General Stuff(tm)

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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

I replaced the battery in my Dad's Google Pixel XL tonight... I still need to get some good adhesive the stick the screen on by it seems to be charging and the screen works.

The original battery was a tad puffy:

IMG_2541.jpg
IMG_2541.jpg (59.82 KiB) Viewed 1438 times
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

And more battery fun: I now have a proper BIOS battery (AAA cell) holder for the 486.

IMG_2542.jpg
IMG_2542.jpg (56.32 KiB) Viewed 1432 times

The new feet for the case should arrive tomorrow. Whoever put the machine together originally forgot to stick the feet on so the machine rocks on the screw heads on the bottom. Not good.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
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rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Mon Jan 10, 2022 7:00 pm I replaced the battery in my Dad's Google Pixel XL tonight... I still need to get some good adhesive the stick the screen on by it seems to be charging and the screen works.

The original battery was a tad puffy:
IMG_2541.jpg
That looks particularly unhealthy!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Tomswork
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by Tomswork »

The battery looks more like a shipping package 📦


Tom
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stephen_usher
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Yeah, that battery has seen better days, and it's not been used much either.

This morning I had a quick look on eBay for AT power supplies, as having a known good spare is always useful.

I was shocked to find that PSUs which would have sold for £20-£30 in the mid 90s are on sale for £60-£80!!!! Yikes!
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 9:19 am Yeah, that battery has seen better days, and it's not been used much either.

This morning I had a quick look on eBay for AT power supplies, as having a known good spare is always useful.

I was shocked to find that PSUs which would have sold for £20-£30 in the mid 90s are on sale for £60-£80!!!! Yikes!
I wonder if the prices are being pushed up by a demand for retro gear? I don't recall paying that much for an AT PSU back in the day when I was building my own PCs.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

These are not individual sales and seem to be by one or two sellers, so I'm guessing that they've hiked the prices just to see how high they can take it. I saw someone trying to sell a 300W AT PSU for ~£140!
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 10:19 am These are not individual sales and seem to be by one or two sellers, so I'm guessing that they've hiked the prices just to see how high they can take it. I saw someone trying to sell a 300W AT PSU for ~£140!
Wow, that's insane for an AT PSU. I guess rarity adds value.......... (This is me being sarcastic!)

:dizzy:
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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stephen_usher
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Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by stephen_usher »

Companies are definitely having a laugh...

The cheapest of the cheap Lite-On AT PSU... £87.82 exVAT... SAVE £17.38! ;-)

https://harddiskdirect.co.uk/pa-4151-9b ... upply.html

"BEST PRICE" "FAST Shipping" "EASY Returns" "SECURE Ordering" apparently.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
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Posts: 10472
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
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Re: General Stuff(tm)

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Tue Jan 11, 2022 12:55 pm Companies are definitely having a laugh...

The cheapest of the cheap Lite-On AT PSU... £87.82 exVAT... SAVE £17.38! ;-)

https://harddiskdirect.co.uk/pa-4151-9b ... upply.html

"BEST PRICE" "FAST Shipping" "EASY Returns" "SECURE Ordering" apparently.
Blimey, not cheap at all.

Just checked Ali Express and only ATX there, and not particularly cheap at that.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
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