smoked my OB-1 : (

[Bill Layer]

Hi,

  Can anyone take pity on
>me and explain just what I have done?
>Have I ruined the entire circuit board or components, or is there a chance it
>can be fixed without a major operation?  What do I do first to determine the
>nature of the problem?  

Well, it seems what you have done is to operate a unit with Tantalum
Capacitors in it... The Tantalums have performed as expected, by
self-distructing in an unpleasant manner. Polarity reversal MAY have been
the culprit, but tantalum caps are just simply crap, and may behave in this
fashion for that reason alone.

The unit was dead, because these little blue guys were taking all the
current from the supply and making heat and smoke from it. I'd just replace
them (ALL OF THEM) with electrolytics or film caps (if possible) and be
done with it. 

I'll bet the unit works fine...


Bill Layer, member

The International Brotherhood of Jazz Dancers, Pastry Chefs and Nuclear
Technicians