Run a Color Classic without an analog board or tube?

[LeadedSolder]

I may have a suggestion,….. to have a look/search for small trinitron monitors wich may fit your purpose.
Had a quick search on ebay and showed two 8 inches. (Could be 9” build format, like with the other compact Macs)

Based on squinting at their respective analogue boards, I suspect there's a lot of overlap between the Colour Classic AB and a 9" Sony PVM.

I do have a CC with some very scorched Zener diodes on the AB that I could probably try reversing, but analogue stuff is not my specialty.

 

[jajan547]

Based on squinting at their respective analogue boards, I suspect there's a lot of overlap between the Colour Classic AB and a 9" Sony PVM.

Can't you just use an LC575 analog board and tap into the video signal and using an RGB2HDMI connect it to an LCD?

 

[mmu_man]

Quick update on power - the pin outs were right - the -5v must be on one of the other pins.

Hooked up the LC PSU & tied the grounds together - no chime (head phones plugged in) and no scsi activity. Next step is to re-validate this board works (worked when it was pulled months ago)

According to the bomarc schematics, -5V is on J13-B pin 2, the first pin on the underside next to the power section. But it's only used for the serial port.

 

[-SE40-]

Bad suggestion on my part as its a 10“ CRT

 

[Stephen]

Eric, I did come accross this CC example that uses a 9,7”ipad display…..I think it looks really good and authentic (asfar as I can judge that;-) Dont know if they actually did change anything to the bezel.

https://buyee.jp/item/yahoo/auction/f1051358662?conversionType=yac_item_bottom_recommend_list

We don't talk about iPad Macs, no no no

 

[-SE40-]

…We don't talk about iPad Macs, no no no …

Ok…..then better startup a CRT factory then.
How will this end in thirty or so +years, when most tubes have died

Erics topic here is - without an analog board or tube-
Other solutions are not accepted?

Tinkerdifferent

 

[Stephen]

…We don't talk about iPad Macs, no no no …

Ok…..then better startup a CRT factory then.
How will this end in thirty or so +years, when most tubes have died

Erics topic here is - without an analog board or tube-
Other solutions are not accepted?

Tinkerdifferent

Sorry dude, I guess my "we don't talk about bruno" joke was a dud.

 

[-SE40-]

That must be a cultural thing them, I guess…

But just curious, what would be the max lifespan for a (trinitron?) CRT & Electronics ?

 

[Alf Torp]

That must be a cultural thing them, I guess…

But just curious, what would be the max lifespan for a (trinitron?) CRT & Electronics ?

Closest I can imagine is "yet to be determined"... There are crt oscilloscopes from the early 1920's that still work, just as just about every crt I "have ever met" still worked when they were trashed. The crt worked. Imagine how many crt's have been scrapped because ONE. SINGLE. $0.10 capacitor stopped working...

 

[-SE40-]

Thanks!
So, tube control electronics can mostly be repaired.
Tubes itself can fail due to burn-in damage (may still work) and mechanical damage - (cracked)

Now I leave this thread to Erics CC monitor/display solution.

 

[retr01]

what would be the max lifespan for a CRT?

Given that my SE/30's CRT still works after more than 30 years, I'd say almost forever. There have been reports that a CRT from the 1920s still works. I've had a Sony Trinitron monitor still working after 20 years. I honestly do not believe there is a maximum lifespan for CRTs because it depends on many factors. Yet, CRTs are built to last, unlike LCDs.

By the way, CRTs such as Sony Trinitron have much better low latency than LCDs.

Here's an analogy:

CRT​	LCD​

 

[-SE40-]

Ohyeah CRT wil last 100+ years…..

(Aslong we can buy or can recreate the needed​

replacement parts)​

Another analog-y

I actually like both, a bit of color makes it much nicer/practical……



LCD, TFT or whatever (better) replacements may come in the future can easy be exchanged when wished for

 

[-SE40-]

@eric , sorry thought this was a thread of retr01….

How is your color classic getting along?
Any decission on the display, progress?

greetings Chris.

 

[Genjoke]

The glass neck was cracked.

I have the exact problem with a 68030 upgraded Classic… and no shipping to blame… I broke the neck while trying to fiddle the accelerator board inside.

After watching Adrian's video on RGBtoHDMI on the Classic I decided to go with an LCD.

I've put this project aside but I am now willing to start it! I thought the same as you, to get rid of the analogic board.

Now my tech-ignorant question to you guys: which kind of modern power supply would I need to buy to replace the analogic board?

 

[retr01]

I have the exact problem with a 68020 upgraded Classic… and no shipping to blame… I broke the neck while trying to fiddle the accelerator board inside.

After watching Adrian's video on RGBtoHDMI on the Classic I decided to go with an LCD.

I've put this project aside but I am now willing to start it! I thought the same as you, to get rid of the analogic board.

Now my tech-ignorant question to you guys: which kind of modern power supply would I need to buy to replace the analogic board?

Hi @Genjoke!

Sorry to hear about your mishap with the CRT neck.

Yes, you can go without the analog board. You can get the Meanwell RT-85B PSU to replace the stock PSU: