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Sinclair QL Repair

Sinclair QL #1 Repair

Defect:

  • White Screen (RAM problem)

Replaced parts:

  • Replaced 3 x 4264 RAM

Note:

I took the opportunity to install the Minerva Rom v1.98 to identify the faulty ram. Thanks to the Minerva ROM i have identified 2 of 3 Ram failed.

  • Ram Location $1F340 (IC9)
  • Ram Location $3D040 (IC10)
  • Ram Location $30910 (IC16)

Sinclair QL #2 Repair

Defect:

  • White Screen / Black Screen / Garbage Screen / Annoying Background Sound

Replaced parts:

  • Voltage regulator (7805) fault. In input we have 9v and in output 9v instead of 5v.

Note:

Incredibly nothing is exploded ;-D

  1. Viktor
    June 21st, 2015 at 15:01 | #1

    Hello,
    i see that You have a lotz of experience for repairing QL Computers.
    Can You please take a look of this picture?
    http://www.mediafire.com/view/t3qe1al898ilqh7/QL.JPG
    My QL gone broken and Insert of Minerva rom doesent help me further to diagnose it.
    All i know that the 74LS245 is ok, and it doesent seem to be a ram fault. I’ve took a working QL from my friend, and tested ULAS, CPU and all chips, all work as it should on other computer so im stuck and need a little help..
    with best regards,
    Viktor

  2. June 23rd, 2015 at 09:23 | #2

    @Viktor

    Hi Viktor,

    You have tried if the Voltage regulator (7805) it works ? Output = 5v.

  3. Viktor
    June 23rd, 2015 at 22:45 | #3

    @xAD / nIGHTFALL
    Hello and thank You very much for Your reply,
    Yes, it was first iv’e checked, i have replaced it with new one, i noticed, that one capacitor (470uF) was burned out, thick one under the Heatsink, so i replaced it, ive checked the power on RAM & ROMS, it is 4.9v on VCC so i think there is nothing wrong with power circuit.
    also i have got a Minerva rom from Rich, to make a RAM test possible, but installing it makes any difference – i see same squares, no changes. there are changes when i start the QL without ROM chip – i have black screen then, with no squares.
    I forgot to say, it is a Issue 5 motherboard, and actually i have buyed it broken, so i dont realy know what exacly previos owner have done with it. I see that there are some changes and modifications done. IC17 is removed, the JU2, JU3 and JU4 are dridged, and JU1 & JUt5 are removed. I realy stuck and i don’t know where to start, i have many ZX Spectrum repairing experience but i have not repaired QL’s till now…

  4. Tomas
    December 8th, 2017 at 09:04 | #4

    Ciao,
    Repairing two MDV units, due to faulty R/W heads, one head replaced with a spare salvaged from otherwise dead units. I am looking for one more head. Can be extracted from faulty QL/ZX drives. Should measure 16/16/96 ohms across 2xRead a 1xerase coils.
    Can you help?
    Grazie tanto.
    T.

  5. September 18th, 2019 at 02:50 | #5

    I have a ql. that when i plug it into the monitor the screen says f1 for f2 when I push the monitor its not working the tv works i think the color is off though? do you fix them still?

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