IBM model 30 power supply issue

[marina_1234]

Hi, I have a client who wanted the computer he had as a kid - namely an IBM model 30... he wants to play the games he never finished as a kid and wants the look and feel of the old system...

Well, I finally found one... It was actually still factory sealed in the box... With monitor, keyboard, etc... I got it today and hooked it all up - to discover it DIDN'T power up... The monitor however works just fine...

Before you ask, I plug it in (using the original cords which are brand new, still shrink wrapped), turn it on. No light. No beep. Just silence. I tried the plug on another system - works just fine so I am sure it's not the cord.

I opened it up, looked at everything and to be quite frank everything is in pristine condition. I am a little surprised it didn't power up... I went ahead and started taking components out to see if maybe one of them were the problem and it doesn't appear to be... So I am thinking the power supply is dead? I did test it with my multimeter (dc current) and it did give me readings that would indicate a dead power supply on a modern system - I am not sure if it's the same for these old ones?

Now, here's my boat load of questions :0

Is the power supply known to go belly up like that, it's been sitting in its box (sealed with the IBM factory tape) since the 90s?

Are other components likely to be dead too?

Is it possible for me to purchase a modern power supply like a 300w one (or the lowest watt one I can find at a place like Frys Electronics) - and use an at/atx converter to be able to connect it to the motherboard? it's a 12 + 5 connection, two separate plugs... is something like that even possible? would that limit the life of the system? or would it dumb down? or would it just run real hot and maybe short out or catch fire?

as for the cmos battery - i have found it, took me quite a while, but i found that old dallas battery... is there any way i can test it? i have a battery tester for aa, aaa, type batteries but it won't work on this one... i am thinking i need to replace it - is there any modern day equivalent i could use? finding an old battery like this one i am sure will be tough and expensive...

I need some input here - cause i am a whiz on the modern systems, but not as much on these older ones...

thanks to everyone!!!!

 

[Emerald]

does the PSU have a 110V-220V switch? Make sure it is in the correct position.

also is this the type of PSU you need? I doubt a regular PSU will work/fit then.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-PS-2-Power-Supply-Pull-from-a-Model-30-286-P-S-Date-code-1989-/191255277373?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c87b3ef3d

 

[marina_1234]

does the PSU have a 110V-220V switch? Make sure it is in the correct position.

also is this the type of PSU you need? I doubt a regular PSU will work/fit then.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/IBM-PS-2-Power-Supply-Pull-from-a-Model-30-286-P-S-Date-code-1989-/191255277373?pt=US_Vintage_Computing_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c87b3ef3d

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Hi,
Yes it's that kind of power supply. Except the connect is different - apparently there are two different types of power supplies for the model 30.

The reason I was asking about using a modern power supply is even tho I may be able to find another old one, there is no guarantee how long it's going to work - in fact i would say it wouldn't be working for much longer either because these things are over 20 years old! i wanted to know if i could take a modern power supply, like a 300, and change the adapter to the one on the old broken psu. yes, i know, i would need to figure out the +12, -12, +5, -5 and wire everything correctly, but it could be done right?

If you don't know, that's ok, you don't need to reply. Thanks!

 

[Alabalcho]

If my brain serves me right, Model 30 was slim-line PS/2 PC, making fitting a replacement kind of hard.

I would look at external power brick with internal converter (like the one used in some ITX boards) and "jumper" cables for motherboard and hard drive / floppy.

 

[marina_1234]

I fixed the problem... I just decided to put a newer motherboard, power supply, etc in the case. Still has the vintage look and feel, but much more modern insides so if/when something happens it will be way eaiser to replace to... I have an old IBM pentium II desktop lying around which was perfect for this... the motherboard has the same connection as that old vintage monitor, I tested it and it works with it! i dumber down the mb so it only has 512mb of ram (the max windows 3.0 will see) and the hd is a 20gig (also the max windows 3.0 will see). plus windows 3.0 FLIES on it lol... so all in all it was the perfect fix...

thanks so much everyone for racking your brain on a fix - but this one is the one I should have thought of from the beginning!