5

I have an ZX Spectrum+ that came with a SCART interface (unknown brand, all I know is that it's french and that the blue logo seems to spell "IS").

It didn't came with its original power supply so I bought a 9 Volts and 2.25 Amps power supply.

When I plug the SCART and the power supply, nothing shows up on the screen.

I don't think the computer is broken as the internal regulator gets hot (quite a lot) when the power supply is plugged (I read that it is normal for it to get really hot), and I can hear a small noise on my headsphones when plugging the power supply, as if electricity was running normally.

I also didn't notice any leaking capacitors or any corrosion on both the ZX Spectrum+ mainboard and the SCART interface printed circuit board. The only thing I did before trying to boot it was to dust off the mainbaord and keyboard.

The problem being that there is no LED (none on this model) or speaker sound that tell me that computer is booting. So I don't know if the problem comes from the computer or only the peritel interface.

The screen I currently use is an Atari SC 1425. Maybe the SCART interface is no compatible with this screen?

What could prevent my ZX Spectrum+ from showing anything on-screen? Is it that either the peritel interface or the ZX Spectrum+ are broken?

Improve this question
8
  • 2
    Are you able to try another video output? I normally used the RF output on my ZX Spectrum.
    – Omar and Lorraine
    Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 11:24
  • 1
    You could also try to save something to the cassette port; this would put some sound on the speaker so that you can confirm the computer is actually running.
    – Omar and Lorraine
    Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 11:27
  • @Wilson Thanks for the idea, but how can I try to save to the cassette port without any video ouput? Is there a combination of keys and commands that I can input to do so?
    – Informancien
    Commented Oct 8, 2016 at 16:39
  • Is it a grey or black Spectrum? Apparently these use two different cables. Here's one, with a link to the other: retrogamingcables.co.uk/…
    – snips-n-snails
    Commented Oct 9, 2016 at 4:33
  • 1
    As you bought a replacement PSU, are you sure this is negative centre? The spectrum had PSUs that were the inverse polarity of basically everything else around.
    – tofro
    Commented Oct 9, 2016 at 23:22

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

As has been noted in comments, you have probably damaged your ZX Spectrum+'s hardware by reversing the polarity of the power supply. In mcleod_ideafix's answer to the relevant question this is explained in more detail:

You have damaged your Spectrum for sure. [...] [The 7805 regulator] is designed to survive overvoltage and short circuit conditions, but it is very vulnerable to a polarity inversion.

Improve this answer
0

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .