> You need a multimeter to check the supply voltages,
> don't touch the trimmers as your voltages can go out of
> spec and damage the guts. But do get them verified before
> anything else.
I have a Fluke 87V MM at the ready. I guess I just don't know which leads to put where on the spots to check. A little homework will help, of course. Positive / negative / black / red, those things. This is my weakest spot. Very few to none of the tech types around where I live now. Plenty when I lived in Albany. I have a friend who knows how to use the Fluke but has little patience lately.
> Basic
> reseating of connectors can help many synths that have been
> unused or stored in dampness etc. for some time... of course
> when the synth is unplugged and given time to power down
> etc.
Yes, Basic computer concept used with synths. Been doing that for 25 years. BUT. Haven't reseated everything in the synth. I think it needs a full breakdown - unscrewing, connectors checked / aired out, etc... all parts. There could be something as simple as a washer touching something it's not supposed to be or a shorted / broken cable. That's why I haven't jumped on buying the power supply yet. I need to have the patience and focus to spend 2 - 3 hours with it, like I did with the face plates mentioned below.
> Did you mention whether you made it
> over to the main host site for the Chroma Polaris, which has
> tons of technical details and insights for you to review?
> It'll give you a much better starting point for
> follow-up questions etc.
Yes - Homework done. That's where I got the diagnostics and info. The last button on the Chroma page has the Polaris stuff. I can't do some of the diagnostics because it won't let me. I even did a RESET. It's probably not calibrated all over the place, but when I play a patch (scratch patch), it plays fine, is in tune and is like it's not broke after the RESET. Tried to load patches from cassette and no go. Tried from Sound Quest and Midi Ox also. Barf... Once again, need to document this.
> How about the lengthy series of videos
>by Syntegrator?
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vT0KHv-WcwY&list=PL83CA5910E261AB4E%c2%a0
Absolutely religiously. As I was doing the face plates, I followed it closely and it took me about 2 hours to redo it. I did it very slowly. The ribbon cables are seated properly and lined up with the connectors. I can aired the connectors. I wonder if I need to Deoxy them? The last cables were toast and crumbling. All the LEDs light up and the pads (buttons?) all work after reseating the top left motherboard and firing up the synth. I even searched the traces for any odd solder or traces connected with gunk not supposed to be there, connecting them by accident.
It's when I leave it on for a period of time that poop starts to happen. I did the LF-D-3 (?) LED diagnostic and then poof! most of the lights went out. Locked up - I think... I have to document this further.
So, I am going to take it apart - slowly. This I know how to do. And be able to put it together! hehehehe...
I really like the sound of the synth. It has some oomph... that's why I'm acting like a child and making a fuss here. LOL!
Thanks for the help and reminders.
Tracy