Jump to content

TRS-80 Model 16B General Maintenance

From RetroTechCollection
Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 16B built-in hard disk console (System Manual, 1983, p. 5)
The Built-in Hard Disk System console and keyboard (Tandy manual, 1983).

No service manual for the TRS-80 Model 16B has been found online. What Tandy published for owners is in the Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual of 1983: installation, power sequencing, drive care and preventive maintenance intervals.[1] For work inside the case, the closest documents are the Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 16 Service Manual for the 68000 boards and the Tandy 6000 Service Manual, which sends owners of 6000s built like the 16B to the 16B service manual; see TRS-80 Model 16 General Maintenance and TRS-80 Model 6000 General Maintenance.[2]

[3]

Installation and mains

[edit | edit source]
  • Use a grounded three-pin outlet that does not also feed heavy machinery, copiers or office machines with faulty switches, or a grounded power strip. Tandy warns that poor connection or grounding is a shock hazard and endangers the system and data.[4]
  • The machine has a built-in mains line filter for minor disturbances. For severe ones, Tandy suggests fixing faulty switches on nearby machines, fitting suppression or isolation devices to noisy equipment, or running a separate supply line to the computer.[5]
  • Mains ratings: 105-130 V AC at 60 Hz, or 220 V (Europe) or 240 V (Australia) at 50 Hz; 1.5 A typical, 2.0 A maximum. Operating temperature is 55-85 °F (13-29 °C).[6]

Power sequence

[edit | edit source]

Tandy says any change in the power sequence may damage the system and data.[7]

  1. Make sure all diskette drives are empty and all equipment is off.
  2. Switch the computer on by pushing the power switch forward. The built-in hard disk (drive 4), the floppy drive and any secondary hard disk come on with it. Allow one minute for the hard disks to warm up.
  3. Switch on any other peripherals.
  4. To switch off, empty the floppy drives, switch off the peripherals (a secondary hard disk goes off with the computer), then push the power switch back.

Wait at least 15 seconds before switching back on, never switch on or off with a diskette in a drive, and never move the unit while the power light is lit.[7][6][4] To boot from floppy, press REPEAT and BREAK while the screen is white during start-up; "INSERT DISKETTE" then appears.[7]

Access panel and cabling

[edit | edit source]

The floppy and hard disk expansion connectors are behind the input/output access panel on the back of the console, held by thumbscrews. The secondary hard disk uses a 34-pin and a 20-pin connector on the edge of the board, and a floppy expansion unit plugs into the 50-pin connector on the chassis. Cables leave downwards through the strain relief brackets on the panel, with about 8 inches of slack inside, and out through the notch in the base. Tandy says the hard disk drives must always have a line terminator fitted.[4]

A disk flaw record listing the media defects of the built-in drive is attached inside the access panel (on a secondary unit, underneath it). Keep it: it is needed when formatting the disk and by service technicians.[4] The 6000 service manual shows that some machines in this family have the cooling fan in a metal housing on the back of the access panel.[2]

Disk drives

[edit | edit source]
Tandy's maintenance guidance for the drives
Item Guidance
Floppy drives Have the drives checked by a Radio Shack technician every six months or less; ask about head cleaning kits
Preventive maintenance interval Every 8,000 power-on hours in typical use (3,000 hours a year); every 5,000 hours in heavy use (8,000 hours a year)
Secondary hard disk Never move it while powered; keep the air around it free of dust
Secondary hard disk filter When it is clogged, remove the outer grille without removing its screws, take out the filter, rinse it in tap water and refit it only when completely dry
Diskettes Never touch or wipe the recording surface; keep away from magnetic fields, heat and dust; write labels with a felt-tip pen only

Sources: Chapter 9 and Appendix D.[8][6] The built-in hard disk has a sealed head and disk chamber.[9] See also Floppy Drive Repair.

Inside the case

[edit | edit source]
  • The 6000 manual's version 2 disassembly, on TRS-80 Model 6000 General Maintenance, does not apply to machines with the fan housing on the access panel; for those Tandy refers to the 16B service manual.[2]
  • For the 68000 boards, the TRS-80 Model 16 General Maintenance page covers the original Model 16's boards and jumpers. Check the Tandy part numbers printed on each board against the board tables on the TRS-80 Model 16B Capacitor Replacement Guide before relying on either manual.
  • Handle the boards with an earthed wrist strap: the trs-80.com notes warn that static damage is cumulative.[3] Tandy's 16B manual also names static as a cause of unreadable disks and files, and suggests humidifiers and anti-static carpets.[5]
[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ↑ Radio Shack, TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual, 1983, hosted as File:Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983).pdf.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Tandy Computer Products, Service Manual, Tandy 6000/6000-HD, catalogue numbers 26-6021/2, 1985, hosted as File:Tandy 6000 Service Manual (26-6021, 26-6022, 1985).pdf. Section 3, p. 9.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ira Goldklang, "TRS-80 Troubleshooting Guide and Repair Q&A", Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site (retrieved 2026-10-21). "All Models" section: "CRTs", "Static".
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Chapter 1, "Installing Your Built-in Hard Disk System", pp. 8-11.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Appendix A, "Problems and Error Messages", pp. 39-46.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Appendix D, "Specifications", pp. 60-63.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Chapter 3, "Power-Up/Power-Down", pp. 17-20.
  8. ↑ TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Chapter 9, "Maintenance", pp. 37-38.
  9. ↑ TRS-80 Model 16B Built-in Hard Disk System Manual (1983), Introduction, p. 1.


Retrieved from "https://retrotechwiki.com/index.php?title=TRS-80_Model_16B_General_Maintenance&oldid=29061"