[comp.sys.mac.hardware] Are SCSI terminators fragile?

UD182050@NDSUVM1.BITNET (Mike Aos) (08/05/90)

While testing a friends SCSI terminator resistor pack, I seem to have killed
it.  How can merely measuring the resistance of this beast have killed it?  It
seems as if something is short-circuited, as the drive will no longer even
power-up with the terminator installed, but works fine as soon as you remove it
(works fine except the SCSI card won't recognise it).

Thanks for any ideas,
-------
Mike

UD182050@NDSUVM1 (.Bitnet?)        "Share and Enjoy"
UD182050@VM1.NoDak.Edu                    -Sirius Cybernetics Corporation
                    Apple IIgs 'till I can afford a NeXT!
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eber@hpuxa.ircc.ohio-state.edu (Edward Beranek) (08/14/90)

Sometimes a pin can be dislodged within the SCSI terminator which
can cause it to go dead.  When measured with a meter make sure
that it is a low current low voltage VOM.  Some terminators use
film resistors which can be damaged by static or high currents.
Check the inside of the terminator, if anyone had been trimming
wires around the area, it could have picked up a very invisible
strand of wire.  That's about all I can think of to explain
why the terminator would fail after measuring it's resistance.