Rhodes Chroma Polaris

I repaired my Polaris membrane ribbons by cutting the damaged parts 
off and carefully using a solvent(flux remover)to dissolve the 
painted green insulation and rebuilding a new termination to plug 
into the socket. One was far too short so I removed the termination 
socket from the PCB and after connection, glued it to the metal 
front panel for stability. I then soldered #22 wires to the 
connector that run to the PCB where the old connector was mounted. 
It is working well now. For awile I was thinking I might do that to 
all of the connections as the ribbons are prone to cracking where 
they loop to plug into the termination sockets. Anyway that's my 2 
cents!
Lou


--- In chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com, "greg rudd" <compactor24@...> 
wrote:
>
> Alex,
> 
> It sounds like paul is your "go to guy" on the Polaris 
electronics. I put 
> mine together by following the existing switch circuit as shown on 
the 
> original membrane panels, I don't have the depth of electronic 
knowledge to 
> have known how the matrix works. Then i drilled the holes 
installed the 
> switches and connected the dots. Jason reccomended the switches 
which i 
> accessed on Ebay for very low cost. I'll find you the link to the 
> manufacturer.
> If anything isn't right with that matrix expect problems. I had 
one shorted 
> switch and nothing worked until I metered out all the switches and 
found the 
> problem. Now it all works fine. I never did like those membrane 
switches 
> even when they worked. Not responsive or tactile enough.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >From: alex459686 <no_reply@yahoogroups.com>
> >Reply-To: chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com
> >To: chromapolaris@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [chromapolaris] Re: any advice on rebuilding the front 
panel 
> >needed .
> >Date: Thu, 10 May 2007 01:32:45 -0000
> >
> >
> >many many thanks for the advice Paul .
> >I will research, and brush up on my electronics know-how before 
attempting 
> >this .
> >
> >For anyone with good internal Polaris know-how and free 
time....::::
> >The Issue my Polaris is having right now, is that when it is 
switched on 
> >the vast majority of
> >panel lights are "lit", buttons "7" , "8" and "9" seem to work 
but they 
> >have the response of
> >changing "assignable control" light (of which only one is ever 
alight) and 
> >also the
> >"envelope" and "volume envelope" lights . This is very odd, i 
have 
> >previously experienced a
> >damaged ribbon which i , at first , successfully repaired . but 
now seems 
> >damaged again .
> >another odd trait of my current Polaris problem is that by 
pressing 7,8 or 
> >9 the sound is
> >changed, though as i play the keyboard the sound suddenly changes 
> >erratically . im
> >assuming due to the computer receiving confusing messages from 
the panel . 
> >The sliders
> >then have no effect on the sound of the instrument .
> >I am assuming that there is some kind of problem with the Ribbon, 
as this 
> >is a repeating
> >problem for me . and due to this problem most of the switches are 
active . 
> >causing the
> >instrument to become "confused" and not respond to the slider 
changes .
> >does anyone have any idea what connection/cable break or ribbon 
damage may 
> >cause a
> >response like this . In reference to the schematics  how would it 
be 
> >possible for all the
> >right panel lights to be in there "on" state at the same time ?
> >sigh!...ok . i hope i didnt explain that too confusingly . . if 
anyone 
> >could help shed any
> >light on this problem id be thankful .
> >
> >thanks again for the previous info .
> >long live the polaris group ;)
> >
> >
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> New Windows Live Hotmail is here. Upgrade for free and get a 
better look. 
> www.newhotmail.ca?icid=WLHMENCA150
>