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| Rom-inator issues | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 15:24:41 Okay Iām here to admit complete defeat. I cleaned the ROM sockets on the logic board like someone suggested and now I get the picture shown. I suspect that not knowing what I was doing, I ruined the existing sockets. So neither the stock rom nor the ROMINATOR work on this Mac Plus. Time to query folks for spare parts š | |
Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 15:28:34Okay Iām here to admit complete defeat. I cleaned the ROM sockets on the logic board like someone suggested and now I get the picture shown. I suspect that not knowing what I was doing, I ruined the existing sockets. So neither the stock rom nor the ROMINATOR work on this Mac Plus. Time to query folks for spare parts š | |
Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-14 15:31:40Time to query folks for spare partsYou should just need to desolder and replace the existing sockets, and if you did with machine pin females, it would connect properly with your Rominator. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 15:39:51 idk, I think I might just get a new logic board. I don't even know what kind of sockets I need. You have any idea? Also, the holes on the logic board are a bitch to desolder. | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-14 15:50:29 Why replace an entire logic board over 2 DIP sockets that are .75c? Yeah, desoldering can be a pain, but it seems wasteful to not just repair it. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 15:58:37 I don't have a lot of faith in my ability to repair this thing. I think it's worth a shot, but I'd like to have a back up as well. Do you know what kind of sockets I need? I looked on Google and didn't have much luck. | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-14 16:08:39 The main issue (revisiting my old point) is that rominators are usually assembled with wider pins than a normal EPROM has. This sadly results in this situation. I actually applaud knowing your limit. This is certainly a fixable situation, but not a board to practice on. I'm not near my computer, I'll post more about replacement options later. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 16:13:06 As always I appreciate your knowledge and help. | |
Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 17:21:18The main issue (revisiting my old point) is that rominators are usually assembled with wider pins than a normal EPROM has. This sadly results in this situation.The ROMinator has wider pins? How would that create a problem if it snaps into the socket? I can see how the pins being too SMALL would make a difference b/c of bad contacts but not if they are too BIG. Please explain, no comprende. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-14 17:27:12 I need something like this, don't I? 
12pcs 2.54mm Pitch 15.2mm Row Pitch 2 Row 32 Round Pins Soldering DIP IC Chip Socket AdaptorBuy 12pcs 2.54mm pitch 15.2mm row pitch 2 row 32 round pins soldering dip ic chip socket adaptor at Harfington, get more Connectors & Adapters in various size.
www.harfington.com
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Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-14 20:03:35I need something like this, don't I?Correct, but 32 pin would be for the rominator itself, you'll want a pair of 28 pin ones. Hopefully this picture helps: Rominator itself takes 2x 32 pin sockets, I personally would use the type in my picture, but I digress. The mac Logic board most likely also has the pictured type ("Dual wipe socket"), but, if you plan on leaving the machine pin rominator alone you could use a 28 pin socket with the round pin holes (like the one you linked, just less pins). Alternately, you can literally cut 2 strips of headers the correct length, but I recommend a full socket ideally. So in this photo there is an EEPROM which is used for the Hi/Lo on the rominator, pictured with the socket I would use. Note the leg width. Then pictured are standard square pin headers, most breadboarders have piles of these, as well as a strip of proper female pins. Also, the round machined pins/sockets. As you see the square and round pins are wider than the EEPROM pins. If the rominator were to be installed with machined round, or square, pins, it would widen the socket on the logic board. This could be problematic for reinstallation of factory roms. In the upper right are the "right" pins, but I haven't soldered them by hand yet. I will learn soon enough... Hopefully this helps clear it all up, sorry if I rambled or was redundant. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-15 03:05:49 Thank you for this explanation! I think I should have found a "practice" logic board to mess with when playing with ROMs and sockets. It seems pretty clear to me that I ruined the existing sockets by attempting to install the ROMinator and then "cleaning". They aren't making good contact anymore with the ROM chips. So, I think the plan is to purchase two new sockets with the 28 rounded holes to RE-ATTEMPT to install the ROMinator. I'll desolder the old and replae. I'm also going to get a backup logic board in case I totally f-up the repair. That way I won't have a useless Mac Plus. What do you think? | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-15 04:04:37 Sounds like a pretty good plan to me! If you want to practice on something that isn't a logic board, any old sports title for Sega Genesis should do, to give you the whole DIP removal experience š | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-15 09:00:30 Starting to assemble my own Rominator. The SMD chip is on perfectly, so hopefully the rest isn't bad. I can see why people use machine header pins, they are much easier to install by hand it would seem. I'm still debating on if I want to even try installing these thinner pins manually, but I think I'll give it a go. Gotta learn some time I suppose. | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-15 10:16:43 Time to burn some EEPROMs š Edit: burned and ready to install. Will see if I can get to it tonight / this week, I'm excited now. | |
| Posted by: mloret on 2022-06-15 11:37:00 Would you help me with the corrupted EEPROMS? | |
Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-15 11:54:40Would you help me with the corrupted EEPROMS?Yeah, PM me your address and I can burn you a fresh pair, or you can mail yours to me for testing and reprogramming, either way. | |
| Posted by: Skate323k137 on 2022-06-16 08:20:32 Well, I was able to make one of these using the proper pins, but installing it was a very delicate task. Regardless, I am up and running. I sent another set off the same EEPROMS I used to @mloret so hopefully he can get this sorted. I was able to boot from a FloppyEMU and update the ROM Disk and startup sound as well. | |
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