Misc DEC4 questions

[e093116]

Hello,

I'm in the process of finishing off an LS3, which I am planning on using with a DEC4 wallbox.

The LS3 came with a DCC1, I noticed in Ron's book that it says to use the "-2" buffer board with a wallbox...can anyone comment why this is?

Fortunately, I have a couple of spare DCCs with the -2 board, the first one I installed must have a problem as dropping quarters into the coin slot would no longer add credits. Is there a common failure mode on the board that is a most likely cause? I put a second -2 board in there, and it corrected the problem. I'd like to try to fix the first problem board for my "spares" inventory.

As an aside, in "them olden days" what was the typical repair/return to service process for the general issue described above (board found faulty)?  Would boards simply be replaced, or would the problem be determined down to the component level and then fixed?

Second, I have another DEC4 in a room in the house that is connected to a USC1/TSA10 amp in the garage. I'd like the volume to be louder in the house, so that I don't have to turn the volume up so loud in the garage. I know I could dumb down the USC1 volume by connecting the speakers to the 16W tap instead of the 40W...but would it hurt anything to connect the DEC4 speaker wires to the 16W tap and leave the USC1 on the 40W tap?

 Thank you.

Bill

[Ron Rich]

Hi Bill,
The 4 data lines ("Quadrabits") were originally, directly connected between the DEC-and the 311134 buffers. A coin hung on a switch in the DEC could cripple the phonograph, so they added a "buffer circuit" to the -2 boards. "Anything" can be wrong with the bad board, from a diode, transistor, or cap--and of course, and open trace. As for the "olden daze", that would depend on the skill of the repair person-- I have seen many "modular units" returned to the distributor for repair, that had very minor problems. A GOOD distrib. would not only "repair" the unit, but would update it if/as required--( You can ship it to me for repair, if you wish )
As for tapping the Consolette speakers at a higher wattage, I would not do that. I would "dumb down" the main speakers, or add remote speakers in the other room--The small DEC speakers, can be "blown out"-- (PS thanks for buying the MicroLog Trouble Shooting Guide--hope it's helpful !) Ron Rich