Outbound Laptop Capacitor List & Repair Log

[Elemenoh]

I recently got an Outbound Laptop with its original 12V AC power supply. I was able to get it to power up once, but the next day I could not get it to power up again. First stop is caps. I'll share a cap list and repair journal here. Hopefully it'll be an easy one.

There is a lot more info and helpful resources at this 68kmla post.

MLB Capacitor List

Quantity	Location(s)	Type	Capacitance (uF)	Voltage Rating	Size (D ✕ H mm)	Lead Spacing (mm)
5	C1 & 4 others unmarked on back side	Through Hole (Axial)	220	16	8 ✕ 16	N/A
2	C10, C50	Through Hole	220	10	6.5 ✕ 12	2.5
2	C8, C33 (C33 Positive is bodged to a nearby cap pack)	Through Hole	100	25	6.5 ✕ 12	2.5
2	C51, C63	Through Hole	10	35	5 ✕ 11	2.5
1	C62	Through Hole	47	35	8 ✕ 12	3.5

 

[Elemenoh]

I recapped the MLB and discovered a few things along the way.

1. 4 of the 5 axial caps are not accessible from one side. Their joints are below 6 ICs and a connector. I ended up cutting them out, heating the remaining leads and pulling them out, then clearing out remaining solder with braid. I soldered the replacements from the top side.
2. After I replaced the caps I had the same no-boot symptom. I checked with @zigzagjoe on discord who let me know you have to have a working battery in the keyboard to get the unit to boot. I guess when I got it to boot the other day the battery from 1990 let out its last breath. He said you can substitute the very uncommon CR12600SE battery with 2x more typcial N-types. I connected my bench power supply to the battery terminals and sure enough it then powered on with the keyboard arrow keys. But it just displayed a black screen with yellow lines. I suspect I didn't connect the display or something else properly but we will see.
3. Zigzagjoe also mentioned that the system expects the main battery to be installed and the manual recommends not running without a battery installed. I haven't been able to find a replacement SLA battery online yet but will keep looking.

So right now the machine isn't working, but when I next get a chance to work on it, I'll check all the connections first.

Also, I measured the removed caps to see which were out-of-spec. Most were fine enough but a couple of the 220uF's were very bad.

220uF / 16V:
207uF .46 d
3.2pF .55 d
2.1pF .14 d
200uF .9d
212uf .4d

47uF / 35V:
41uF .3d

100uF / 25V:
93uF .2d
93uF .25 d

220uF / 10V:
186uF .7 d
188uF .7 d

10uF / 35V:
9.4uF .1d
9.5uF .1d

 

[trag]

This looks like the battery.

https://www.osibatteries.com/panasonic-pv-bp88-battery-12v-sealed-rechargeable

On Amazon, but more expensive and the seller seems ignorant (calls it akaline, instead of LA):

https://www.amazon.com/Battery-EPP-100C-Replaces-SUBSTITUTE-PANASONIC/dp/B0002GV5TW

 

[ScutBoy]

My distant memory of my Outbound is that the main battery is a fairly (once upon a time) common VHS camera battery.

I did not have the A/C adapter for mine, but the internet told me that the adapter for a contemporary Roomba was an exact voltage/amperage/plug match. I did trim back a bit of the plastic on the machine side plug so it would fully seat.

 

[Elemenoh]

Thanks for the tips. For reference, the transformer output is 19V AC (1.26A) center positive.

 

[Elemenoh]

@trag I found one new on eBay for a decent price so got that. Thanks for the model ID!

 

[Kai Robinson]

I'd love to see a picture of the outbound motherboard in hi res, be interested to know how they duplicated the apple asic's!

 

[Elemenoh]

@Kai Robinson I'll try to get better photos the next time I tear it down, but here's what I have.

 

[Kai Robinson]

Fascinating - mostly discrete logic and a handful of PAL's...

 

[Elemenoh]

Slightly better shots of top and bottom side.

 

[trag]

Interesting that there is a 32K X 8 static RAM on board. M5M5256bkp

Does the Plus/SE have one of those? I never noticed before. Or is that doing PRAM duty that a custom clock/PRAM chip would do in the Plus/SE?