[time-nuts] pts 160 power problem

[GandalfG8 at aol.com]

In a message dated 25/02/2011 17:13:01 GMT Standard Time,  
dave.mallery at gmail.com writes:

i tried  another more robust 5v supply, but that goes to 4.5v and ng output.

i  removed each of the plug-in decades, one at a time, looking for the  
guilty
one.  no joy.  i also removed the left rear module (uses  5v).  the other 
two
modules only use 12v. which is fine.

has  anyone been here before?  could it be a problem in the backplane (a  
work
of art, btw)?



---------------
Hi Dave
 
 
I've used quite a few of these and have never yet experienced an  actual 
component failure, obviously not saying it can't happen just that  once sorted 
yours should remain pretty reliable.
 

As John already suggested I'd also look for possible fautly tantalums or  
other capacitors across the supply but would also suggest removing all the  
modules from the motherboard at the same time before proceeding any furter  
and checking if the symptoms still persist.
I know what you've done has probably eliminated the modules but it  would 
be a shame to tear into the backplane if you just happened to have more  than 
one faulty module.
 
I did once receive a previously working PTS160 by post that refused to play 
 and eventually located a very small solder blob, presumably  from inside 
the associated module, that had dropped into an edge  connector and wedged 
between a couple of pins, that was fun:-)
 
If you haven't already found it there's a manual for the PT160 on Didier's  
site.........
 
_http://www.ko4bb.com/cgi-bin/manuals.pl?dir=05%29_GPS_Timing/PTS_ 
(http://www.ko4bb.com/cgi-bin/manuals.pl?dir=05)_GPS_Timing/PTS) 
 
regards
 
Nigel
GM8PZR