Printer problem

Andrew Wiskow · March 01, 2009, 10:09 AM

I've had a Sears SR2000 printer for a while now, but I've never used it. I recently placed an order for new ribbons for it, and they arrived in the mail a few days ago. Last night, I set it up, and it was working great.

And then...

I plugged it in to my C128's serial bus while the computer, drives, and printer were all on. The error light lit up on the printer. I turned the printer off and back on, and instead of the usual printer head back-and-forth movement, it doesn't move at all, and there's an ascending error tone. The power light comes on, but the printer won't do anything after that tone. Although I have heard that it's recommended to turn peripherals on in a certain order, turning everything on before the computer, I've never actually had a problem before. Could it be that by plugging in the serial cable on the printer while everything was on somehow blew a chip inside the printer?

I'm guessing that finding another one would be easier than getting this one fixed, so if anyone has a spare one of these printers, I'd be interested in buying one. Of course, if anyone has any idea how to fix the one I have, I'd be willing to try anything!

megabit · March 01, 2009, 11:36 AM

QuoteCould it be that by plugging in the serial cable on the printer while everything was on somehow blew a chip inside the printer?

Sounds like it. Could have been static.

Did you try turning the printer on with the serial cable removed?

Dan...

Andrew Wiskow · March 01, 2009, 12:44 PM

Quote from: megabit on March 01, 2009, 11:36 AM

Did you try turning the printer on with the serial cable removed?

Dan...

Yeah, I tried that, as well as everything else I could think of... All it does now is make that same ascending tone every time I turn it on. It's a pretty neat sounding tone, but I'd rather have a working printer instead. =|

RobertB · March 01, 2009, 05:15 PM

That's a big no-no to attach and remove serial cables when the computer is on. I agree; the electronics of the printer may have been damaged. On a positive note, we might have a spare SR-2000 in storage.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

Andrew Wiskow · March 01, 2009, 06:24 PM

If you have one, Robert, that'd be awesome. It seemed to be a great printer, for the short time I got to use it. Quieter than the Star SG-10C that I normally use, and the ribbons are readily available.

RobertB · March 01, 2009, 07:00 PM

Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on March 01, 2009, 06:24 PMIf you have one, Robert, that'd be awesome.

I'm in Stockton right now and can dig through the storage house on Sunday.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

Andrew Wiskow · March 02, 2009, 04:32 AM

Quote from: RobertB on March 01, 2009, 07:00 PMI'm in Stockton right now and can dig through the storage house on Sunday.

Okay... I can wait.

SmallCleverDinosaur · March 02, 2009, 06:05 AM

Quote from: RobertB on March 01, 2009, 05:15 PM
That's a big no-no to attach and remove serial cables when the computer is on. I agree; the electronics of the printer may have been damaged.

I'd have to agree with Robert, removing (or plugging in) the serial cable of a running Commodore is a very bad thing to do

Today, we are so spoiled when it comes to this, we plug in and unplug USB devices without even thinking. But there is quite a bit of electronics in USB ports and devices to protect them from getting hurt. Electronics that wasn't even invented in the 80's.

Andrew Wiskow · March 02, 2009, 09:01 AM

Quote from: SmallCleverDinosaur on March 02, 2009, 06:05 AMI'd have to agree with Robert, removing (or plugging in) the serial cable of a running Commodore is a very bad thing to do

I understand that it's a bad thing to do... It was a momentary lapse of judgement on my part that ended up costing me.

There's a Sears part number on the back of the printer. I wonder what Sears would say if I tried to place a repair order for the printer?

megabit · March 02, 2009, 09:46 AM

QuoteI wonder what Sears would say if I tried to place a repair order for the printer?

They have a website for that now. Try it and see what happens. :laugh:

Andrew Wiskow · March 02, 2009, 04:50 PM

Quote from: megabit on March 02, 2009, 09:46 AM
They have a website for that now. Try it and see what happens. :laugh:

Amazingly, their parts website does have the printer and all the parts listed, complete with schematics and diagrams! But all the parts, except for the manual, say "Contact Customer Support for availability". The manual is listed as "in stock" with a price of $4.99. I went ahead and ordered one. I have a photocopy of the manual, but it's missing several pages. Maybe there are some troubleshooting tips in there, who knows...

Andrew Wiskow · March 02, 2009, 05:06 PM

Okay, I feel really stupid now...

While I was looking through those diagrams on the Sears parts website, I saw that there's a fuse inside the printer. I managed to open it up and find the fuse, and whaddyaknow, the fuse does appear to be blown! It hadn't even occured to me before... When a Commodore computer has a blown fuse, the thing won't even turn on, and the power light was coming on on the printer... But lo and behold, I removed the fuse, plugged the printer on, and I get the same results as before.

I'm going to get a replacement fuse and see what happens...

megabit · March 02, 2009, 05:32 PM

If replacing the fuse doesn't do it, then your problem is more than likely on the Commodore PCB. It has only one IC.
They describe it as a buffer w/open collectors P/N M53207P 14-pin. It is probably a 74LS07. Replace it alone with the capacitor 1.5uF 25V and it might start working again.

Dan...

Andrew Wiskow · March 02, 2009, 05:54 PM

Wow, Dan... You certainly got a lot more out of those diagrams than I did!

It was, indeed, the fuse afterall. I have a Star SL-10C "parts" printer, and it just happens to have the same size 2.5V slow-blow fuse. I took it out of the Star printer, and put it into the Sears printer, and like magic, it started working again.

Again, I feel like an idiot, but at least I learned something, right?

Robert, I'm sorry if you searched through your storage for one of these printers for nothing, but it looks like I won't be needing it afterall. Still, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a second one for parts, eh?

RobertB · March 02, 2009, 06:50 PM

Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on March 02, 2009, 05:54 PMRobert, I'm sorry if you searched through your storage for one of these printers for nothing, but it looks like I won't be needing it after all. Still, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to have a second one for parts, eh?

I dug through the storage house and found an Epson FX-850, a Commodore 4022, several 1526's, but no SR-2000. It's probably in another storage area. However, I did find a Comrex 220 (which is the Commodore MPS-801) for another user who wants one at the next FCUG meeting. As you can see, not all was a loss.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

SmallCleverDinosaur · March 02, 2009, 08:03 PM

This storage house sounds like a real treasury

I imagine a cave with shelfs and shelfs of old Commodore stuff covered in thick layers of dust. Like a place taken from an Indiana Jones movie

Maybe we could sometime see some pictures from this treasury?

Andrew Wiskow · March 03, 2009, 12:55 AM

Quote from: RobertB on March 02, 2009, 06:50 PMHowever, I did find a Comrex 220 (which is the Commodore MPS-801) for another user who wants one at the next FCUG meeting. As you can see, not all was a loss.

Well, that's good! I feel better now.

The same thing always happens to me when I'm looking for something in storage. I usually won't find the thing I'm looking for, but I'll find other things that I had been looking for but wasn't able to find in the past.

megabit · March 03, 2009, 03:01 AM

QuoteThe same thing always happens to me when I'm looking for something in storage. I usually won't find the thing I'm looking for, but I'll find other things that I had been looking for but wasn't able to find in the past.

You're storage area sounds like mine.

Dan...

RobertB · March 03, 2009, 03:09 AM

Quote from: Andrew Wiskow on March 03, 2009, 12:55 AMI usually won't find the thing I'm looking for, but I'll find other things that I had been looking for but wasn't able to find in the past.

Sounds like my house.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

RobertB · March 03, 2009, 03:13 AM

Quote from: SmallCleverDinosaur on March 02, 2009, 08:03 PM
This storage house sounds like a real treasury I imagine a cave with shelfs and shelfs of old Commodore stuff covered in thick layers of dust. Like a place taken from an Indiana Jones movie

Nah, the cave look goes to the Dienstagstreff.de Bunker meeting held every Tuesday in Bochum, Germany. Nothing like having a Commodore meeting in a bunker!

QuoteMaybe we could sometime see some pictures from this treasury?

Well, views of the rooms of C= stuff are on the California Commodore/Amiga club video I showed to people when I was in Europe last year.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX

Blacklord · March 03, 2009, 06:01 AM

You oughtta see my garage.......

RobertB · March 03, 2009, 10:14 AM

Quote from: Blacklord on March 03, 2009, 06:01 AMYou oughtta see my garage.......

You oughtta see my carport...

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://videocam.net.au/fcug
CommVEx v5 info - http://www.commodore.ca/forum and click on ComVEX