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Offline 57goldtopTopic starter

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New A3000
« on: August 02, 2007, 09:56:32 AM »
I just received another A3000 today off eBay. This one has a Rev 9/03 board, my A3000UX has a Rev 9/02. Are there any significant differences ?

It is very clean and like new. It was obvious that the machine had not been switched on for a very long time because the time was incorrect, this worried me a little.

The battery leakage was not significant and there was no track damage but it was still regrettable given that the machine is in such good condition inside and outside, I don't think that the case had ever been opened before.



I gave it a good scrub with a toothbrush and some vinegar mixed in with water to neutralize the acid then cleaned the area with some alcohol.



Temporarily spot soldered in a 3.6v lithium battery & diode to verify the clock.






So for now I'm going to leave the battery in for a while until I find something that fits & looks better. If anyone can suggest a good replacement let me know, I am aware of the Amikit replacements but I'm avoiding them because I don't want it to leak again some day.

Cheers.




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Offline starf81

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2007, 10:44:27 AM »
First of all congratulations for your purchase, the A3000 is really a great machine... my favourite Amiga!

Regarding the mobo, I don't think there are significant differences between 9/02 and 9/03.
My A3000 has 9/02, too.

Have you ever thought to solder two wires on the mobo and put the battery in a safe place?
In this way, if it leaked, it shouldn't damage anything!

Alex

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Offline rare_j

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2007, 11:21:42 AM »
Quote

I am aware of the Amikit replacements but I'm avoiding them because I don't want it to leak again some day.


I believe the original batteries were Ni-Cd (nickel cadmium) and the ones sold by Amigakit are Ni-Mh (nickel metal hydride). From what I can gather the new batteries are much less likely to leak.
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Offline 57goldtopTopic starter

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #3 on: August 02, 2007, 11:24:55 AM »
The A3000 is my favourite too. The battery I am using is a Lithium AXIAL, I think these are polymer so they shouldn't leak.

I have used this brand before and I've never seen them leak but it isn't very practical in the A3000 because of the battery height, cards in the bottom zorro slot won't slide in easily.
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Offline AmiDude

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #4 on: August 02, 2007, 12:03:01 PM »
@57goldtop

One should always ask for pics of the motherboard in general,
and particular of the battery area before buying an A2000, A3000 or A4000.
This way you won't get a disappointing surprise when opening the case.
 :rtfm:
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Offline vic20owner

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #5 on: August 02, 2007, 12:52:18 PM »
Just a note, vinegar does not nuetralize acid.. it is itself a weak acid.  Water or rubbing alcohol is enough.

Thats a nice A3000!
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Offline orange

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2007, 01:07:09 PM »
still you should use vinegar because, IIRC, 'battery acid' is not an acid really.. or something like that
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Better sorry than worry.
 

Offline 57goldtopTopic starter

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #7 on: August 02, 2007, 01:16:15 PM »
I asked but I think the seller had everything packed and ready to go, I asked about the battery but didn't get much of a response. Besides, I don't think I will ever find one as clean as this one so it was good score nevertheless.

When I opened the case, it still had screws in a plastic satchel taped to the floppy drive bay to facilitate a second drive.

@ vic20owner

I've read that white vinegar reacts with alkaline and NiCd battery acid and neutralizes it, lemon juice is supposed to work too.

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Offline AmiDude

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2007, 01:40:20 PM »
@57goldtop wrote:
Quote
I asked about the battery but didn't get much of a response.


You could have suspected that the seller DID know about the battery leakage. In such a case: DON'T BUY!

Quote
Besides, I don't think I will ever find one as clean as this one so it was good score nevertheless.


I've bought 3 A3000's which are in a very good condition  and no battery leakage.
One is like new and was only opened once for checking the battery. This one also
had the screws in the little plastic bag attached to the floppy drive bay.
So, if you're patient and careful with buying one, you can still find nice and clean A3000's.

:-D
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Offline Zac67

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #9 on: August 02, 2007, 06:45:15 PM »
Quote

orange wrote:
still you should use vinegar because, IIRC, 'battery acid' is not an acid really.. or something like that


Doh! You're completely right - the caustic stuff in a NiCd battery is NiOH, obviously a base and no acid. Old "zinc-carbon" batteries use ammonium chloride, which is an acid.

There's always something left to learn... :roll:
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Offline Fixer

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #10 on: August 02, 2007, 07:22:02 PM »
Man I've always wanted one of these machines...

If you exclude the towers has to be the most all-inclusive/feature rich model of all the original Amigas in existence!






.. Let me know if you ever want to sell one. :-) ;-)
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Offline 57goldtopTopic starter

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2007, 12:51:32 AM »
Quote
You could have suspected that the seller DID know about the battery leakage. In such a case: DON'T BUY!


No chance, I think had he known about it and told me I would have still bid for it :)

You can't always assume that anyone who owns an Amiga is good with a screwdriver,has some basic electronics knowledge and is aware of the possibility that an old leaking battery can cause major damage to a PCB.


Quote
Man I've always wanted one of these machines...

If you exclude the towers has to be the most all-inclusive/feature rich model of all the original Amigas in existence!


There is one on ebay at the moment but it isn't a complete system.  

a3k

Commodore Computer Center in Idaho also have one but I think $350 US is a little steep especially if you have to ship it overseas and then spend the extra $ for a step up/down transformer or new power supply if u can even find one.

A3k

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Offline amigadave

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2007, 02:31:31 AM »
@AmiDude,

Off Topic, but that Avatar of yours is great, where did you get it?
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How are you helping the Amiga community? :)
 

Offline murple

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #13 on: August 03, 2007, 03:08:26 AM »
Quote

rare_j wrote:
I believe the original batteries were Ni-Cd (nickel cadmium) and the ones sold by Amigakit are Ni-Mh (nickel metal hydride). From what I can gather the new batteries are much less likely to leak.


Yeah, the new NiMH batteries supposedly don't leak. But be careful, I think that AmigaKit sells *both* kinds, so read the description carefully before ordering.
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Offline murple

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Re: New A3000
« Reply #14 on: August 03, 2007, 03:11:24 AM »
AmiDude's avatar looks like the Mr Spock puppet that was on the British puppet show Splitting Image in the 1980s.
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