You know about the "S" curve on the left side ribbon cables?  Makes sense, right?  That's because the left side top board is pretty darn close to those cables that if they weren't tied down properly, they'd be sheared off pretty quickly.  Further, it keeps them out of the way.

What about the ribbon cables on the right side?  Paul's new tails on the face plate are pretty long and make a pretty big loop if left to their own devices.  Guess what?  If they loop down too far they'll touch the Output Board!  Well, you say, so what?  IT'S A SHORT.  PLAIN AND SIMPLE.  It's not Paul's fault.  I simply tucked the loop up under the top right board and no touching - NO SHORT!  I did not expect those tails to reach anything below it.  WRONG!

Unfortunately, in Paul's .JPG step by step tutorial and the other excellent one on YouTube, it doesn't really mention this.  Not in specific terms anyway. 

This is after checking the ribbon cable matrix with a Fluke 87V and all was good.  If they were good, what was shorting them out?

As soon as I put the top back on, I went through all the paces and it worked just fine.  It may have been a combination of the things in my last post, but I think MY problems were from not tucking the tails up and under like the left side is.  And yes - they behave like those on the left and curl right up under nicely.  They will not break if done slowly and of course - carefully.

So, if you're shorting out and getting multiple Letters (A&B at the same time), hang ups and other sordid and weird responses -AND- you're using a NEW ribbon cable - do that... tuck them up and under like the left side.  Otherwise you may short out and not know why.

Owners with older ribbon cables - be careful.  This may break them into several pieces.  But then again -you may not need to do this anyway.

I won't be fooled again (The Who)...

Tracy Barber

(PS - No offense against anyone showing tutorials on this.  My laziness!)