ignatz@chinet.chi.il.us (Dave Ihnat) (02/21/90)
(I originally posted this to comp.sys.laptops, where I was politely told to take this here. Duh...makes sense...) I've a friend who has a Zenith Z-181 dual floppy laptop. This machine is, technically, obsolete; used units can run as low as $600-700. A bozoid at one of his client sites accidentally pumped +26V through the serial port by plugging a non-RS232 DB25 into the port, and fried the output drivers. No big deal, normally...BUT... Zenith wants $600 to replace the mother board. (Actually, $580, but who's counting.) This is outrageous. More so, since we cracked the (long-out-of- warranty) machine open and verified that the output driver chip is sick. (Usual scope probes.) The problem? It appears to be a proprietary chip made for Zenith by Toshiba--at least, we don't recognize the numbers. The local Zenith stores all claim that they can't provide components any more; all repairs and parts are board-level only. (This, from the Heathkit folks. How they forget the kitbuilders who built them...) My question, while I pursue ever-higher phone numbers at Zenith, is: 1) Does anyone recognize this part number, on the chance it's really a stock chip that we don't recognize? The numbers appear as below: Toshiba TC5065BP 8714H 2) If it's either stock or special, can anyone recommend a reliable source? Replies are appreciated in advance; e-mail appreciated. Dave Ihnat ignatz@homebru.chi.il.us (preferred) ignatz@chinet.chi.il.us (works)