Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The IBM Personal Computer, aka the Model 5150, literally started the PC revolution. The IBM PC launched in 1981, and according to Wikipedia, "started at $1,565 for a configuration with 16 KB RAM, Color Graphics Adapter, keyboard, and no disk drives." Fortunately mine is better equipped, likely shipping from IBM with 64KB-256KB of RAM and at least one floppy drive. (I can't tell if some of the RAM in mine was installed after shipping, or had bad RAM replaced after purchase.)
And someone go some good use out of this 5150: it has a third-party CGA card (possibly to get an extra parallel port without taking up a separate slot), an AST SixPackPlus card, and a Miniscribe hard card.
When this computer had its Wheel of Regrets™ debut, it threw a double temper tantalum on power up. (And yes, I tested for shorts first - there were none.) One tantalum on the motherboard and one tantalum on a floppy drive both contributed to the smoke show. I'm glad I was behind my "blast shield" and wearing my nerdy safety glasses!
Tonight, we are going to pick up where we left off on Thursday - it's time to pull the drives from the 5150 case and replace the tantalum capacitors that like to throw temper tantrums.
Will we successfully recap and clean the two drives that were in the 5150 when I got it? Will I still have one spare drive at the end of the evening? Will we have another temper tantalum? You'll have to watch to find out!
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The IBM Personal Computer, aka the Model 5150, literally started the PC revolution. The IBM PC launched in 1981, and according to Wikipedia, "started at $1,565 for a configuration with 16 KB RAM, Color Graphics Adapter, keyboard, and no disk drives." Fortunately mine is better equipped, likely shipping from IBM with 64KB-256KB of RAM and at least one floppy drive. (I can't tell if some of the RAM in mine was installed after shipping, or had bad RAM replaced after purchase.)
And someone go some good use out of this 5150: it has a third-party CGA card (possibly to get an extra parallel port without taking up a separate slot), an AST SixPackPlus card, and a Miniscribe hard card.
When this computer had its Wheel of Regrets™ debut, it threw a double temper tantalum on power up. (And yes, I tested for shorts first - there were none.) One tantalum on the motherboard and one tantalum on a floppy drive both contributed to the smoke show. I'm glad I was behind my "blast shield" and wearing my nerdy safety glasses!
Tonight, we are going to pick up where we left off on Thursday - it's time to pull the drives from the 5150 case and replace the tantalum capacitors that like to throw temper tantrums.
Will we successfully recap and clean the two drives that were in the 5150 when I got it? Will I still have one spare drive at the end of the evening? Will we have another temper tantalum? You'll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: jdmcs.net/mytwitter
![Apple ][ Plus Clone Tantalum Troubles: Finding the Short on the 12V Rail (Computerized Start™ Live)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/y_2k2MA5XMY/mqdefault.jpg "Apple ][ Plus Clone Tantalum Troubles: Finding the Short on the 12V Rail (Computerized Start™ Live)
Ive launched a merch shop: https://shop.jdmcs.com - use code JUSTINTIME for 5% off all Computerized Start™ merchandise through at least May 31th!
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I bought an Apple IIe Clone Motherboard on eBay (the place where I buy the things I later regret™) knowing full well it was an Apple ][ Plus clone motherboard and missing some chips. Yes, COMPUTER was jealous at first, but then COMPUTER realized I needed practice on a similar motherboard before I continue removing sockets, so were good...
Whats not good is this clone motherboard: there is a short on the 12V rail. But after removing all the chips that are on the 12V rail, the short was still present. Then I noticed it: a previous owner replaced ceramic capacitors with tantalum capacitors.
There are no polarity markings for these capacitors, so I suspect the board was designed for ceramic capacitors (like the Apple ][ Plus), and its likely one or more of these capacitors are installed backwards. Hopefully removing all the tantalum capacitors will remove the short, then Ill replace them with ceramic capacitors.
Will I find the short? Will the ceramic capacitors I bought make the board look original? Will I get to powering this motherboard up? Youll have to watch to find out!
*
Ways to Support the Channel:
☕️ Tips or Support via Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/jdmcs
🈷️ Support me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jdmcs
📦 Amazon Wishlist: https://jdmcs.net/wishlist
... or simply do the YouTube things: Like/Dislike, Comment, Subscribe, Enable Notifications, and participate in the Chat. These things help the channel, too!
**
Read Computerized Start™, my Official Blog: https://jdmcs.net/myblog
Follow me on Instagram: https://jdmcs.net/myinstagram
Follow me on Twitter: https://jdmcs.net/mytwitter")
