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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: TjLaZer on February 02, 2006, 06:16:12 PM

Title: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: TjLaZer on February 02, 2006, 06:16:12 PM
I have my A2000 Video Toaster 2000 at work and have been working on it (added a Fusion Forty 040 card, and updated GVP ROM)  I had it left on for a while and was working on other stuff when I smelled burining electronics!  I thought one of my PCs was burning up when I went to look at the 2000 I saw smoke coming from the Toaster 2000 card! (Case was open thank gosh)  I turned it off immediately!  Looks like the toaster card is done, can I get it replaced by NewTek I wonder?
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: motorollin on February 02, 2006, 06:29:56 PM
:-o
They don't call it a Toaster for nothing!  :lol:

--
moto
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: amigagr on February 02, 2006, 06:31:36 PM
oh boy this toast(er) can't be eaten anymore...
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: TjLaZer on February 02, 2006, 06:39:34 PM
Man I cannot imagine what would of happend if I was not around!  Whole building would of been on fire!!
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: tonyvdb on February 02, 2006, 07:12:21 PM
Scarry :-o I would hate to think if that hapend to my System! Do you have any pictures of the dammage?

You would be better off getting a Toaster 4000 card. Many of them on ebay for less then $100.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: amigagr on February 02, 2006, 07:38:35 PM
it happens something similar to me 2 years ago with a pc monitor at work. while we are editing a video clip sadenly the monitor fade to black, i start wonder what the f... is happend and the monitor started to blow black smoke everywhere! i pull off the socket quickly i put another in it's place and we continue the work :-)
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: T3000 on February 03, 2006, 02:56:16 PM
too much butter...  
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: Matt_H on February 03, 2006, 03:09:33 PM
@ TjLaZer

I've heard that NewTek are still extremely helpful in providing Amiga support and repairs. I'd say there's a good chance they will repair your Toaster :-)

@ amije

My friend lost a monitor in exactly the same way - smoke pouring out everywhere for no discernible reason. I wonder what causes such things? Bad tube in the monitor? Faulty soldering? Bad wiring in the walls? Age?
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: tonyvdb on February 03, 2006, 03:16:48 PM
In Monitors and other circuitry its usualy caused by poor soldering Better known as a "Cold Solder" if done incorectly the heating and cooling of the circuit will eventualy cause it to lift slightly off the pad that it was atached to. If enough dust or just simply heat builds up at this spot the plastic circuit board will just erupt into flames.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: amigagr on February 03, 2006, 04:28:00 PM
the bad situation is when you have left the machine to render for hours and you have leave from office/home to do another work... after this expiriance i always close the monitors before i go. but what can you do for an amiga or pc that must do a job for hours? security guards maybe? lol!
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: TjLaZer on February 03, 2006, 04:35:12 PM
Well I think there must of been a problem with the Toaster card for sure, but yes! this episode makes me re think leaving vintage computers running when I am not around!  Anyone else?
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: AmiGR on February 03, 2006, 05:08:18 PM
The circuit board is almost never made of plastic, it's fiber glass usually. Fiberglass does not burn easilly at all. Other kinds, like paper coated with various layers of resins, might burn more easilly. Monitor fires are usually caused by exploding capacitors, although cold solder spots in lines that conduct a large amount of current wan cause sparks that might ignite plastic components, like, again, capacitors.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: AmiGR on February 03, 2006, 05:08:41 PM
Hey Je!

Pws paei? :-)
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: amigagr on February 03, 2006, 05:11:31 PM
ola kala re paliopaido  :-) alla den mporo na mpo sto irc logo dsl :madashell:
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: Argus on February 04, 2006, 12:22:06 PM
I don't think it's a good idea to run the toaster with the case open, for rf and grounding reasons.  The toaster has a grounding copper strip thingy next to the floppy which should contact the metal A2000 case cover.

Did you put some kind of non-conducting spacer between the Toaster board and the p/s?  Most setups I've seen use a rubber grommet or something so the two cannot touch.  I don't think this was your problem but a tip for the future.  Interestingly, though the A2320 ff has a plastic shield on it's backside, the Microway ff has none (good idea to add something to eliminate accidental shorting.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: koaftder on February 04, 2006, 01:26:21 PM
I used to work at a computer repair shop, i was one of the guys who repaird powersupplies and monitors. One time i got this monitor in which had a pcb burnt to a char in one place, the owner told me they had a water leak, which dripped into the monitor and it caught fire. The pcb was designed so that in highvoltage areas thre were slits cut into the fiberboard, so if heat go to a high enough level, it would simple burn out. Didnt work in this case. Which is wierd because on that monitor, most shorts or overdrains would pop the fuse...
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: Plaz on February 04, 2006, 02:17:49 PM
At last check, Newtek offered lifetime warranty on Amiga toasters and flyers. My flyer died, I sent it back about 14 months ago and they fixed it for free. If you haven't already, you will need to go to their web site and register your card.

Quote
2) Product warranty and repair: NewTek will only repair registered products, and will only recognize warranty on registered products. And registration is easy - if you have not already registered, and find you need to call for a repair to your product, your Technical Support representative will register you



The only catch is they said they will fix them as long as they have parts available. Which tells me once they run out of spare parts, we're going to be out of luck. So register and then contact their support. Good luck!

Plaz
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: justthatgood on February 04, 2006, 02:21:26 PM
Ouch.  So far I've only had that happen to me with a Apple IIgs Rom 1 motherboard (those things were known for not liking  to have a lot of power drawn up from the motherboard through the cards), 2 monitors, and a big huge full size SCSI drive.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: TjLaZer on February 06, 2006, 08:33:11 PM
Yes I just got off the phone with NewTek and they will be fixing/replacing the card for FREE!!!  They will also fix another VT4000 card with a broken BNC Connector.

Also will be ordering the 4.3 CD-ROM and manual.

NewTek kicks arse!!!!  :)
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: justthatgood on February 06, 2006, 08:58:56 PM
Man!!! I've gotta get me a Video Toaster..

That is so freaking cool!!!!!!!!!!! Nice to know there is a company that doesn't forget it's roots.  They actually remember why they are where they are today.  That is so awesome.
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: tonyvdb on February 06, 2006, 09:47:06 PM
I have had my Toaster Flyer system since 1995 and it still works just like new :-D NewTek knows how to build a great solid product :-)
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: Argus on February 07, 2006, 01:06:43 AM
@TjLazer

How much does Newtek charge for the 4.3 cd and manual?
Title: Re: Holy Smokes! Toaster 2000 caught on fire!
Post by: Dr_Righteous on February 07, 2006, 01:58:23 AM
That is extremely cool of NewTek... Even supporting the boards that have been sold and resold! That's incredible!