18 Aug
2025
18 Aug
'25
10:46 a.m.
On Sun, Aug 17, 2025 at 12:51 AM Tom Hunter via cctalk
<cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
I have recently bought a DEC PDP-8/s. It hasn't
been powered on for about
40 years before I got it. I cleaned it and did some repairs on it (glued
broken flip-chip handles, replaced all front panel lights, restored the
acrylic front panel to as new condition and built a new switch mode power
supply for +10V and -15V).
Hi, Tom,
I'm watching this thread with interest because I've had an -8/S for
years and haven't been able to do more than superficial work on it.
I'd love to see better docs emerge.
Mine appears to act like "Panel Lock" is always on. I've checked the
switch, it's not that, so it's likely to be whatever gate the switch
tickles.
The other major issue I have is relamping. I'm curious what you used.
The -8/S uses flying wire bulbs and the leads coming out of the glass
are quite brittle. Many of my lamps have broken leads. I was going to
attempt repair of as many as possible (I'm sure most of the filaments
are still good) but I definitely need a source of bulbs for ones with
burned-out filaments and/or unrecoverable broken leads.
I have dabbled with R-series logic in the past (I have some DF32
drives) but I am pretty much a novice with testing and repair of the
older modules.
-ethan