From: Michael Buchner <buchnerelectronics@t-online.de>
Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Common problems with SDS7?
To: Simmons_Drums@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, 18 August, 2009, 1:16 AM
Hello,
there is nothing powering up fine with number 8 displayed. When the SDS7 powers up right, you should read 01 and nothing else. The SDS7 has a memory structure keeping the RAM always active, at least for decades, if the battery is not running out (imagine: 10 poor chips, they were always switched on for nearly 30 years and now very old and tired...). So most of the problems are caused by death, a shortcut or malfunction in the RAM area. The ROM, also housed on the first board, a 2732 Eprom, can loose also data in these years (and this is the "Windows" of the SDS7!). And: The poor ROM is directly placed under the battery and gets the first acid shower, when a leakage happens. But: There may be also faults on the reset-on-power- up (This is a hardware based routine happening when the SDS7 is powered up). This would be cheap to repair. The guy who had this fault (one year ago) might explain this to you here. Or: Get a service man. For a service man it is
easy to check this, but he will need the SDS7's CPU schematics. These are available FREE at buchnerelectronics@ t-online (me :-). Just send an email with your full address.
Good luck
Michael
----- Original Message -----
From: gushi1
To: Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com
Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2009 12:08 AM
Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Common problems with SDS7?
Hi guys,
I've just replaced the battery in the brain (which it appeared had leaked slightly but not a massive amount) and gave the insides a good clean (compressed air deoxit etc), also performed the re-seat operation. The brain still powers up fine and the lights denoting the modules still come on, but again the display is tempremental. Sometimes it works and displays the number 8, other times nothing comes up at all. Also the lights on the right of the unit for the buttons are coming on intermittently. Still not managing to get any sound from it. I certainly don't think I've done it any harm. But I'm starting to think that there may be a loose connection somewhere? Was considering changing the ribbon cables maybe?
I'm at a bit of a loss now other than to do what WT suggests but I think that maybe its a little beyond my understanding (unless you can be more specific on how to perform this operation).
Would anyone be able to provide a schematic of the brain or suggest someone in the UK that may be able to service it? I'm thinking if I'm going to pay someone to look at it then I want all my bases covered first.
Thanks
Chris
--- In Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com, "Michael Buchner" <buchnerelectronics @...> wrote:
>
> A good start is the famous re-seat operation: The cards are not sitting right in their slots caused by transport or the contacts are slightly corroded. Unscrew the right front panel(the one with the incrementor. Behind this you find the CPU board and the RAM/ROM board. Pull these out. Check the battery on the RAM for leakage, corrosion and for voltage (2-3Volts). Clean the gold plated contacts. Clean also the slots: This can be done with a thick piece of carton. Then re- seat the cards again, and with a little luck: Ta-taa.
> Regards
> Michael
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: WT
> To: Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com
> Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:46 PM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Common problems with SDS7?
>
>
> Power supply = powerinlet > transformer > Rectifier > Regulators > Cap´s
>
> The battery is just for backup of settings and is installed on the
> memorycard, IRC.
>
> If you´re unsure, take it to a doctor.
>
> WT
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "gushi1" <gushi1@...>
> To: <Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com>
> Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:21 PM
> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Common problems with SDS7?
>
> > Thanks for the quick response.
> >
> > I have five voicecards installed. I'll try taking these out tomorrow and
> > see how it goes.
> >
> > By power supply do you just mean the battery or the kettle lead?
> >
> > Do you mean the capacitors and regulators in the whole unit or just the
> > computer part? Also what is the bridge-rectifier (sorry if this is a
> > stupid question, I'm new to this.
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > --- In Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com, "WT" <waveterm@> wrote:
> >>
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> start by taking out all the voicecards to see if the computer starts. How
> >> many cards is installed ?
> >>
> >> My SDS-7 has started to fail on power-up and I suspect it has to do with
> >> bad
> >> powersupply. I think it needs to be renovated.
> >>
> >> If the computer starts without voicecards, I suspect the capacitors and
> >> the
> >> regulators ( and possibly the bridge-rectifier ) needs to replaced.
> >>
> >> WT
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "gushi1" <gushi1@>
> >> To: <Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com>
> >> Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:50 PM
> >> Subject: Re: [Simmons Drums] Common problems with SDS7?
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hi again guys,
> >> >
> >> > I picked up my SDS7 the other day, was still boxed and had obviously
> >> > been
> >> > well looked after but was still in need of a bit of TLC. As far as I
> >> > could
> >> > tell, all of the relevant parts and chips were there. The brain did
> >> > power
> >> > up but is a bit temperamental.
> >> >
> >> > I didn't manage to get any sound out of it. When turning the brain on,
> >> > sometimes the number display on the right works, sometimes it doesn't,
> >> > so
> >> > I'm thinking that this it is having trouble recalling the kits? I am
> >> > hoping that maybe changing the battery might rectify this?
> >> >
> >> > Am I right in thinking that the BN24 is the one I need?
> >> >
> >> > http://www.maplin. co.uk/module. aspx?moduleno= 30958
> >> >
> >> > If its not the battery does anyone else have any other ideas at to what
> >> > the issue might be? Or can you give any tips on servicing or what I
> >> > need
> >> > to look out for? Am going to look into doing this over the weekend.
> >> >
> >> > I'm reasonably handy with a soldering iron and have replaced similar
> >> > parts
> >> > in other musical equipment before so I'm no entirely new to this, but
> >> > obviously I'm dying to get my Simmons working ASAP so any useful info
> >> > would be greatly appreciated!
> >> >
> >> > Cheers
> >> >
> >> > Chris
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --- In Simmons_Drums@ yahoogroups. com, jesper <jesper@> wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >> gushi1 skrev:
> >> >> > Thanks for the suggestions guys, I spoke to the guy I bought it from
> >> >> > last night trying to arrange pickup. He told me that he plugged the
> >> >> > brain in for the first time in ten years and it powered up, even
> >> >> > though
> >> >> > he seems to thinks that the last time he used it, it didn't work at
> >> >> > all.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Fingers crossed there's nothing wrong with it and I've just bought a
> >> >> > fully working SDS7 for pennies. I'm never usually this lucky but I
> >> >> > guess
> >> >> > you've got to win sometimes?
> >> >>
> >> >> Yes, and sometimes it happens! :)
> >> >>
> >> >> > Perhaps when I get it, it might be worth changing the internal
> >> >> > battery
> >> >> > as a precautionary measure?
> >> >>
> >> >> If what he says about storage is true I'd sure recommend that!
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> electronically yours, jesper
> >> >>
> >> >> - -- --- ---- ----- ---- --- -- -
> >> >> www.electronic- obsession. se
> >> >> www.myspace. com/machinepop
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ------------ --------- --------- ------
> >> >
> >> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------ --------- --------- ------
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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