[comp.sys.amiga] ST277N-1 and possible external Power Supply Problems

nor1675@dsacg2.UUCP (Michael Figg) (10/24/89)

I've got a couple of interrelated questions about an ST277N-1 (Seagate) and 
possible problems with external power supply to a B2000.

  1. An old St277N died about 6 weeks ago, possibly of a power surge. This 
     drive was replaced with a newer ST277N-1 (I think it was '-1' but maybe
     '-2', anyway it's 28ms). As soon as the new drive was installed it       
     started to make occasionally sporatic access sounds, usually when the
     machine is on, but not being used. The sounds don't sound 'bad' and only
     happen approxiametly every 5 or 6 minutes for about 1 second. It seems
     like a problem like this was mentioned in the past but I don't 
     remember if it was the newer ST277N-1. Any help on this?

  2. Second problem. About 2 weeks after new HD was installed, the machine
     died totally. Specifically the internal power supply died and took
     the HD controller with it (an adaptec). The power supply was replaced
     and the controller upgraded to the new Kronos 2000. At the same time
     I had the Super Agnus and 1.3 rom (for autobooting) installed. Now 
     that the machine is back together, it is still making the HD sounds.
     Another (maybe) related sound is the printer occasionally resetting
     for no apparent reason. I noticed that this printer did this also
     while I was watching football last Sunday and the Amiga was *NOT* on.
     This led me to start thinking about the wiring in my apartment. After
     talking to friends about this I bought a little 3-wire circuit tester
     and tried it on the circuit my machine was on. It showed the hot/neutral
     contacts interchanged on the outlet that I was using. Although other
     outlets on the circuit check out ok, I moved the machine to another
     circuit anyway. The HD is still making its' sounds, but the printer
     hasn't, although I only left the printer on a couple of hours. Even
     though I (obviously) am not much of an electrical hacker, I have an
     old Volt meter here and checked both the old (bad) and new outlets
     and they both swed about 123 V (I assume the meter is off slightly).
     I watched the meter as the HD made its' sounds and it didn't move.
     Any ideas on the problems here?

     The environment here is an apartment building only about 10 - 15 years
     old. The top outlet on the bad receptacle had an extension cord with a
     lamp, VCR, and cable box plugged in. The lower outlet had an Isobar
     surge protector with the B2000, a 1080 monitor (with VCR hooked into, 
     to use as a very decient TV), the printer, and a modem.

     Thanks for any help and  sorry about the length but there were lots of
     facts to list.



-- 
"Hot Damn! Groat Cakes Again                   Michael Figg
Heavy on the thirty weight!"                   DLA Systems Automation Center
                                               Columbus, Oh.
                                               (614)-238-2446 (Temporarily)