electrolyzing a TB-303 (weird repair story)

[Dan Gendreau]

> Remember the 303's RAM chips are always powered on as long as there are
> batteries inside.
> The corrosion was possibly happening over a long period anyway, and was
> brought to a climax by the rain...

I agree. If the owner or a previous owner ever let batteries leak in the
unit and it sat like that for a long period of time, it is very common for
the acid vapors to accumulate as residue on the Vcc Pins of the ram chips
and corrode them. The rain water was just enough to help the acid eat
through the pins the rest of the way.

The rust was there long before the rainwater got in. If anything, it
probably helped wash out the corrosive residue. He's lucky it didn't eat
away the circuit board traces. Tell him to take better care of that
Stradivarius! :)

-Dan G.