[Amps] ALPHAs and momentary power outages

[jeremy-ca]

I would think that the Alpha microcessor is pretty basic and looking for 
simple analog inputs.

Much like an automotive processor. I had a built up LT1/4L60E Corvette combo 
in a 38 Chevy coupe and the tranny began slipping. A rebuild was $1800. A 
little bit of monitoring with a DVM ascertained what voltages the processor 
was looking for to cause the shift solenoids to actuate.  Then it was simply 
a trip to the junkyard for a good non electronic 700R4 tranny and a couple 
of resistors across the old harness connector to fake out the processor and 
I was back in business for $250 with sharper shifting to boot.

Sometimes it pays to think out of the box.

Carl
KM1H



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji at w8ji.com>
To: <wc1m at msn.com>; "'Jim Brown'" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>; 
<amps at contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 1:02 PM
Subject: Re: [Amps] ALPHAs and momentary power outages


>> I'm glad someone was paying attention. It would be hard to
>> reprogram the
>> microprocessor, but it would be easy to patch the timer
>> value on the fly, as
>> needed. You just have to get the address(s) and meaning of
>> the value(s) from
>> Alpha.
>
> My bet is the timer has a reset line or line that monitors
> power down. It may even just be when the power to the
> microprocessor is removed, the CPU restarts.
>
> The simplest approach would be to fool the system into not
> knowing the power ever went down. You could do that with a
> battery and R/C timer, a large electrolytic and a few
> diodes, or any other number of ways.
>
> Maintaining the entire power line and HV supply is probably
> not even necessary. I would however restrict the hang time
> to several seconds and no longer, and make sure the step
> start recycled.
>
> 73 Tom
>
>
>
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