o be f a i l u r e o f
t he i n t e r n a l po wer s u p p l y t r a n s i s t o r TR 4 . The c i r c u i t ma y be
i mpr o ved by c h a n g i n g the v a l u e of R 60 fro m 1 00 n to 2 70 fl and
c o n n e c t i n g a 4 . 7 u F e l e c t r o l y t i c ( p e r f e r a b l y r a d i a l t y p e ) wi t h
p o s i t i v e end t o TR 5 emi t t er ( po s i t i ve end of C 3 4 ) and neg at i ve
end t o TR 5 b a s e (to R 5 8 ) .
4. 4
1 .4 M o d i f i c a t i o n s - I ssue 2 B oard
A n u mb e r o f m o d i f i c a t i o n s h a v e a l s o been i n t r o d u c e d fo r t he I s s ue 2
b o a r d . These s h o u l d be checked a n d , i f ne c e s s a r y, i n t r o d u c e d
r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y .
( a ) These co mpo nent s s ho ul d be chang ed i f c o l o ur qu a l i t y needs
u p g r a d i n g :
R 4 8 c ha ng e d f r o m 4 k7 t o 2 k2
R 4 9 chang ed fro m 1 8 k to 8 k2
R 5 0 changed from 8 k2 to 4 k7
R 7 2 changed fro m 4 7 k (or 1 8 k) to 1 0 k
C 65 c h a n g e d f r o m 1 00 yF t o 2 2 yF
( b) E a r l y I s s ue 2 bo ar ds were ma n u f a c t u r e d u s i n g a c o n s i d e r a b l e
number of 4 7 yF and 1 00 uF di sc c a p a c i t o r s . C 4 1 (4 7 n F ) and C 4 3
(1 00 n F ) sho ul d be repl aced wi t h a x i a l component s t o pr event
u n d u e r i s k o f short c i r c u i t s .
( c) To p r e v e n t l i f t i n g o f t he ke ybo a r d t e mp l a t e , a t h i n s t r i p ( 6 mm
wi d e ) of d o u b l e - s i d e d t ape was i nt r o duced t o the top edge of t he
t empl at e. ( Pr e v i o u s l y , o nl y the other 3 edges had t a p e ) . Thi s
m o d i f i c a t i o n s h o u l d b e i n t r o d u c e d wh e n e v e r t e mp l a t e l i f t i n g i s
f o u n d t o be a p r o b l e m.
(d) S ee I tems 1 . 3 ( g ) and ( h) abo ve.
1 .5 M o d i f i c a t i o n s - I ssue 3 B B oard
A l t h o u g h f u n c t i o n a l l y s i m i l a r t o t he I s s ue 3 b o a r d , t he l a y o u t d i f f e r s .
The D C co nver t er d e s i g n has been i mp r o v e d , p r o v i d i n g g reat er power
s u p p l y r e l i a b i l i t y . C omponent changes are as f o l l o w s (see F i g 1 .5 fo r
d e t a i l s ) :
C 77 ( I Q O n F ) added
C 4 9 chang ed from 4 7nF to 5 60pF
R 60 changed from 2 70fl to 68 n
TR 4 can be ei t her ZTX65 0 or TI PP3 1
1 .6 3 2 k E x t e n s i o n M emory - (1 6k to 4 8 k)
B oard I ssue 1 : The ext ensi o n memory i s s u p p l i e d as a p l u g - i n mo d u l e
wh i c h i s i nserted i nt o sockets near the edge connector. The I C s used are
ei t her TI 4 5 3 2 - 3 or TI 4 5 3 2 - 4 , and al l I C s i n a u n i t mus t be of t he same
type ( i . e. a l l must be - 3 o r a l l must be - 4 ) .
B oard I ssue 2 : The extra memory i s o bt ai ned by p l u g g i n g i n 4 l o g i c I C s
and 8 memory I C s (see S ub- S ecti on 4 ). The I C s used are ei t her TI 4 5 3 2 - 3
or TI 4 5 3 2 - 4 , and a l l I C s must a g a i n be of the same type. I t s h o u l d be
noted t hat t he R A M select s i g n a l i s 0V f o r the - 3 1 C and +5 V f o r the - 4 .
A l i n k o n t he bo a r d p r o v i d e s t he r e qu i r e d select l e v e l .
4. 5
B oard I ssue 3 : Thi s a l l o ws O KI I C s t o be used i n p l a c e of TI 4 5 3 2 .
A g a i n , a l l I C s must be o f the same d e s i g n a t i o n . A p p r o p r i a t e l i n k s ( 2 )
mu s t be f i t t e d i n t he g r i d l o c a t e d o n t he b o a r d bet ween t he edge-
c o n n e c t o r and t he ' m i c ' j ack s o cket . A g a i n t he ext r a memory i s
o b t a i n e d by p l u g g i n g i n 4 l o g i c I C s and ei g ht memory I C s .
1 .7 H i t a c h i vs N E C R O M
D u r i n g m a n u f a c t u r e , w i r i n g l i n k s are sel ect ed and i ns e r t e d i n t he
b o a r d a c c o r d i n g t o whe t he r a H i t a c h i o r N E C R O M i s u s e d . These l i n k s
ar e ma r k e d ' H ' and ' N ' a s a p p r o p r i a t e and are l o c a t e d a s f o l l o w s .
B oard I ssue 1 - between the R O M and the heat s i nk
B o a r d I s s ue 2 - be ne a t h t he r ai s ed p o r t i o n o f t he h e a t s i n k
B o ard I s s ue 3 - a d j a c e n t t o the l o u d s p e a k e r
C l e a r l y , i f the R O M i s changed for one of a d i f f e r e n t ma k e , t hen these
l i n k s must be changed a s w e l l .
2 . F A U L T D I A G N O S I S
2 . 1 Techni ques
I n a cl o s ed l o o p system s uch as a c o mp u t e r , be c a us e o f t he i nt e r -
dependence o f n u me r o u s c o mpo ne nt p a r t s , f a u l t d i a g n o s i s i s not
neces s ar i l y s t r a i g h t - f o r w a r d . I n a d d i t i o n , because o f the h i g h speed
c y c l i c o pe r a t i o n, i nt e r pr e t a t i o n o f any wavef o r ms o n c o n t r o l , dat a and
address l i n e s as be i ng v a l i d depends t o a l ar g e extent o n p r a c t i c a l
e x p e r i e n c e o f the syst em. There are ho we ve r , c e r t a i n checks wi t h
v a l i d wa v e f o r ms a nd l e v e l s t hat c a n be c a r r i e d o ut be f o r e s u b s t i t u t i n g
any i nt e g r a t e d c i r c u i t s . E x p e r i e n c e has shown t hat t he best method o f
i n i t i a l l y checki ng wavef o r ms and l evel s can be t o compare wi t h t he
same po i nt i n a known s e r v i c e a b l e bo ar d. The f o l l o w i n g pages pr o vi de
a b a s i c f a u l t - f i n d i n g procedure and f u r n i s h a l i s t o f p o s s i b l e f a u l t s
a l o n g wi t h sug g est ed ways o f c u r i n g t hem.
Wi t h a de ns e l y p o p u l a t e d bo ar d such as t he ZX S P E C T R U M , a c a r e f u l
p h y s i c a l e x a mi n a t i o n o f the bo ar d can someti mes i n d i c a t e an o bvi o us
f a u l t . B ur st - o ut di screte components or an overheated t rack show up
i mme d i a t e l y , as do the at t ent i o ns of an e n t h u s i a s t i c amat eur . B ear i ng
i n mi n d t he l at t er , short ^c i r c ui t s , caus ed ,by h a i r l i n e s o l der
splatter can be or sever al ohms r e s i s t a n c e and can c a us e some very
m i s l e a d i n g f a u l t sympt o ms.
Pr o vi ded f i r st p r i n c i p l e s are adhered to and a common- sense appr o ach
i s ado pt ed, i t w i l l be f o und aft er a short space of t i me t hat f i x i n g a
f a u l t y S pectrum i s very muc h a r o ut i ne o pe r a t i o n.
4. 6
2.2 Power Supply Unit
The u n s t a b i l i s e d external power s u p p l y u n i t is a source of some
p r o b l e m s . The d e s i g n i s such t h a t , a t m i n i m u m input v o l t a g e
(215V a.c.) and 1.4A o u t p u t , the v o l t a g e trough s h o u l d not be less
t h a n 7.0V; at m a xi m u m i n p u t v o l t a g e (265V a.c.) and 60QmA output, the
v o l t a g e peak s h o u l d b e l e s s t h a n 13V.
2.3 Initialisation
A t s wi t ch- o n the co mput er s h o u l d a u t o m a t i c a l l y ' i n i t i a l i s e ' and
pr o duce a cl ear screen wi t h the statement
(01 9 8 2 S i n c l a i r R esear ch L td
d i s p l a y e d i n the l o wer l ef t s ect i o n o f t he screen. Thi s i n d i c a t e s
that most of the system i s wo r k i n g . I f t he S pectrum does not
i n i t i a l i s e , carry o ut t he f o l l o w i n g ba s i c checks .
B asi c C hecks. I t i s d i f f i c u l t t o be s p e c i f i c i n a f a u l t - f i n d i n g g u i d e
because o f t he l ar g e var i et y o f f a ul t c o n d i t i o n s wh i c h can o ccur , but
the f o l l o w i n g pr o c e dur e , s t a r t i ng wi t h a t a b l e of checks set out i n
order o f p r i o r i t y , w i l l ho wever i s o l a t e t h e ma j o r f a u l t ar ea.
FUNCTION CIRCUIT REF. WAVE F O RM/ VO LTAG E
Voltage regulator +ve side of C50 +9V d.c. 2.0V. At less
input than +7V the regulator may
not operate correctly.
Voltage regulator +ve side of C34 +5V d.c. 0.25V - no
output discernabl e ripple.
On-board power supply
outputs:
+5V d.c. IC6 pin 9 +5V d.c. 0.25V - no
discernabl e ripple.
-5V d.c. IC6 pin 1 -5V d.c.
+ 12V d.c. IV6 pin 8 +12V d.c.
+ 12VA(to IC14 only) LT end of C52 +12V d.c.
Cl ock pulses IC1 pin 32 14MHz squarewave at +5V
TR3 base and ampl itude,
col l ector IC2
pin 6
Address and data RT side of R17-R23 Waveform of amplitude 3.5V
l ines (fol l owing
through to relevant RT side of R1-R8
I Cs)
I f these tests pro ve s at i s f act o r y check I C 1 pi n 1 4 , I C 2 pi n 1 1 and I C 5
p i n 2 8 fo r +5 V . A l s o check f o r g r o und at I C 1 p i n 4 0, I C 2 p i n 2 9 and
I C 5 p i n 1 4 . I f a l l i s s t i l l s a t i s f a c t o r y at t h i s p o i n t and I C 1 i s t he
p l u g - i n t ype, r e p l a c e I C 1 . I f r e p l a c e me n t o f I C 1 does not cur e t he
f a u l t , check t he addr es s and da t a l i n e s o f I C 1 , I C 2 and I C 5 f o r a c t i v e
d a t a .
I t i s p o s s i b l e t hat one of the Z8 0A or R A M co nt r o l l i n e s has become
f a u l t y t her ef o r e, c o mp a r i n g wi t h a k n o wn s er vi ceabl e bo a r d i f
p o s s i b l e , check t he wa v e f o r ms a t t he f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s a t o r i g i n a nd
d e s t i n a t i o n :
(a) I C 2 : Pi n 1 6 - I N T Pi n 1 7 - N M 1
P i n 2 0 - I D R E Q P i n 2 4 - WA I T
P i n 1 9 - M R E Q P i n 2 5 : ffl C TE Q
P i n 2 1 - M P i n / b Kt b M
Pi n 2 2 - WR
( b ) I C 2 2 : Pi n 4 - "R A T Pi n 3 - WITE
Pi n 1 5 - C A 3 ~
I f n o f a u l t h a s been f o u n d a n d t h e co mput er s t i l l h a s n o t i n i t i a l i s e d ,
t he f a u l t c o u l d l i e i n t he R A M . I f t he c o mp u t e r i s a 4 8 k m a c h i n e the
3 2 k of e x p a n s i o n R A M can be i s o l a t e d. A n easy way of d o i n g t h i s ,
a s s u mi n g that the I C s are not fi t t ed i nt o sockets, i s to remove the
+5 V from I C 2 5 . Thi s i s p r o b a b l y best done by very c a r e f u l l y c u t t i n g
t he t r ack t o I C 2 5 pi n 1 6. I f t h i s o per at i o n cl ear s t he f a u l t
c o n d i t i o n , t he e x p a n s i o n R A M w i l l h a v e t o b e f u r t h e r i s o l a t e d . I n
ei t her i n s t a n c e t he p o i n t has been r eached wher e i t i s neces s ar y t o
start r e p l a c i n g I C s .
Wher e t he f a u l t persi st s aft er i s o l a t i n g t he 3 2 k e x p a n s i o n R A M i t
wo u l d be necessary t o start c h a n g i n g i n d i v i d u a l I C s i n t he order of
I C 1 3 t o I C 6 ( R A M ) , I C 1 ( U L A ) , I C 2 ( Z8 0A ) . A f t e r each c ha ng e o f 1 C t he
u n i t mus t be powered up t o check f o r correct i n i t i a l i s a t i o n .
A method of f a u l t - f i n d i n g that can be used on both the 1 6k and 4 8 k
v e r s i o n s i s t o ma ke up a ' t e s t 1 C ' devi ce. Thi s may be done by u s i n g
an 1 C test c l i p , to wh i c h i s attached a s er vi ceabl e 1 C (of the
r e l e v a n t type e. g . 4 1 1 6 or 4 5 3 2 ) , to b r i d g e acr o s s each suspect 1 C i n
t u r n . Thi s met ho d i s not g u a r a n t e e d t o wo r k but can o f t en save a l o t
o f t i me u n n e c e s s a r i l y c h a n g i n g suspect I C s .
M emory C heck
Wher e a S pectrum has i n i t i a l i s e d correctly but a R A M memory f a u l t i s
suspect ed, i t i s p o s s i b l e t o f i n d t he f a u l t y address and r e l a t e i t t o
a f a u l t y 1 C by c a r r y i n g out the f o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e :
Key i n the i n s t r u c t i o n :
P R I N T PE E K 2 3 73 2 + PE E K 2 3 73 3 * 2 5 6
The v a l u e p r i n t e d s h o u l d be:
4. 8
( a ) f o r a 4 8 k u n i t - 65 5 3 5
(b) for a 1 6k u n i t - 3 2 767
Th e v a l u e p r i n t e d i n each i n s t a n c e i s t h e l a s t v a l i d memory l o c a t i o n ,
and i n a s e r v i c e a b l e u n i t w o u l d be as set o ut a bo ve . Ther ef o r e, i f a
d i f f e r e n t v a l u e , n, i s p r i n t e d t he f a u l t y l o c a t i o n w i l l be n + 1 . I f
t he v a l u e r e t ur ne d i s l ess t h a n 3 2 767 t he f a u l t l i e s i n t he o r i g i n a l
1 6k o f R A M . The f o l l o w i n g e x a mp l e i l l u s t r a t e s t he met ho d o f r e l a t i n g
a f a u l t y l o c a t i o n t o a f a u l t y 1 C .
E x a mp l e . I f a 4 8 k S p e c t r u m i s g i v i n g a memory of 2 5 . 2 5 k key i n t he
f o l l o w i n g i n s t r u c t i o n :
P R I N T PE E K 2 3 73 2 + PE E K 2 3 73 3 * 2 5 6
A s s ume t he answer d i s p l a y e d i s 4 3 2 00, t herefo re t he f a u l t y l o c a t i o n i s
4 3 2 01 ( st o ps a t l a s t v a l i d l o c a t i o n ) . Ke y - i n :
PO KE 4 3 2 01 ,8 5 : P R I N T P E E K 4 3 2 01 ( = answer A )
I f ans wer A i s 8 5 , k e y - i n :
PO KE 4 3 2 01 ,1 70 : P R I N T PE E K 4 3 2 01 (= answer B )
I f ans wer B i s a n y t h i n g o t her t h a n 1 70 l o o k up i n t he f o l l o w i n g t a b l e
w h i c h 1 C t o c h a n g e (e. g . i f a ns we r B i s 2 3 4 c h a n g e I C 2 1 ) . S i m i l a r l y ,
i f answer A i s ot her t h a n 8 5 r ef er t o t he t a b l e t o f i n d t he f a u l t y 1 C .
D a t a 8 5 D at a 1 70 S i ze o f E r r o r F a u l t y R A M l o c a t i o n i f :
I C 6- I C 1 3 I C 1 5 - I C 2 2 E r r o r B i t < 3 2 767 > 3 2 767
8 4 1 71 1 0 I C 6 I C 1 5
8 7 1 68 2 1 I C 7 I C 1 6
8 1 1 74 4 2 I C 8 I C 1 7
9 3 1 62 8 3 I C 9 I C 1 8
69 1 8 6 1 6 4 I C 1 0 I C 1 9
1 1 7 1 38 3 2 5 I C 1 1 I C 2 0
2 1 2 3 4 64 6 I C 1 2 I C 2 1
2 1 3 4 2 1 28 7 I C 1 3 I C 2 2
I f t here i s more t h a n o ne f a u l t y R A M l o c a t i o n t he f i r s t f a u l t
i d e n t i f i e d w i l l h a v e t o be r e p a i r e d be f o r e i t i s p o s s i b l e t o pr o ceed.
4 . 9
2.5 Keyboard Structure
The k eyboard is connected h o r i z o n t a l l y in e i g h t b l o c k s of f i v e k eys
a n d v e r t i c a l l y m f i v e b l o c k s o f e i g h t keys. Fi g u r e 4 . 1 shows t h e c o n f i g u r a t i o n . I t f o l l o w s t h a t i f a n y b l o c k o f f i v e k e y s f a i l t h e
fault is with KB2 c i r c u i t r y or the 8-way m e m b r a n e , a n d that if any
b l o c k o f e i g h t k eys f a i l the f a u l t i s w i t h K B 1 c i r c u i t r y o r the 5-way
m e m b r a n e . P o s s i b l e k e y b o a r d f a u l t s are l i s t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 2 . 6
FIGURE 4.1 KEYBOARD FO RMAT
4.10
2 . 6 F a u l t - F i n d i n g G ui de
A s wi t h any c o mp l e x d i g i t a l e qu i p me n t t he p o s s i b l e f a u l t p e r mu t a t i o n s
are v a s t , t h u s the f o l l o w i n g t a bl e i s not i nt ended t o be an e x h a u s t i v e
l i s t o f t he f a u l t s t hat mi g h t o ccur o n t he S pe c t r um. I t i s i n t e n d e d
a s a g u i d e o n l y t o p o s s i b l e co ur ses o f a c t i o n t o f o l l o w when f a u l t s
show up i n p a r t i c u l a r ar eas o f t he c i r c u i t . These ar eas ar e l i s t e d i n
t he t a b l e wi t h s u b - h e a d i n g s , i n no p a r t i c u l a r o r der o f p r i o r i t y . I t i s
e nvi s a g e d t hat t he ZXTP test t ape has been l o a de d, or an attempt has
been made t o l o a d t he t a pe , i n order t o check f o r a f a u l t y c o n d i t i o n .
A R E A S Y M PTO M A C T I O N
TV screen dead, TR 4 b a s e - c o l l e c t o r R emove TR 4
smoke a p p e a r s o n s ho r t e d.
s wi t c h - o n .
S hort pe r s i s t s wi t h 1 . C heck TR 5 and C 4 4 .
TR 4 r emo ved. 2 . V i s u a l l y check t r a c k .
3 . C heck TR 4 .
TR 4 b l o ws a g a i n . 1 . C h a n g e TR 4 a nd TR 5 (even
t ho ug h TR 5 checks o u t ) .
2 . C heck t hat TR 5 c i r c u i t
c o mp o n e n t s ar e t o l a t e s t
s p e c i f i c a t i o n .
N ot i n i t i a l i s i n g . N o ' ( C ) 1 9 8 2 F o l l o w f a u l t - f i n d i n g
S i n e !a i r . R e s e a r c h p r o c e d u r e , p a r a g r a p h 2 . 2
L t d 1 statement. ^above. ' y y y
N o v i d e o . N o v i d e o . 1 . C h a n g e I C 1 .
2 . C heck TR 1 and TR 2 .
N O T E : Ta bl e 4 . 1 N o v i d e o a f t e r 1 . V i s u a l l y check I C 1 and
sets out t y p i c a l U L A c h a n g e d . s o c ke t ,
s i g n a l s f o und o n 3 . C heck fo r s ho r t i ng
I C 1 4 p i n s 1 -1 8 between C 65 and R 5 3 .
I C 1 4 p i n s 1 -1 8 . 4 . C ar r y out f a u l t - f i n d i n g
p r o c e d u r e , p a r a 2 . 2 a bo ve .
1 . C heck vo l t ag e dr o p across
R 64 .
2 . C heck +5 V r e g u l a t o r 0/ P
and +9 V r e g u l a t o r I / P.
3 . C heck P WR socket not
sho rt ed.
4 . C heck power u n i t .
A R E A S Y M PTO M A C T I O N
N o v i d e o , (cont d) N o V I D E O I N P U T at 1 . C heck waveform at I C 1 4
I C 1 4 p i n 1 2 . p i n 1 3. I f correct check
TR 1 and TR 2 .
2 . C heck wavef o r ms at I C 1
p i n s 1 5 , 1 6 and 1 7:
If correct check V R1 , V R2
(Issue 1 and Issue 2 boards).
3 . C ha ng e I C 1 .
4 . I f +5 V and V I D E O I N P U T
correct chang e mo d u l a t o r .
C o r r upt Paper , - 1 . C heck I C 1 s o c k e t .
af t er U L A chang e. 2 . C heck P WR socket i s not
i n t e r m i t t e n t .
3 . C heck I C 1 p i n 1 4 for +5 V
wi t h n o d i s c e r n i b l e
rippl e.
No 3 MHz at IC2 1. Low a m p l i t u d e - check
pin 6. R25.
2 . C heck TR 3 .
3 . C heck I C 1 p i n 3 2 f o r 3
M H z .
4 . C heck I C 1 p i n 3 9 for 1 4
M H z .
5 . C heck c r y s t a l X I .
6. C heck I C 1 p i n 1 3 for +3 V .
A R E A S Y M PTO M A C T I O N
V i deo I nco r r ect . D ar k S creen. 1 . C heck t u n i n g .
2 . C hang e m o d u l a t o r .
D i m ' S i n c l a i r ' I o 9 - 1 ' C heck +1 2 V "
2 . C he c k C 65 f o r h i g h
i mpedance.
3 . C heck R 5 2 .
4. Check +5V on IC14 p i n 3.
W a v y l i n e s across 1. Press down on each
screen. e l e c t r o l y t i c c a p a c i t o r to
see if l i n e s d i s a p p e a r .
If so c h a n g e t h a t
c a p a c i t o r .
2 . C heck cryst al X2 .
3 . C h e c k / c h a n g e TR 1 a n d / o r
TR 2 .
4 . C he c k/ c ha ng e I C 1 4 .
S el f r es et t i ng . C heck TR 6.
R a ndo m d y n a mi c C h a n g e C 5 4 .
s quar es .
Paper area too l o w. C ha ng e I C 1 .
D i a g o n a l l i n e s i n C h a n g e R 4 7 .
t he bo r der area.
D i s t o r t ed vi deo . 1 . C heck for +3 V at I C 1
pi n 1 3 .
2 . C ha ng e C 3 0.
C o l o u r t u n i n g - V i s u a l l y check I C 1 4 c i r c u i t s .
f a u l t s ( I s s ue 1
and I s s ue 2 b o a r d s )
V R 1 or V R 2 f a i l s t o 1 . M o n i t o r I C 1 4 p i n 2
a d j u s t I C 1 4 p i n 1 3 t r i mmi n g V R 2 .
wa v e f o r m. 2 . M o n i t o r I C 1 4 p i n 4
t r i mmi n g V R 1 .
3 . C hang e I C 1 4 .
A R E A S Y M PTO M A C T I O N
C o l o u r t u n i n g V R l o r V R 2 d. c. C ha ng e I C 1 4 .
f a u l t s , ( c o n t ' d ) s h i f t s I C 1 4 p i n 1 3
wa v e f o r m.
A l t e r n a t e dar k l i n e s C hang e I C 1 4 .
on screen.
N o c o l o u r a f t e r
t r i mmi n g TC 2 :
I C H p i n 1 7 not 1 . C heck crystal X2 .
o s c i l l a t i n g 2 . C h a n g e I C H .
3 . C h a n g e X2 .
ICH p i n 17 1. Check for b r o k e n t r a c k ,
o s c i l l a t i n g b u t 2. C h a n g e TC2.
f a i l s to t u n e . 3. C h a n g e ICH.
ICH p i n 17 output 1. W i t h ' S i n c l a i r ' logo on
correct but s t i l l screen ICH p i n 2 and
no c o l o u r (boards ICH p i n 4 s h o u l d be as
a t a l l Issue Nos). f o l l o w s :
2. If ICH p i n s 2 a n d 4
are correct, c h a n g e
m o d u l a t o r .
C o l o u r faults P i n screen. C h a n g e crystal X2.
(Issue 1 - Issue 3
b o a r d s .
B l u e haze around If u n t u n a b l e Issue 1 and
' S i n c l a i r 1 *-' issue 2 boardsj c h a g e ICH.
Screen too y e l l o w . C h a n g e ICH.
A R E A S Y M PTO M A C TI O N
C o l o u r f a u l t s I nt e r mi t t e nt 1 . C h a n g e TC 2 ( I s s u e 1 and
( c o n t ' d ) c o l o u r . I s s ue 2 b o a r d s ) .
2 . C h a n g e I C 1 4 .
Re d , B l u e or C h a n g e IC1.
Green ' S i n c l a i r '
l o g o .
Washed- o ut C heck TR 2 .
c o l o u r s .
Keybo ar d f a u l t s . KB 1 f a u l t . 1 . C h e c k f o r short on 2 or
mo r e of t he 5 t r a c k s .
2 . C h a n g e me mb r a n e .
KB 2 f a u l t . 1 . C heck for short on 2 or
more of the 8 t r a c ks .
2 . C ha ng e membrane.
D ead ke ybo a r d. C h a n g e I C 1 .
Wr o n g keybo ar d C ha ng e I C 1 .
r espo nse.
Keyboard response C hang e I C 1 .
too f as t .
R e g u l a t o r c o i l . C o i l e x c e s s i v e l y C h a n g e c o i l .
n o i s e .
Speaker. No speak er output. 1. Check l o a d input w a v e -
forms .
NOTE: Fi g u r e 4.2 2. Check TR7.
shows t y p i c a l 3. Check D9.
waveforms in the 4. C h a n g e s p e a k e r .
speak er c i r c u i t
Test program. 'Tape L o a d i n g Error' Re l o a d p r o g r a m .
output.
Paper area edges Change IC1.
distort.
Program Loading.
A R E A
Test P r o g r a m.
( c o n t ' d )
S Y M PTO M A C T I O N
Paper area c o r r upt s 1 . C h a n g e I C 1 .
d u r i n g t est s.
2 . C ar r y out f a u l t - f i n d i n g
p r o c e d u r e ( p a r a g r a p h 2 . 2 ) .
B o r der c o l o u r s are C h a n g e I C 1 4 .
s t r i p e d .
F a i l u r e me s s a g e s . C ar r y out f a u l t - f i n d i n g
p r o c e d u r e ( p a r a g r a p h 2 . 2 ) .
' Te s t P a s s e d 1 C h a n 5 e I C 1 -
me s s a g e not f l a s h i n g .
R e d u c e d memo r y 1 . Pe r f o r m memo r y t e s t ,
s i z e .
2 . C h a n g e I C 1 .
Keybo ard does not S ee ke ybo a r d f a u l t s ,
a l l o w l o a d i n g .
Pr o g r am f a i l s to 1 . C heck j ack sockets are
l o a d , f u l l y i ns e r t e d.
2 . I f l o a d i n g s t r i pes i n
bo rder are u n u s u a l l y
wi d e , check D 1 3 .
3 . C h e c k / c h a n g e I C 1 .
' P r o g r a m C h e c k / C h a n g e I C 2 .
a ppe a r s .
FI G URE 4.2 SPEAKER LOAD INPUT W AV EFO RMS
4.17
TA B L E 4 .1 . I C 1 4 (I M L 8 8 9 ) P I N S I G N A L S
P i n N o . S i g n a l
1 (CHROMA LEAD) SI N EW AV E B O O m V , 0.2yS, d.c. 9.5V
2 (R - Y I N P UT)
3 (CHROMA BI AS) d.c. 4.8V
4 (B - Y I N P UT)
5 0V (GROUND)
12 (VIDEO I N P UT) d.c. 12V u n r e g .
1 3 ( C H R O M A S U B C A R R I E R )
1 4 ( R . F S U P P L Y )
1 5 ( S O U N D T A N K) ' L I N K E D 1 1 2 V d > c -
1 6 (C H R O M A S U PPL Y
1 7 (C H R O M A O S C I L L A T O R O U T P U T ) S Q U A R E W A V E 0. 2 us 4 V P- P.
D . C . 0. 8 V
1 8 (C H R O M A L A G ) S I N E W A V E B O O mV P- P 2 uS d . c . 9 . 5 V
6 , 7 , 8 N ot C onnect ed
9 ,1 0,
11
NOTES: (1) Rails and signals taken on switch-on, computer
displ aying ' Sincl air1 y
(2) No keys pressed
(3) Al l d.c. l evel s positive wrt 0V
4 .1 8
3 . R E P A I R
3 .1 R e n e wa l o f c o mpo ne nt s s h o u l d be c a r r i e d out u s i n g r e c o g ni s e d
d e s o l d e r i n g / h e a t s i n k i n g t e c h n i qu e s t o p r e v e n t da ma g e t o t he co mpo nent
o r t o t he p r i n t e d c i r c u i t b o a r d . O t her p o i n t s t o be noted ar e:
( a ) Wh e n r e p l a c i n g a ke ybo a r d m a t r i x , t a k e care t ha t t h e r i b b o n
c o nne c t o r s are f u l l y i ns e r t e d i n t o t he bo ar d c o n n e c t o r s , and are
not k i n k e d d u r i n g i n s e r t i o n .
( b) M a k e sure t her e i s a good c o nt a c t ma de bet ween t he v o l t a g e
r e g u l a t o r body and t he a s s o c i a t e d h e a t s i n k i n order t o e n s u r e
a de qua t e heat c o n d u c t i o n . The h e a t s i n k h o l e i n c e r t a i n I s s ue 3
b o a r d s a l l o w s e x c e s s i v e p l a y w h i c h c o u l d c a us e f o u l i n g o f t he
edge c o nne c t o r . Take care i n r e - a s s e mbl y t ha t t he h e a t s i n k i s
f i t t e d away fro m t he edge c o n n e c t o r .
( c) Wh e n t he r e g u l a t o r i s b e i n g r e p l a c e d i t i s reco mmended t ha t a
s u i t a b l e p r o p r i e t a r y t h e r ma l g r e a s e i s a p p l i e d t o t he rear
s u r f a c e o f t he co mpo nent bo dy.
(d) The m o d u l a t o r s h o u l d be r e p l a c e d as a co mpl et e u n i t .
( e ) Wh e n r e p l a c i n g p l u g - i n I C s i t i s a d v i s a b l e t o us e t he correct
r emo val and i n s e r t i o n t o o l s . A v o i d c o n t a m i n a t i n g t he c o n n e c t i o n
p i n s b y h a n d ! i n g .
( f ) Wh e n h a n d l i n g I C s t a k e n o r ma l a n t i - s t a t i c p r e c a u t i o n s . I t i s
r eco mmended t hat o n l y a s u i t a b l y e a r t h e d , l o w power s o l d e r i n g
i r o n be used.
( g ) A f t e r any co mpo nent has been renewed t he c i r c u i t bo ar d s h o u l d be
e x a mi n e d c a r e f u l l y , t o e ns ur e t ha t t he r e are n o s o l d e r
' s p l a t t e r s ' wh i c h may caus e short c i r c u i t s bet ween t r a c k s o r
c o nne c t o r p i n s .
4 . 1 6k TO 4 8 k U PG R A D E
4 .1 I nt egrat ed C i r c u i t s / L i n k S et t i ng s
F or bo t h t he I s s ue 2 and t he I s s ue 3 bo a r ds t he memory u p g r a d e i s
a c c o m p l i s h e d by p l u g g i n g f o ur l o g i c I C s a nd ei g ht memory I C s i n t o
e x i s t i n g bo ar d so cket s. D e p e n d i n g on t he t ypes of memory 1 C us e d,
a p p r o p r i a t e c i r c u i t l i n k s must be f i t t e d o n t he bo a r d. F i g u r e 4 . 3
shows t he l ayo ut o f t he area o f t he bo ar d c o n t a i n i n g t he empt y
so cket s. The I s s ue 3 bo ar d i s shown wh i c h a l s o g i ve s p o s i t i o n s (top
l ef t o f d i a g r a m) o f the l i n k s .
4 .1 9
4.2 Issue 2 Board
The ICs used on t h i s b o a r d are as f o l l o w s :
1C TYPE
I C 1 5 - I C 2 2 TI 4 5 3 2 - 3 or TI 4 5 3 2 - 4 2 00ns (or 2 5 0ns)
I C 2 3 74 L S 3 2
I C 2 4 74 L S O O
I C 2 5 , I C 2 6 74 L S 1 5 7 (N O T N a t i o n a l S e m i c o n d u c t o r s )
N O T E S : ( 1 ) A l l e xt e r na l R A M I C s mus t be o f t he same type
( i . e. a l l - 3 o r - 4 v a r i a n t s ) .
(2 ) L I N K 3 on t he board ( I C 2 6, pi n 1 0) s h o u l d be f i t t ed
i f I C 1 5 - I C 2 2 are type 4 5 3 2 - 3 .
( 3 ) L I N K 4 s h o u l d be f i t t e d i f I C 1 5 - I C 2 2 ar e type 4 5 3 2 - 4 .
.3 I ssue 3 B oard
The ICs used on t h i s board are as follows:
1C TYPE
IC15 - IC22 TI 4532-3, TI 4532-4 or OKI
MSM3732 200 ns (or 250ns)
IC23 74LS32
IC24 74LSOO
IC25, IC26 74LS157 (NOT National Semiconductors)
N O T E S : (1 ) A l l e xt e ns i o n R A M I C s mus t be o f t he same t ype.
(2 ) Two l i n k s must be f i t t ed on the bo ar d (gri d
located between edge connector and m/ c j ack
socket ) dependi ng on memory ma n u f a c t u r e r and
type ( h i g h o r l o w e n a b l e ) . S ee F i g u r e 4 . 4 f o r
l i n k p o s i t i o n s vs ma n u f a c t u r e r and 1 C t ype.
4.20
F I G U R E 4 . 4 I S S U E 3 L I N K S vs 1 C M A N U F A C T U R E R A N D TY PE
4. 22
SECTION 5
PARTS LIST
Su b -Se c t i o n LIST OF C O N TEN TS Pa g e No.
1 I n t r o d u c t i o n 5 .1
2 N o t es t o T a b l e 5 . 2 5 .1
1 . I N T R O D U C T I O N
1 . 1 Par t s l i s t s fo r t he ZX S PE C TR U M are p r o v i d e d i n t a b l e f o r m; o ne fo r
t he case a s s e mbl y ( Ta b l e 5 . 1 ) and a n o t h e r f o r t he bo a r d a s s e mb l y
( Ta bl e 5 . 2 ) . The l at t er co ver s t he I s s ue 2 and 3 S pect r ums and i s
r el at ed t o the bo ar d l ayo ut d i a g r a ms g i v e n i n F i g u r e 5 .1 and 5 . 2 .
T a b l e 5 . 2 a l s o l i s t s t h e a l t e r n a t i v e c o mp o n e n t s w h i c h t h e s e r vi c e
e n g i n e e r w i l l o c c a s i o n a l l y f i n d o n p r o d u c t i o n v e r s i o n s o f t he I s s ue 2
bo ar d or may i n t r o d u c e r et r o s pect i vel y i n order t o i mpr o ve
p e r f o r ma n c e . These c o mp o n e n t s a r e l i s t e d i n t h e c o l u mn headed ' I S S U E
2 M O D S ' wi t h r ef er ences t o no t es a g a i n s t t hem. These notes ar e
e x p l a i n e d b e l o w -
2 . N O TE S TO TA B L E 5 . 2
(1 ) The a l t e r n a t i v e v a l u e s g i v e n fo r R 4 7 , R 4 9 , R 5 6 and T63 are used
i f t he U L A f i t t e d i s Type 6C 001 .
( 2 ) The a l t e r n a t i v e v a l u e s fo r R 4 8 , R 5 0, R 7 2 and C 65 are i nt r o duced
t o i mp r o v e t he c o l o u r qu a l i t y .
(3 ) C 74 i s es s ent i al on a l l I ssue 2 bo ar ds and s h o u l d be f i t t ed
r e t r o s p e c t i v e l y . A t t he same t i me R 60 mus t be r e p l a c e d wi t h t he
l a r g e r v a l u e .
(4 ) The i n t r o d u c t i o n o f a l t e r n a t i v e co mpo nent s f o r R 2 4 and R 2 7 i s
e s s e n t i a l . A t t he same t i me C 67 r e p l a c e s D 1 4 and R 73 i s added.
(5 ) I ssue 2 bo ar ds fi t t ed wi t h the Type 5 C 1 1 2 U L A have e i t he r a
t r a n s i s t o r ( TR 6) o r d i o d e / r e s i s t o r m o d i f i c a t i o n (see I s s ue 2
c i r c u i t d i a g r a m f o r d e t a i l s ) .
(6) O n I ssue 3 bo a r ds o n l y c r y s t a l X2 mu s t h a v e a cl o s e t o l e r a n c e
s p e c i f i c a t i o n ( i . e . 1 0 ppm a b s o l u t e , 1 0 ppm 2 0C t o 60C , 5 ppm
per y e a r . )
( 7 ) O n I s s ue 3 B b o a r d s , the d . c . c o nve r t e r d e s i g n ha s i mp r o v e d
r e l i a b i l i t y . R 60 i s chang ed fro m 2 70n to 68 ft and C 4 9 i s chang ed
from 4 7nF t o 5 60pF . C a pa c i t o r C 7 7 ( l O O n F ) has been added.
5 .1
2 .1 G ener al C a pa c i t o r C ha ng e . E a r l y I s s ue 2 u n i t s were m a n u f a c t u r e d u s i n g
a c o n s i d e r a b l e numbe r o f 4 7 nF and 1 00 nF d i s c c a p a c i t o r s . Wh e r e
t hes e o c c ur t he s e r vi c e e n g i n e e r s h o u l d t a k e t he o p p o r t u n i t y t o
r e p l a c e C 4 1 and C 4 9 wi t h a x i a l t ypes.
TA B L E 5 .1 C A S E A S S E M B L Y
M A N U F A C T U R E R D E S C R I P T I O N
As s e m b l e d b o a r d a s a p p r o p r i a t e
(Ta b l e 5.2)
Mo u l d e d Up p e r Case
Mo u l d e d Lower Case
Keyboard Ma t (Rubber)
Ke y b o a r d Me m b r a n e
Ke y b o a r d Te m p l a t e
Ru b b e r Feet
S el f Tap S crews (case f i x i n g s ) , 5 o f f
D o u b l e - s i d e d a d h e s i v e t ape -
1 2 mm wi d e ; T e s a f i x 9 5 9
D o u b l e si ded a d h e s i v e t ape -
6 mm wi d e ; Te s a f i x 9 5 9
S el f Tap S crew (board f i x i n g ) , 1 o f f
5. 2
N.F.I.
B.D.F. Tesa
B.D.F. Tesa
TA B L E 5 . 2 B O A R D A S S E M B L Y
C i r c ui t I ssue 2 I ssue 2 N o t es I ssue 3 R a t i n g / M a n u f a c t u r e
R e f e r e nc e M od To! Type
C A PA C I TO R S
( U n l e s s o t h e r wi s e st at ed a l l c a p a c i t o r s are a x i a l t y p e s )
C 1 - C 8 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C er ami c
C 2 5 2 2 yF 2 2 yF 1 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 2 6 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 2 7 1 yF 1 yF 5 0 V , - 1 0 % C e r a mi c
C 2 8 2 2 yF 2 2 yF 1 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 2 9 / C 3 0 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 3 1 / C 3 2 l O O n F l O O n F 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 3 3 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 3 4 2 2 yF 2 2 yF 1 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 3 5 1 0 nF 1 0 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C er ami c
C 3 6 4 7 nF - 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 3 7/ C 3 8 3 3 pF 3 3 pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 3 9 1 0 nF 1 0 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 4 0/ C 4 2 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 4 3 lO O nF lO O nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C erami c
C 4 4 / C 4 5 l O O y F l O O y F 1 6V ,1 0%+8 0% C e r a mi c
C 4 6 1 yF 1 yF 5 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 4 7 2 2 yF 2 2 yF 1 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 4 8 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 4 9 4 7 nF (7) 4 7/ 5 60pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C er ami c
C 5 0 2 2 yF 2 2 yF 1 0V ,- 1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 5 1
C 5 2 / C 5 3 1 5 0pF 1 5 0pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 5 4 4 70pF - 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 5 5 - C 62 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 63 4 7 pF 4 7 pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 64 l O O p F l O O p F 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 65 lO O yF 2 2 yF (2 ) 2 2 yF 2 0V ,1 0%+8 0% E l e c t .
C 66 4 7 nF 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 67 - l O O pF (4 ) l O O pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 68 - C 71 - - l O O n F 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 7 2 / C 7 3 - 1 6 pF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 7 4 - 4 . 7 W F ( 3 ) 4 . 7 u F 5 V mi n E l e c t .
C 7 5 - - l O O n F 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
TC 1 / TC 2
C 7 6 - 4 7 nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C 7 7 - - ( 7 ) l O O nF 2 5 V , 1 0% C e r a mi c
C O I L
C i r c u i t I s s ue 2 I s s ue 2 N o t es I s s u e 3 R a t i n g / M a n u f a c t u r e
R eference M od Tol Type
C o i l S P E C TR U M - - S P E C TR U M - 1 703
5 . 3
C O N N EC TO RS
R ef er ence D e s c r i p t i o n M a n u f a c t u r e r /
Par t N u mb e r
E A R 3 . 5 mm j a c k socket
M I C 3 . 5 mm j ack socket
P WR 2 . 1 mm c o - a x i a l socket
KB 1 5 - way r i b b o n c o nne c t o r M o l e x 5 2 2 9 - 05 C PB
KB 2 8 - way r i b b o n co nnect o r M o l e x 5 2 2 9 - 08 C PB
C R Y S TA L S
C i r c u i t I s s u e 2 I s s ue 2 N o t es I s s u e 3 M a n u f a c t u r e
R e f e r e n c e M od Type
XI 1 4 . 000000M H z - N o t e 1 4 . 000000M H z
X2 4 . 4 3 3 61 9 M H z - (6) 4 . 4 3 3 61 9 M H z
D I O D E S
C i r c u i t I s s ue 2 I s s ue 2 N o t e s I s s u e 3 M a n u f a c t u r e
R e f e r e nc e M od Type
D 1 - D 9 1 N 4 1 4 8 - - 1 N 4 1 4 8 S i g n a l
D 1 0 1 N 4 1 4 8 - - - S i g n a l
D 1 1 - D 1 3 1 N 4 1 4 8 - - 1 N 4 1 4 8 S i g n a l
D 1 4 1 N 4 1 4 8 - (4 ) - S i g nal
D 1 5 B A 1 5 7 - - B A 1 5 7 R e c t i f i e r
D 1 6 5 V 1 - - 5 V 1 Zener
I N TE G R A TE D C I R C U I T S
C i r c u i t I ssue 2 I ssue 2 N ot es I ssue 3 M a n u f a c t u r e
R e f e r e nc e M od Type
I C l ( U L A ) 5 C 1 02 5 C 1 1 2 (1 ) 6C 0001 - F e r r a n t i
I C 2 ( C P U ) Z8 0A / U 7 8 0 - Z8 0A / M 7 8 0
I C 3 / I C 4 74 L S 1 5 7N - 74 L S 1 5 7N - N ot N a t i o n a l
I C 5 ( R O M ) S P E C T R U M S P E C TR U M S P E C T R U M - N E C / H i t a c h i
I C 6- I C 1 3 4 1 1 6 - 4 1 1 6 - 1 50 ns
I C 1 4 L M 1 8 8 9 - L M 1 8 8 9
I C 1 5 - I C 2 2 TI 4 5 3 2 - TI 4 5 3 2 / 4 8 k o n l y Texas /
M S M 3 7 3 2 - O KI
IC23 74LS32N - 74LS32N 48k o n l y
IC24 74LSOON - 74LSOON 48k o n l y
IC25/IC26 74LS157N - 74LS157N 48k o n l y Not N a t i o n a l
R E S I S TO R S ( 1 / 4 W, 5 % u n l e s s o t her wi se st at ed)
C i rcui t I ssue 2 I ssue 2 N otes I ssue 3 R at i ng I ssue 3 B
R e f e r e nc e M od Tol
R 1 - R 8 4 70R 4 70R
R 9 - R 1 6 8 K2 8 K2
R 1 7- R 2 3 3 3 0R 3 3 0R
R 2 4 3 K3 1 KO (4 ) 1 KO
R 2 5 1 8 0R 1 8 0R
R 2 6/ R 2 7 68 0R 4 70
R 2 8 1 0KO 1 0K
R 2 9 1 KB 1 0K
R 3 0 1 KO 1 0K
R 3 1 2 2 0KO 2 2 0K
R 3 2 1 00R 1 00R
R 3 3 68 0R 68 0R
R 3 4 1 5 R 1 5 R 1 /2 or 1 W
R 3 5 1 0KO 1 0K
R 3 6 68 0R 68 0R
R 3 7 1 KO I K
R 3 8 3 K3
R 3 9 3 K3
R 4 0 1 KO
R 4 1 1 KB
R 4 2 1 KO 1 KO
R 4 3 3 KO 3 KO 2 %
R 4 4 5 K1 B K1 2 %
R 4 B / R 4 6 1 KO 1 KO
R 4 7 2 2 O R 1 KO (1 ) 1 KO
R 4 8 4 K7 2 K2 (2 ) 2 K2
R 4 9 8 K2 1 0KO (1 ) 1 0KO
R B O 8 K2 4 K7 (2 ) 4 K7
R 61 / R 5 2 2 K2 2 K2
R 5 3 3 9 0R 3 9 0
R 5 4 1 00K 1 00K
R 5 5 5 6R 5 6R
R 5 6 2 2 0R 4 70R (1 ) 1 KO
R 5 7 3 3 0R
R 5 8 1 KO 1 KO 2 %
R 5 9 1 K8 1 K8 2 %
R 60 1 00R 2 70R ( 3 ) , ( 7 ) 2 70R 68 R
R 61 / R 62 1 5 R 1 5R
R 63 2 2 0R 4 70R (1 ) 1 KO
R 64 1 5 R 1 5 R
R65-R69 10KO 10KO
R70/R71 220R 220R
R72 470Korl8K 10KO (2) 10KO
R73 - 1KO (4) 1KO
R 7 4 / R 7 5 - 1 0KO
R 7 6/ R 7 7 - 1 KO
R 78 - 4 70R
V R 1 / V R 2 2 K2
5.5
TR A N S I S TO R S
C i r c u i t I s s u e 2 I s s u e 2 N o t e s I s s u e 3
R e f e r e n c e M od
TR 1 / TR 2 ZTX3 1 3 - ZTX3 1 3
TR 3 ZTX3 1 3 - ZTX3 1 3
TR 4 Z T X6 5 0 / T I P P 3 1 - ZTX65 0
TR 5 ZTX2 1 3 - ZTX2 1 3
TR 6 ZTX3 1 3 - (5 ) ZTX3 1 3
TR 7 - - ZTX4 5 0
TR 8 / TR 9 - - B C 1 8 4
M I S C E L L A N E O U S
R e f e r e n c e D e s c r i p t i o n M a n u f a c t u r e r /
Part N u mb e r
R E G 5 V r e g u l a t o r 78 05
M O D U H F M o d u l a t o r wi t h E 3 6 A st ec
v i s i o n c a r r i e r ( U K o n l y ) U M 1 2 3 3
L o u d s p e a k e r 4 0 ohm T . V . Type
M o d u l a t o r S creen 1 74 0
I n s u l a t o r
Heatsink Special (Issue 2 or 3)
R e g u l a t o r F i x i n g s ( l ) S cr ew, ch hd. 4 B A x 1 5 / 1 6 i n
( 2 ) Wa s h e r , s h k p r f , 4 B A
( 3 ) N u t , he x, 4 B A
O I L SKT 16-way (10-off) for 48k
e x p a n s i o n RAM (16k m o d e l o n l y )
O I L SKT 14-way (2-off) for 48k
e x p a n s i o n RAM (16k m o d e l o n l y )
O I L SKT 28-way for IC1 (ULA)
GENERAL DATA
E a r l i e s t ver s i o n - very p a l e brown keys.
S econd ver s i o n - grey keys
Thi r d/ F o ur t h ver s i o ns - grey keys, but he a t s i nk now v i s i b l e t hr o ug h t he edge
connector slot
E ar l y S pectrum p l u s - same as f o ur t h type.
D i s s embl y - af t er removi ng t he screws, t i l t back, face up and
c a r e f ul l y l i f t t he top t a k i n g care not t o break any
of the keyboard t a i l s .
H eat si nk - when operati ng computer wi t h the heat s i nk removed to
o bt ai n access a temporary heat si nk must be used made
of anyt hi ng as l o ng as i t f i t s under r eg ul at o r .
C i r c u i t D i ag r am - i deal i s ed versi on on centre pages shows a l l mo d i f i c -
at i o ns wh i c h s ho ul d be made. N ote t hat c o nne c t i ng
i tems such as standard capaci t o r s may not be shown.
E dge C onnector - 2 8 p i n do ubl e- si ded to wh i c h no i nt er f ace may be
i nserted or removed wh i l s t computer i s swi t ched on.
Pl u g s & C ables - use only g enui ne S i ncl ai r i ssue or H K p l u g s , etc.
Power S upply - Where any po s s i bi l i t y of f l u c t u a t i n g ma i n s exi sts a
t r ansi ent suppressor s h o u l d be f i t t e d.
L i n k s - T1 / T3 for Texas TH S 4 5 3 2 - 3 ; T1 / T4 f o r Texas TM S 4 5 3 2 - 4
1 / H for O KI H S H 3 73 2 H ; 1 / L for O KI M S M 3 7 3 2 - L .
Other Service/Repair Manuals by T.I.S. Include:-
Rank A823 CTV Chassis
Philips G8 CTV Chassis
Thorn 3000/3500 CTV Chassis
Thorn 8000/8004/8500/8600 CTV Chassis
Rank T20/20A CTV Chassis
The Tunbridge & McCourt T.V. Repair Manuals
The Tunbridge Video Repair Manuals
SERVICE DATA
M o d i f i c a t i o n of e a r p l u g : C onnect a 3 3 0 ohm resi stor between s i g n a l and ear t h
l eads o f e a r pl ug t o a l l o w e a r p l u g t o be l e f t i n pl ace wh i l e s a vi ng a pr o g r amme.
I ns er t i ng or removi ng such i tems as j o yst i cks, e s pe c i a l l y vi a a Kempst o n
i nterface, whi l e the computer i s swi tched on wi l l damage the power resi stors
and r eg ul at o r .
M o d i f i c a t i o n t o vo l t ag e generator ci r cui t : Where not f i t t e d a l r e a dy, i nsert a
2 2 uf capaci tor between the TR 4 and D 1 5 as shown i n the ci r cui t di ag r am, t h i s
wi l l ensure the correct 1 2v suppl y. O n earl y models repl ace R 60 by a 2 70 ohm
resi stor and f i t C 74 i f mi s s i n g . E nsure t hat the 1 2v suppl y i s 1 2 v.
M a n u f a c t u r e r ' s advi sed mo di f i c a t i o ns : I n earl y ver s i o ns r epl ace al l cer ami c
capaci tors by axi al ones and replace C 4 6 by a hi gh- temperature luf type. A l l
resi stors to be chang ed to show the second val ue show i n centre pages ci r cui t
di ag r am herei n; same a p p l i e s t o capaci tors.
Weak sound: O nl y i f p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t i c e a b l e s h o u l d t he sound sect i on be
changed to same as shown he r e i n.
Tape and S ound C i r c ui t s : 5 V p- p at ear socket for 2 V p- p at I C 1 ver i f i es I C 1 .
A l i g n me n t : O n l y needed for earl y model s. Pl ace meter on pi n 4 of I C 4 and
adj ust V R 1 to obt ai n 1 3 0mV ; adj ust V R 2 to obtai n - 75 raV at pi n 2 wi t h a 2 0mV
a l l o wa b l e error ei t her way. U se TC 2 to set colour subcarri er frequency to
4 . 4 3 3 61 9 M H z to 5 0H z ei t her way. TC I o nl y h e l p f u l to i mprove screen co l o ur
pat t er n.
A l i g n me n t : A l l mo de l s . R un t he pro g ramme t o di s pl a y the ei ght co l o ur s i n
sequence f r o m bl ack t o wh i t e . Thi s i s n o r ma l l y gi ven as: -
10 FOR A=0 TO 7
20 FOR B=0 TO 3
30 PAPER A: PRINT" ";
40 NEXT B
50 NEXT A
60 GOTO 10
If t h i s shows incorrect or m i s s i n g colours then a l i g n as stated for early
m o d e l s . See repair data for later models.
3
R E PA I R D A TA
1 ) G E N E R A L R E PA I R PR O C E D U R E A N D N O TE S O N A L L F A U L TS
These computers are reportedly very u n r e l i a b l e wi t h some 5 0% of new
ones alleged to have to be ret urned for replacement. M any faul t s are due to
loose or badl y f i t t e d components so t hat a good checkover i s essenti al for t hi s
reason, to determi ne i f a factory f a i l u r e f i r s t .
;
C heck heatsi nk fi rst for any reported f a u l t , i s i t loose? A re there
overti ghtened screws? L ook for dry j oi nts, cracks i n pri nt or cracked boards,
badl y f i t t e d co mpo nent s, e s pe c i a l l y I C s; di r t y o r t a r n i s h e d co nt act s, p i n s ,
h o l d e r s , edge connect ors; damaged keyboard t a i l s and f i n s are c e r t a i n l y no t
uncommon for whatever reason.
B efore i nve s t i g a t i ng any f a u l t check any add- ons and i nterfaces to the
co mput er for broken so l der , etc. caused by user wi g g l i n g them about. I t i s
a l s o e s s e nt i a l t o note i f add- on i s loose or f a u l t y whi c h w i l l gi ve a gui de t o
any damage so caused. Thi s w i l l al so det ermi ne i f f a ul t i n add- on not
co mput er. Kno wi ng what add- ons are used can be a good gui de to pro babl e f a ul t :
for e xa mpl e , suspect TR 4 bl own and/ or destroyed R A M S i f a Kempton i s used.
C heck i f customer has been i ns e r t i ng or removi ng any add- ons wi t ho ut
f i r s t s wi t c h i n g off and po i nt out how t hi s pr act i ce has damaged ma c hi ne and
c o s t i n g h i m unnecessary expendi t ur e. I f t hi s i s admi t t ed then check TR 4 fi rst
t hen R A M S and see symptom 3 .
2 } WO N T L O A D F R O M R E C O R D E R
A l mo st i n v a r i a b l y t h i s w i l l be caused by t he a l i g n me n t o f t he recorder
head not bei ng good eno ug h. The recorder w i l l pl a y mus i c , etc. and f u n c t i o n
w e l l but i t w i l l s t i l l need adj ust ed t o operate t he S pectrum properly and i t
mat t er s not whet her i t i s an o l d or j ust newly bought recorder.
D i sco nnect S pectrum f r o m recorder and wi t h any tape pl a yi ng use a l o ng
t h i n - b l a d e d screwdri ver t o adj ust t he a zi mu t h screw t hr o ug h the ho l e n o r ma l l y
pr o vi ded for t hi s purpo se. The obj ect i s to o bt ai n the sharpest po ssi bl e
s o undi ng no t e, no t i ng that i f note i s i n t he least mu f f l e d s o undi ng t hen t here
i s no chance of t he S pectrum l o adi ng from i t.
I f no ho l e i s pr o vi ded t hi s s h o u l d be done wi t h the recorder cover
removed. A l t h o u g h i t i s reccomnended t hat vo l ume s ho ul d be set at mi d p o i n t i t
i s far better to vary volume set t i ng to that at whi ch maxi mum t r ebl e i s
o bt a i ne d. F i n a l l y g i ve head a good cl ean and r echeck s et t i ng .
I f the adj ust ment does not cure the pr o bl em then save a short programme
f r o m the computer (or use one pr e vi o us l y saved) and i f t hi s do es n' t load t hen
i t i s safe to assume that t here i s a f a u l t , pr o babl y i n the computer. I n t hi s
case, check connecti ons to computer and the ci rcui t f r o m the edge connector to
t he f i r s t I . C .
4
Early circuit showing
presets Td, TC2, VRl
and VR2 to match the
early type boards.
Note:- the different
p i n s 16/17 setup from
Id in the generalised
c i r c u i t d i a g r a m shown
in the m i d d l e pages.
In very versions
t
instead of TR6 a
somewhat u n r e l i a b l e , resistor/diode
was used w h i c h s h o u l d be m o d i f i e d
as shown in the centre pages.
This very u n r e l i a b l e circuit was used
in very early versions from p i n 32 to
base of Id. This circuit s h o u l d be
m o d i f i e d to that shown in the centre
pages if not already done.
Modifications associated with IC1
3 ) N O C O I L B U ZZ F R O M I N V E R T E R , - 5 V A B S E N T
From symptom 1 it should be obvious that TR4 (ZTX650) is very prone to
damage and t h i s symptom is a sure indication that TR4 must be replaced. How-
ever, before replacing the TR4 check the TR5 (ZTX213) (using a transistor
tester is O.K.) and the c o i l since it is not unk nown for a l l three to have gone
at the same time and if o n l y the TR4 is replaced it can fail again immediately
if the others are faulty.
Whether or not these three are faulty or not, there can be one or more
faulty RAMS as w e l l caused possibly by the same forcing in of an interface
during switch on. If a l l else has been fixed, switch on and check if any RAM
gets hot; replace any very hot RAMS either in basic set or in extra board as
t h i s is a sure sign of b e i n g short circuit. If open circuit, the guickest way
to check is to bye-pass each RAM in turn using a RAM known to be O.K. When so
doing the same RAM must be used as the suspect and it s h o u l d not be removed
after each check for some ten seconds after each switch off or it w i l l fault
itself. Use of a 'scope or logic probe is clearly a better a l t e r n a t i v e if
a v a i l a b l e . Tandy m < t k e a good, inexpensive logic probe.
4) DIRECT CHECK FOR A SINGLE FAULTY RAM
Type P R I N T P E E K 2 3 73 2 +2 5 6 * PE E K 2 3 73 3 ( C R ) . I f computer R A M S O . K. t he
repl y i s ei t her 3 2 767 or 8 5 5 3 5 , i f less t han ei t her t hi s means t hat t here i s a
shortage of avai l abl e R A M S , t hus one or more R A M S may be f aul t y.
C a l l t he r e pl y N and i f PO KE N +1 ,8 5 (C R ) t hen P R I N T PE E K N +l (C R ) i s
typed the r e p l y s h o u l d be 8 5 i f R A M S O . K . , i n t hat case type PO KE N +1 ,1 70 (C R )
then PR I N T PE E K N +l (C R ) when a di fferent number to the 1 70 you have j ust poked
i nt o t hat address w i l l be pr i nt ed. 8 5 and 1 70 are the easi est bi nar y numbers
(01 01 01 01 and 1 01 01 01 0) to cover all combi nati ons i n an 8 - bi t chi p.
Where a di fferent reply i s gi ven to ei ther PO KE locate the i ncorrect 1 C
as f o l l o ws : -
Where 8 5 i s poked i n
I C 6 faul t y gi ves 8 4 ; I C 7 8 7; I C 8 8 1 ; I C 9 9 3 ; IC 1 0 69 ; IC1 1 117; IC 1 2
2 1 ; I C 1 3 2 1 3 .
Where 1 70 i s poked i n
IC 1 5 f a u l t y gi ves 1 71 ; IC 1 6 1 58 ; I C 1 7 1 74 ; IC 1 8 1 62; IC 1 9 1 8 6; I C 2 0
1 38 ; I C 2 1 2 3 4 ; I C 2 2 4 2 .
5 ) N O C O I L B U ZZ F R O M I N V E R TE R , R E G 78 05 O PE N C I R C U I T
B efore r epl aci ng the 78 05 check the heat si nk to see i f f a ul t y or badl y
f i t t ed. R emedy any physi cal defect i n pri nt or damage around screws, etc.
A l s o check t he TR 4 / 5 and c o i l .
6) C O N TI N U A L F A I L U R E O F PO WE R S U PPL Y TR A N S I S TO R S
E ns ur e t hat a l l mo d i f i c a t i o n s have been carri ed out and t hat t he edge
connector i s O . K . and not loose or, damaged. C heck for proper f i t t i ng of all
p e r i p h e r a l s and ve r i f y t hat owner i s not pe r s i s t e nt l y i ns e r t i ng / r e mo vi ng any of
the add- o ns , etc. wh i l e the computer i s swi t ched on. N o t e t hat many users are
a ppa r e nt l y i n c a p a b l e o f g r a s pi ng t h i s s i mpl e p o i n t . C heck t he pl ug / so cket s and
c a b l e , i f not s ui t a bl e t hen r e pl a c e wi t h correct ones. C heck t he ma i ns and
po s s i bl e i nterference from other i tems on same ci r cui t .
I f sat i sf i ed t hen check i f the O v i s correct on eart h. M o ni t o r the O v
w h i l e runni ng computer as t hi s nay shew up an i ntermi ttent vol t age f a u l t . A
systemati c check o n a l l capaci t o r s . r es i s t o r s t o eart h s ho ul d f i n d t he c u l p r i t
f o r t h i s uncommon cause.
7 ) K E Y B O A R D F A U L TS
I t i s recommended that keyboards are better repl aced completely si nce
they take a lot of bat t er i ng and repl acement i s g ui t e i nexpensi ve. I f i t i s
deci ded that the keyboard i s worth r e pa i r i ng then tha di agram wi l l show whi ch
t a i l i s f a u l t y accordi ng to keys i n error.
I f the ent i re keyboard i s n o n - f u n c t i o n a l then check the 5 v suppl y i s
r eachi ng i t O . K. befo re r epl aci ng the U L A I . C . Pr o babl y the commonest f aul t
l i es wi t h a f a u l t y 1 0K resi stor ( R 65 t o R 6 9 ) e a s i l y i de nt i f i e d acco r di ng t o
wh i c h keyboard co9 1 umn i s f a u l t y .
8 ) V A R I O U S F A U L TS WH I C H A PPE A R O N L Y WH E N WA R M
Check heatsink thoroughly. If heatsink is O.K. then the ULA I.C. IC1
w i l l be the cause. If IC1 has been replaced before it may be worth a d d i n g
extra heatsink for it. See also f o l l o w i n g symptom.
9) I N TERMI TTEN T FAULTS
If such faults show up w i t h a c o m o a r i t i v e l y new Spectrum then it is
most l i k e l y that they are due to poor contacts/soldering during the
m a n u f a c t u r i n g process. Check a l l h o l d e r s and p i n s for tarnish and dry joints.
Re p l a c e faulty h o l d e r s by cutting them out and r e p l a c i n g c o m p l e t e l y . Check
after t h i s for poor contacts or loose contacts, look for items which have been
p o o r l y s o l d e r e d or even where s o l d e r i n g has been omitted. F i n a l l y check the
b o a r d s for h a i r l i n e cracks and breaks, e s p e c i a l l y r a d i a t i n g from heatsink
screws.
1 0) TE XA S S N 1 8 8 9 I N S TE A D O F L H A 8 8 9
A few mo del s appeared wi t h the S N versi o n and these may even have been
used as replacements d u r i n g r epai r s. A l t h o u g h u n l i k e l y t o f i n d now, i f S N
types have been used replace c o mpl e t e l y by L H type.
11) PO WE R S U PPL Y O . K. - C O M PU TE R N O T WO R KI N G C O R R E C TL Y
;
I f computer i s f u n c t i o n i n g at al l check for s i ng l e R A M f a i l ur e t hen
mu l t i p l e R A M f a i l u r e as al ready descri bed. I f R A M S are O . K . or f a u l t i s more
seri ous and R A M S cannot be checked then check i f the 5 v supply i s reachi ng all
I . C . s i n order I C 1 , 2 , 2 4 , 2 3 , 3 , 4 , 2 6, 2 5 and 5 . R e pl a c e the open c i r c ui t
component c ut t i ng off the 5 v s uppl y i f t hi s i s the case. ,'
F aul t y or mi s s i n g sound u s u a l l y i dent i f i es t he U L A I . C . I C 1 as bei ng
f a u l t y and t hi s i s the most l i k e l y suspect i n any case. F l i c k the clock
crystal wi t h your f i ng er , t hi s w i l l gui ckly determi ne i f i t i s faul t y or not.
A l t h o u g h I . C . s are best checked out s ys t emat i cal l y us i ng a l o g i c probe
or even a 'scope, i t i s worth not i ng that after I C 1 the most li kely culpri ts
are I C 2 and I C 5 , nei t her of whi ch are p a r t i c u l a r l y r e l i a b l e and i t may even be
wo rt h r e pl a c i ng the three a ut o ma t i c a l l y as a fast check.
1 2) PE R M A N E N T I . C . C H E C KE R F O R L O G I C PR O B E U S E
I f a l ogi c probe i s a v a i l a b l e i t i s we l l wo rt h maki ng a t abl e of t he
r esul t s of checki ng each 1 C pi n wi t h a good computer swi tched on wi t h keyboard
di sconnect ed. Thus when any computer i s bei ng tested all that i s needed i s to
compare t he readi ngs wi t h your correct set and t he di f f er ent readi ngs w i l l
qu i c k l y pi npo i nt the f a u l t s .
1 3) F L I C KE R I N G WH I TE B A C KG R O U N D - M A Y B E C A U S I N G E Y E S TR A I N
If resetting the computer doesn't h e l p , which is not uncommon if a CTV
is b e i n g used, then the only thing is to set up the computer to display a
coloured background w i t h white printing. See spectrum manual for this, but
green is the most relaxing background. Save this programme and load it every
time Spectrum is not being used for games.
1 4 ) S PA R E PA R TS S U PPL I E R S
A t t i me of p r i n t i n g t he most po pul a r s u p p l i e r s appear to be: -
C PC E l e c t r o ni c C omponents, 1 9 4 N o r t h R o ad, Prest on, L anes.
PV Tubes, 1 04 A bbey S treet, A c c r i ng t o n, L anes. B B S 1 E E .
Thi s li st may be amended i n f ut ur e pr i nt i ng s .
/ /