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Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years? [message #337857] Mon, 20 February 2017 19:43 Go to next message
Alex Ander is currently offline  Alex Ander
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Registered: February 2017
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I guess there's a high chance the capacitors have leaked in this time.
Any pre-turning it on checks on the machine?

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Re: Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years? [message #337878 is a reply to message #337857] Tue, 21 February 2017 00:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jonathan Morton is currently offline  Jonathan Morton
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> On 21 Feb, 2017, at 02:43, Alex Ander <photofan@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I guess there's a high chance the capacitors have leaked in this time.
> Any pre-turning it on checks on the machine?

Yes. Look at the electrolytic capacitors, checking for bulging or leaks. PowerMacs are probably okay for the time being - it’s the ‘030s that usually show the problem at the moment - but check anyway.

Also look at the PRAM battery, make sure *that* hasn’t burst. If it has, you may be looking at a difficult repair. Even if it hasn’t, fit a fresh PRAM battery (or just remove the old one) immediately. They don’t normally last more than 5 years with the machine unpowered.

Everything else is robust enough that you can just try it and see. Some moving parts (floppy, CD-ROM, HDD) might have gummed up, but they’re unlikely to cause secondary damage.

- Jonathan Morton

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Re: Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years? [message #337898 is a reply to message #337878] Tue, 21 February 2017 07:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
William is currently offline  William
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Where has it been stored because if its been in somewhere cold remember
that taking it to a warm room from a cold shed will cause condensation on
the metal parts and screen if its got one so let it sit for a day indoors
if possible to even things up and stop shorts. also it could have like
mould build up on the parts and dust so give it a clean off when its warmed
up. Thats just what I do if I get any in I even wait if I get one sent to
me simply because its been in a cold storage van all night.


William


On Tue, Feb 21, 2017 at 5:42 AM, Jonathan Morton <chromatix99@gmail.com>
wrote:

>
>> On 21 Feb, 2017, at 02:43, Alex Ander <photofan@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I guess there's a high chance the capacitors have leaked in this time.
>> Any pre-turning it on checks on the machine?
>
> Yes. Look at the electrolytic capacitors, checking for bulging or leaks.
> PowerMacs are probably okay for the time being - it’s the ‘030s that
> usually show the problem at the moment - but check anyway.
>
> Also look at the PRAM battery, make sure *that* hasn’t burst. If it has,
> you may be looking at a difficult repair. Even if it hasn’t, fit a fresh
> PRAM battery (or just remove the old one) immediately. They don’t normally
> last more than 5 years with the machine unpowered.
>
> Everything else is robust enough that you can just try it and see. Some
> moving parts (floppy, CD-ROM, HDD) might have gummed up, but they’re
> unlikely to cause secondary damage.
>
> - Jonathan Morton
>
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RE: Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years? [message #338011 is a reply to message #337857] Tue, 21 February 2017 22:14 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wesley Furr is currently offline  Wesley Furr
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Registered: September 2012
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Member
I would pop the cover and glance inside, make sure there's nothing obviously
going on...like a mouse nest, metal pieces rattling around loose, etc.
Aside from that, I don't know of any reason not to just give it a try. Only
ones I've heard of needing to do something special are some of the *really*
old machines like the IMSAI or Altair where folks talk about reforming
capacitors and such...but what you're talking about it so much more modern
than that! Check for the obvious and go give it a try!

Wesley


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From: vintage-macs@googlegroups.com [mailto:vintage-macs@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of Alex Ander
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2017 7:44 PM
To: Vintage Macs
Subject: Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years?


I guess there's a high chance the capacitors have leaked in this time.
Any pre-turning it on checks on the machine?



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Re: Would you plug in a powermac after 17+ years? [message #341057 is a reply to message #337857] Mon, 03 April 2017 06:52 Go to previous message
Span is currently offline  Span
Messages: 1
Registered: April 2017
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Junior Member
I powered on an old Classic I had in the attic sitting around for a while
the other day, turns out the kettle lead was shorted directly across the
boards; and tripped the RCDs and made a nice bang.

I would advise doing a visual inspection of the electrolytic capacitors,
and check for obvious shorts.


On Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 1:02:55 AM UTC, Alex Ander wrote:
>
> I guess there's a high chance the capacitors have leaked in this time.
> Any pre-turning it on checks on the machine?
>
>

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