Sinclair ZX80 / ZX81 / Z88 Forums

Ah the key piece. I knew there would be a correct name for it.

My alignment is chaotic neutral but I guess that is a different story.

Is it possible to buy these parts? Or would I be just as well sacrificing a suitable piece of plastic and some glue?

Yes, there were (are) official keys from the manufacturers of edge-connector sockets. However, you generally have to buy large packs of them....

So you may want to try the DIY method...

If you have an old cassette case, cut a suitable section of plastic from this, then use a hard plastic glue or superglue to fix it in place.

Or, instead use a section of PCB cut to size. Typically people use SRBP that does not have any copper on it. Again, glue it in place.

Or, find a suitable thin nail, drill a hole through the socket slightly smaller than the diameter of the nail. Then use a soldering iron to push the nail through the plastic connector. Use a mini grinder (Dremel type tool) to cut the unwanted parts of the nail off and grind down the nail until it's flush with the plastic. This method is more popular with ZX Spectrum expansions.

Or, push a suitable spring washer in, best to use glue to hold it in place.

Mark

Thanks Mark!

Lardo Boffin wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 8:46 pm My name is Lardo and it has been over 4 weeks since I last bought a zeddy. Forgive me Sir Clive.

redgatemodels wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 9:21 am

Lardo Boffin wrote: ↑Wed Dec 13, 2023 8:46 pm My name is Lardo and it has been over 4 weeks since I last bought a zeddy. Forgive me Sir Clive.

I got away with just doing 10 ‘Hail Zeddies’.

Interestingly this one has a nice eprom and someone changed the keyboard already!

Also put a nice big screw through the board into the bottom case which probably means they've stripped the threads of either of the two pillars supporting the motherboard, can't think of any other reason why they'd do that.

There was an odd assortment of screws in the case, none of them original.
Luckily they had not done too much damage.

No doubt Lardo you will work your usual magic on said beast!

Have to say those TI EPROMs look nice.

They do look cool!

Just had another one arrive. This has a mystery composite mod and produces a very nice picture. Will open it up later and see what they have done. Keyboard needs attention.

And here is the composite mod:


Not sure I like where the cables go. All that heat…

A bit closer:


And the solder side:


The rest of the PCB: