Miracle Systems Gold Card

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Retro-Mania
ROM Dongle
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

Derek_Stewart wrote:Hi,

I have just remembered that there was a backplane for the QL called Qplaneqplane.jpg
Which allowed connection of QL expansions and powered from an AT power supply.

All expansions were required to be modified to run on 5v, which was mainly bridging the voltage regulator with a wire. Except for the Gold Card v2, v3 which inaddition to the voltage regulator bridge wire a modification to the Gold Card Clock was required, as the clock ran on 9v.

The Gold Card modification required a resistor and diode to be removed and an insulated wire joining 2 poits.

The details of the modification is detailed in the Qplane manual. Please attached PDF.

qplane.pdf

This could be the source of the modification on your Gold Card.
Hi Derek

Thank you so much for this, this is fantastic and really helpful! I have sent the Qplane PDF link to the chap who is going to hopefully bring my card back to life. The only thing is, I could really do with knowing about which type of resistor and diode have been removed ...

@tofro - Hi again, would you by any chance be able to identify the resistor and diode in question on the back of your Gold Card please for component sourcing? I would be most grateful!!!

Thanks again Derek and tofro

Kind Regards
Neil


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klausfrank
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by klausfrank »

Hello
I have found some information about the modification of the Gold Card in my files. I have done to my Gold Card. I have also put one card back to "normal" for a friend.
WARNING
Be sure that the Gold Card is in the right state before powering up! And be aware - Murphy's law

Klaus


Retro-Mania
ROM Dongle
Posts: 28
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:18 am

Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

klausfrank wrote:Hello
I have found some information about the modification of the Gold Card in my files. I have done to my Gold Card. I have also put one card back to "normal" for a friend.
WARNING
Be sure that the Gold Card is in the right state before powering up! And be aware - Murphy's law

Klaus
Hi Klaus

Thanks for your post. When you put the Gold Card back to normal for your friend, do you remember the technical details of the diode and resistor that need to be added back to the board (on the edge near the memory chips) please?

Thanks
Neil


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klausfrank
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by klausfrank »

I think my attachment got lost
- so here it is
Gold Card mod 1.pdf
(1.78 MiB) Downloaded 155 times
Gold Card mod 2.pdf
(468.13 KiB) Downloaded 149 times


Retro-Mania
ROM Dongle
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Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:18 am

Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

klausfrank wrote:I think my attachment got lost
- so here it is
Gold Card mod 1.pdf
Gold Card mod 2.pdf
Thank you Klaus! Can you advise me on which particular resistor and diode needs to be used when returning the card to normal 9v operation please?

Kind Regards
Neil


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klausfrank
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by klausfrank »

Hi again

The values of the diode and resistor.

The diode is a zenerdiode -BZX 55C 5.1v

The resistor is a 10 Kohm 5%
IMG_1391.JPG
IMG_1392.JPG
Klaus


Retro-Mania
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

klausfrank wrote:Hi again

The values of the diode and resistor.

The diode is a zenerdiode -BZX 55C 5.1v

The resistor is a 10 Kohm 5%

IMG_1391.JPG
IMG_1392.JPG

Klaus
Hi Klaus

Excellent!!! Thank you very much! Out of curiosity, the diode only looks soldered to the board on the left-hand side, with the right side sticking up in the air?

Kind Regards
Neil


Retro-Mania
ROM Dongle
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Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:18 am

Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

klausfrank wrote:Hi again

The values of the diode and resistor.

The diode is a zenerdiode -BZX 55C 5.1v

The resistor is a 10 Kohm 5%

IMG_1391.JPG
IMG_1392.JPG

Klaus
Also, are these values ok for use on a v2 or v3 board (red)?

Thanks
Neil


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klausfrank
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by klausfrank »

The reason, why the diode and the resistor are soldered only at one end,is that they disconnected, and I don’t loose them. Just in case.....


Retro-Mania
ROM Dongle
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Re: Miracle Systems Gold Card

Post by Retro-Mania »

klausfrank wrote:The reason, why the diode and the resistor are soldered only at one end,is that they disconnected, and I don’t loose them. Just in case.....
Ahh, I understand - the photo you sent me is of a modified board! That makes sense!

Also, are the values for the diode and resistor going to be the same for a Gold Card V2 or V3 (with red PCB) ?

Thanks
Neil


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