New DEC museum entry :D

[Tony Duell]

> 
> At 12:11 AM +0000 2/20/07, Tony Duell wrote:
> >How many tims do I have to repeat 'Never switch on a classic computer
> >without doing some PSU tests first' ?
> 
> Face it Tony, someone is always going to be doing it.  Don't tell me 

I was asking a semi-rhetroical question, OK :-)

> that you've *never* done it. :^)  Sometimes it's easy to forget in 

I did it _once_, many years ago. That's when I learnt it was a _bad_ idea :-)

> the excitement of a new system.

Actually, I don't think I've ever plugged in a newly-acquired classic 
computer in the last 10 years, say, without inspecting it inside and 
testing the PSU if at all possible.

> 
> Actually how about a clarification here.  Are you saying *ALWAYS* 
> test the PS before turning the system?  Or just when it's been idle 
> for a while?  I do know when the time comes for me to power my 
> PDP-11/44 back on, I'll be testing the PS first (I've not been able 
> to use it for over 6 years).

I don;'t do it _every_ time I turn the machine on, sure...

Basically, the times I do said inspection/test are : 

1) When I first get the machine
2) Adter a long time (months/years) of non-use
3) After any other work or repair in the PSU area
4) After moving the machine a significant distance (e.g. taking it to a
computer club meeting or VCF (I wish) for a demostration). Things can 
shake loose and short in transit.

-tony