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I won a local auction for an Apple Lisa!!!

Started by berskyboy, August 22, 2026, 11:21:06 AM

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berskyboy

Quote from: stepleton on Today at 03:55:35 AMIf you have a sensitive scale, then before you install the transistors, you might consider weighing the ones that you have, old and new.


thanks for the tip, yup it's 10.8g same as the original.  I weighted all of them.  So this distributor is reputable.

berskyboy

Quote from: sigma7 on September 27, 2026, 06:12:25 PMExcellent. Before you install them, you should check them with the diode test to make sure they look plausibly like transistors. Measure all 6 permutations of red & black to the 3 connections.


I've tested Q1 and Q2 on the board

{7-8, 10-11}   0.00   Q2, Q1 e-b (in parallel with pulse transformer)   Ov, 0v. [0, 0 ]
{8-7, 11-10}   0.00   Q2, Q1 b-e (in parallel with pulse transformer)   0v, 0v. [0, 0  ]
{7-9, 10-12}   0.46   Q2, Q1 e-c [ 0.468, 0.455]
{9-7, 12-10}   inf   Q2, Q1 c-e [OL,OL]
{8-9, 11-12}   0.46   Q2, Q1 b-c [0.468, 0.463]
{9-8, 12-11}   inf   Q2, Q1 c-b [OL, OL]

berskyboy

#182
So I put the testing edge connector and measured around to 5V getting 5V then drops slowly (not as quick as before all the Q1 and Q2 issue).   The 12V rail 11.5v then dropping slowly.

Here's the two videos

5V Rail
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F0PeQeJKY8M

12V Rail
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ScXZ-lT0yqA

Just for a kick this is what Gemini AI said.  (I know you want to keep AI honest) :)

Your videos provide excellent context, showing the voltage initially jumping up to 5.4V on the 5V rail (0:07) and around 11.5V–11.8V on the 12V rail, followed by a slow, gradual decline (0:07).

The fact that the voltage is dropping slowly (and much slower than it did before you resolved the Q1 and Q2 transistor issues) is a massive clue. This behavior points directly to how the Apple Lisa power supply unit (PSU) interacts with a computer that is stripped down on a test bench.

🔍 Why the Voltages are Slowly Dropping
This slow drop is typically caused by two specific hardware behaviors:
1. Lack of a "Minimum Load" (The Most Likely Culprit)
The Lisa's power supply is a switching power supply.
• Switching power supplies require a minimum electrical current draw (a "load") to stay active and regulate their output.
• If you are testing with only the video board connected—or with the main logic board, card cage, and mechanical Twiggy drives removed—the PSU does not sense enough current draw.
• The Result: The PSU triggers its internal over-voltage or under-load protection and shuts down. The "slow drop" you see on your DMM is actually the large filter capacitors inside the power supply slowly draining their stored energy because nothing is consuming the power (0:07).

sigma7

Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 12:24:20 PMJust for a kick this is what Gemini AI said.  (I know you want to keep AI honest) :)

filter capacitors inside the power supply slowly draining their stored energy because nothing is consuming the power (0:07).

This might be a useful point. See if the voltage measured at the load resistors behaves in the same way (test with red and black at the two ends of one resistor, then again with the other resistor).
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

berskyboy

#184
Quote from: sigma7 on Today at 02:06:15 PMThis might be a useful point. See if the voltage measured at the load resistors behaves in the same way (test with red and black at the two ends of one resistor, then again with the other resistor).
 

I re-seated the edge connector, and put alcohol and tested again.  Success 5.37V and 12.49V and it's NOT dropping!

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ptwl7Cb_I84

sigma7

Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 03:21:14 PMSuccess 5.5V and 12.5V and it's NOT dropping!

Yes, it looks like it is now working... congrats.

To finish:
Adjust R11 so that +5 is between 4.9 and 5.1. It may need to be adjusted again once you measure it in the fully assembled Lisa.
Check the +33, -12 and -5V outputs.
Consider adding a small low speed fan to enhance longevity.
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

berskyboy

Quote from: sigma7 on Today at 03:39:09 PMTo finish:
Adjust R11 so that +5 is between 4.9 and 5.1. It may need to be adjusted again once you measure it in the fully assembled Lisa.
Check the +33, -12 and -5V outputs.

Sounds good will adjust R11, do I need to touch R26? 

And how do I check +33V output, would that be while placed in the Lisa?

sigma7

Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 03:52:41 PMdo I need to touch R26? 

And how do I check +33V output

I don't think you need to adjust R26.

If you're going to use a real Widget (the only device which monitors the Power Fail signal AFAIK), then you might need to adjust R26. Perhaps someone else already has a procedure for setting it without a variac?

Check +33, -12 and -5 (those are negative signs) with the same test jig setup you just used to check +12 and +5... ie. don't change anything, just move the red probe.
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

berskyboy

Quote from: sigma7 on Today at 04:11:46 PMheck +33, -12 and -5 (those are negative signs) with the same test jig setup you just used to check +12 and +5... ie. don't change anything, just move the red probe.

it measures -5V when red is on ground on the 5V rail and -11.62V on the 12V rail.  Where is the 33+V test?

sigma7

#189
Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 04:17:02 PMWhere is the 33+V test?

Pin "D" on the card edge connector. If you can't get to the bottom for some reason, you could measure something closely related at L5 or the top lead of CR22.

With the card edge connector test jig, pin "D" is readily accessible.
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

sigma7

Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 04:17:02 PM
Quote from: sigma7 on Today at 04:11:46 PMheck +33, -12 and -5 (those are negative signs) with the same test jig setup you just used to check +12 and +5... ie. don't change anything, just move the red probe.

it measures -5V when red is on ground on the 5V rail and -11.62V on the 12V rail.  Where is the 33+V test?

With black on ground, and red to the -5 rail the meter should read -5V, and with red to the -12 rail, it should read around -12V.
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

berskyboy


sigma7

#192
Quote from: berskyboy on Today at 04:32:49 PM71.2V, that and measured at CR22 also

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aSk2IGHACGA

Turn it off... the capacitor is rated for 50V.

I suppose that means you need a load on +33V... don't turn it on again until you have one attached.

Since it appears the PSU is working now, if you don't have anything suitable to use as a +33V load, I'd put the PSU in the Lisa and check -5 and -12 on the I/O Board. If the video works fine, then +33 is ok.
Warning: Memory errors found. ECC non-functional. Verify comments if accuracy is important to you.

berskyboy

would this be the correct on to buy?

https://www.amazon.ca/cart?ref_=ox_ewc_ret_gtc_dsk_ca

from your diagram you have: three 910-ohm, 2-watt resistors side-by-side in parallel

berskyboy

#194
Quote from: sigma7 on Today at 04:36:09 PMurn it off... the capacitor is rated for 50V.

I suppose that means you need a load on +33V... don't turn it on again until you have one attached.

Since it appears the PSU is working now, if you don't have anything suitable to use as a +33V load, I'd put the PSU in the Lisa and check -5 and -12 on the I/O Board. If the video works fine, then +33 is ok.

Rats... so is there any test (or re-test) I can do to see what part I need to replace.  LOL.  Sighh... You mentioned the 50V capacitor maybe I can start there?

EDIT: I took out the 50V capacitor and it measures 0.932mf, so that means it might have blow?