Troubleshooting ABI Boardmaster 4000
- Thread starter trm
- Start date
Hi there, I'm new to this forum (from USA) but I have two of these units in working condition. One unit I replaced the cracked display with a retrofit LCD I put together that fits inside the original housing. But that's not the reason for my post. What I want to say is on the two switchmode supplies I replaced ALL the electrolytic capacitors. I used my Sencore LC103 and 80% of the original caps were bad or out of spec. I found replacing these caps to be very important for the health of the Boardmaster 4000 -overall. I made sure that I had date codes from this century too,
I used Nichicon capacitors for everything. 105C rating. They datecode their caps and you can request date coded caps made within the last year. 2019/2020. Next I cleaned up the pcb and replaced the two surface mount caps on the Hitachi Inverter INVC158. If you do these simple house keeping things it is going to save you a lot of headaches down the road. Its awesome that there are people out there still using these units. . I Just don't have keyboards for my two units.
What lcd did you retrofit? the same type it originally had? I have a really early version with no lcd that I connected up to a multi sync benq monitor, it works pretty well.
As for the keyboard I found one that could be modded to work but I think all stock has dried up now. Keyboard collectors like to buy them and then wreck them by pulling all the keycaps off, because they have old cherry switches.
As for the keyboard I found one that could be modded to work but I think all stock has dried up now. Keyboard collectors like to buy them and then wreck them by pulling all the keycaps off, because they have old cherry switches.
Colins said:Hi there, I'm new to this forum (from USA) but I have two of these units in working condition. One unit I replaced the cracked display with a retrofit LCD I put together that fits inside the original housing. But that's not the reason for my post. What I want to say is on the two switchmode supplies I replaced ALL the electrolytic capacitors. I used my Sencore LC103 and 80% of the original caps were bad or out of spec. I found replacing these caps to be very important for the health of the Boardmaster 4000 -overall. I made sure that I had date codes from this century too,I used Nichicon capacitors for everything. 105C rating. They datecode their caps and you can request date coded caps made within the last year. 2019/2020. Next I cleaned up the pcb and replaced the two surface mount caps on the Hitachi Inverter INVC158. If you do these simple house keeping things it is going to save you a lot of headaches down the road. Its awesome that there are people out there still using these units. . I Just don't have keyboards for my two units.
Don't suppose you made a list or cap map did you? I think I need to do this sooner rather than later.
Welcome to the forum btw
Dan
I found what I think is the complete cap list for the BM4K power supply.
150uf 35v
470uf 10v
1000uf 10v x3
180uf 35v
47uf 16v x2
4.7uf 50v
22uf 35v
56uf 35v
All Nichicon 105c high quality, still about half of the high voltage ones had started to leak.
Going from memory I *think* ABI used two different power supplies over the course of making BM4Ks but this list is for the more common one.
150uf 35v
470uf 10v
1000uf 10v x3
180uf 35v
47uf 16v x2
4.7uf 50v
22uf 35v
56uf 35v
All Nichicon 105c high quality, still about half of the high voltage ones had started to leak.
Going from memory I *think* ABI used two different power supplies over the course of making BM4Ks but this list is for the more common one.
If anyone needs a replacement or just wants a spare LCD this seller has two left
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263982704939
It might need some minor modification but this is the exact panel ABI used. I bought a spare as a bug decided to die inside mine, it didn't even have the decency to go to the edge.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263982704939
It might need some minor modification but this is the exact panel ABI used. I bought a spare as a bug decided to die inside mine, it didn't even have the decency to go to the edge.
Sounds like it was working since the seller said it beeps which it wouldn't do if it wasn't booting up. Add a BenQ monitor and make a ribbon cable and the winner has a working BM4k. So not a bad price imo.
I don't know what a known working one with screen would go for these days, it's been so long since I've seen one up for sale.
I don't know what a known working one with screen would go for these days, it's been so long since I've seen one up for sale.
well I see this last Tuesday so very quickly bought it! Its a faulty one for that price, BUT it IS complete. I thought at the very least there are spares! the lcd back I can use for the one I have now! (but that doesn't like the cold now so that needs psu caps doing I think)
andrew962022-05-22 01:34:23
andrew962022-05-22 01:34:23
Just to complete my post preceding this one, the unit kicked and screamed not wanting to be repaired, But I finally beat it! It had faults on the main PCB and the LCD cpu sub board. It really was not a easy repair and took nearly 6 weeks to complete.
