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Too much other work - you might have noticed that we've had a crunch time weekend for Indivision ECS V4. Also, I usually don't do the repairs - shop staff does. They just report back if there's a stopper (like cost needing approval) or if something is finished. They do a good job of keeping this away from me, so I can focus on development.
Jens
I usually don't respond when there's nothing new to say.
Jens
When passing by Andreas' table just now, I saw that tThe box with your accelerators is on his table. Looks like he'll look at them tomorrow.
Jens
ACA1221ec tested: Mechanically damaged (RapidRoad connector bent up, contacts broken), has been worked on before, weak solder pads on the CPLDs: I'd rather not work on that, as a total PCB failure may be the result.
ACA1221lc tested: Can't see any problem with that. Tried saving a few different speed settings, got no error.
What power supply have you been using when doing your tests that claimed "flash error"?
Jens
Do you have any NOS stock of them?
No, the ACA1221ec is completely sold out, and even safety stock is depleted. I don't know why people wanted the ACA1221ec so badly - the ACA1221lc is faster, offers more memory, it has the better software support, allows saving settings in flash and offers the IDE speeder for fast reads. All this isn't available in the ACA1221ec.
Best thing I can offer is to see if there's an ACA1221lc that failed optical test, but passes all funcional tests - I could offer that for a lower price in exchange for the parts of the ACA1221ec.
The 1221lc I have had for a few years and always ran brilliantly until last year when it refused to flash 14mhz sync. The PSU's used were a stock A500 psu and a Retrohax.de psu.
The original PSU might need a new set of output caps.
Retrohax PSUs use Meanwell chassis. They are known-bad, as they regulate their voltage for their local output, not knowing that there is a long cable where voltage drops on load. People often dismiss my warnings, because "it works for others" - mostly on non-expanded Amigas. Reality is that most Amigas these days are heavily expanded, and Meanwell-nased, but also original PSUs are overloaded - not from a wattage point of view; the chassis is strong enough, but the cable and input filter of the Amiga lose to much voltage that components are over the edge of not-working often enough for people to believe that the last thing they put in there (mostly flicker fixers or accelerators) is defective. This is where the CA-PSU comes in: It has solved all of the power problems that we've ever discussed in this forum, and it'll have you covered for the next years, as it's built with longevity in mind: No liquid electrolyte in capacitors that may turn dry, but solid polymer caps (yep, the expensive ones). Voltage drop on the cable AND the input filter of the board is compensated for dynamically, and a number of protection circuits make sure that nothing can get damaged (such as by switching off and on again too quickly).
Long story short: It's OK to power a stock A500 or A1200 with A-Power, such a hacked CPU or that other stuff you can buy on eBay, Ama*on or wherever. However, as soon as you add some accessories, voltage drop on the cable becomes a problem. Read more about the details in our PSU FAQ.
Jens
Even worse - that's the unit I tested during my preparations for the seminar - the one with the dangerous hickup mode when overloaded. Another "even worse"-point is that "the retrohax PSU" isn't even consistent - it's just whatever PSU chassis he found? Man, this PSU topic is really a swamp...
Essentially, the Cisco unit has the same problem: The unit does not know about the cable between source and sink, and therefore does not compensate for the voltage drop. Not what you want.
Jens
Display MoreACA1221ec tested: Mechanically damaged (RapidRoad connector bent up, contacts broken), has been worked on before, weak solder pads on the CPLDs: I'd rather not work on that, as a total PCB failure may be the result.
ACA1221lc tested: Can't see any problem with that. Tried saving a few different speed settings, got no error.
What power supply have you been using when doing your tests that claimed "flash error"?
Jens
Hi Jens. I double checked my records and the ACA 1221ec card was bought new by me from Amigakit April last year. So no it's not a second-hand unit. I received it in working condition and I have been very careful with storage of it. Would you mind repairing or replacing it? Invoice attached.
We delivered this card in 2019 to AmigaKit. The ACA1221ec was long sold out in 2023.
It is mechanically damaged: The RapidRoad connector is bent up and a few pins are broken. Someone must have pushed on that connector and might have slipped. This is most likely not the cause of the "not working" condition, but since the CPLD pads are close to coming off the circuit board, I prefer not to work on this card, as it will most likely result in a total loss (i.e.: We do the work, but can't charge for it because it's not successful - note that we don't charge for unsuccessful repairs).
Again, I can offer to take this cad in for parts and make a good deal for an ACA1221lc that has a cosmetic "issue", but fully passes all tests. Andreas just confirmed that we have one such card that has a repaired trace near the clock port. My offer would be a flat 100,- EUR for that card in exchange for the parts of the ACA1221ec. You'll have more speed, more usable memory, the IDE speeder and better software support.
What's with the RTC module you've included? The battery is empty and the battery holder has a small plastic part broken off. You don't mention this thing anywhere. What shall we do with it? Test it? New battery holder doesn't seem necessary, as the battery is still kept in there nicely with safe contact.
Jens
Does the 1221ec boot at your location?
No, just a black screen.
The A1200 the ec is out of is running an ACA 1230 atm. I prefer the ec for the form factor which is appreciable in the wedge case of the A1200.
The form factor of ACA1221ec and ACA1221lc is exactly the same, down to a tenth of a millimeter. That's because I designed the lc to use the same solder frames as the ACA1221ec.
The ACA1230 is about the same form factor.
If the 1221lc is booting and syncing to 14mhz and flashing correctly, I wonder why it won't here?
Again, you've been using power supplies that are sold with false advertising. Not a single non-iComp-aftermarket-PSU employs cable drop compensation, and voltage fluctuations on the VCC rail can always result in flash problems. Note that the flash is not a separate component on the ACA1221lc, but it's part of the microcontroller (which you called "FET" if I remember right). Further, please note that it's just a hunch right now. We use proper power supplies in testing - only during developoment, I use an old A600 power supply even with old caps.
Maybe an environmental variable?
It's pretty warm in Germany right now - probably the same kind of weather you're currently experiencing in Australia (yes, your hot winter is a topic here, too). If you call the quality of your power source an environmental variable, I'd say yes (though I'm of course not sure why it just works here).
The RTC module I didn't check. It would have been with whatever card it was with. IIRC it was purchased from Sordan IE.
That's unlikely, as Sordan is not an iComp reseller (he did express interest, though, and with our new 2024 welcome-all-resellers-policy, it's totally up to him). These units do have a unique ID, but thats only on the manual, not the unit itself, so if you still have the manual, you could use your phone and scan the bar code at the top, then I can tell you where we've sold it to (not that it would make any sense.. just nice to know).
Jens
Hi Jens. If I pay for repair, would Andreas or whomever be prepared to attempt a repair on the 1221ec card whether successful or not?
Again, not only are chances small that we'll get it to work, it'll be quesionable if it remains that way - which is why I'd prefer not to work on this card, as I have to give warranty on that repair.
I've made you an offer for a card that has more power for a price that's likely lower than what you'd pay for the repair.
I bought it new from Amigakit and have only had it a little over a year, installed for part of that time. I haven't roughly handled it and unless Amigakit sold me a product return, it hasn't been worked on. I can only assume any damage occurred in transit to Germany.
The damage is obvious on the connector: Someone must have slipped while pushing it in on the connector - the opposite of what the manual says. Things like this don't happen in transit.
I don't like the idea of going to the trouble of sending it all that way and no outcome.
I've offered you an outcome of having a better card for a good price - full warranty. Why do you want to hold on to the ec when the lc is superior in every aspect?
Jens
The last reply was more than 365 days ago, this thread is most likely obsolete. It is recommended to create a new thread instead.
