Repairing Apple IIc RAM (Also The Stuff I Broke) 

I think this video has a lot of value in just being the rare example of a DIY repair job on RU-vid where the person doing it is willing to show their mistakes and isn't already a soldering master. Seeing someone else make + overcome errors helps make you a lot more confident in your own ability to do something.

I have a couple of those solder suckers, too. I really like them. But, a couple of caveats: 1) Get a refill pack of silicone tube. It is *definitely* a consumable. It starts to fray and split at the end, which ruins the suction. 2) You need to clean it from time to time. Unscrew both ends, thoroughly clean out all the solder dust, and oil the o-rings. I use a Q-tip dipped in motor oil. If you don't keep them lubricated, they'll hesitate while moving, which is no good when you're trying to quickly vacuum up molten solder. 3) This one's a bonus -- no charge. If you are trying to de-solder something with a lot of solder on it, e.g., removing the wire wrapped around an AC inlet's spade terminal, you may end up clogging the chamber with a big glob of solder. This is no fun at all to clear. I have had some luck using a hot air station to liquify the solder and tap it out onto a work surface. That aluminum tube will wick up some serious heat, though, so you need ample fire power at your disposal, and it'll get flippin 'ot! In light of #2 and #3, I would highly recommend getting two of them, so that when the first one gets clogged or starts acting sluggish, you can carry on with the second until you're done with the job, then properly maintain them. Or, do like I do, and neglect both of them until they're both out of commission, and hastily fix them both while grumbling to yourself and contemplating the purchase of a third as a spare.

Nicely done! That solder sucker does look a lot nicer than the big blue plastic whatever-the-hell I've had for years. And I love the production values on your narration and video editing -- a lot better than a lot of these kinds of things I've seen.

Are you an EE prof or something? If you're not you should be. I could listen to your vids for hours, it's super engaging, love your dry humor too. Way better than any lecturers I've had throughout my degree.

6:00 "i could destroy the traces in the process" foreshadowing!

man I've been in a rut lately and just watching/hearing the genuine joy this brings you is enough to make it a little less gloomy for me, I know this is an older video of yours but I dig everything about it, keep on keepin on my dude!

I love the genuine excitement in your voice when you fixed it. I am not that interested in vintage computers however it makes me happy to see the joy that repairing them brings to you.

I’ve gotten so meticulous about IC legs that I roll them slightly and check them with a straight edge. An early project I went thru half a dozen with twisted and crushed legs. There’s prolly an op amp somewhere in my shop still laying where I threw it lol. The legs are splayed slightly so they can sit on top of each other for machine placement I’ve been told.

Great video! Looks like some of my repair videos - they always turn out fine in the end, but bad things can happen along the way...

This video was INCREDIBLY valuable to me just because of that awesome solder sucker you used! I bought one immediately when you showed the model, because the one I have is absolute junk and I hate it. Thank you!

criminally underrated channel. this stuff is incredibly interesting, and important information for preserving and understanding old computer hardware

Knowing that this video is a year old, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate the Violent Femmes reference. You really "proved your love" to that Apple II.

I love the design style of this computer. It’s got a timeless quality and hasn’t dated.

Great video, and I really appreciated your "honest and upfront" commentary, including the swear words. I have a IIc that I anticipate I'll have to do the same think you've done, so your video is a big help.

9:50 That edit was very satisfying. Each time the clear hole around the pin, nice. For removing chips on an old board like this you can just cut all the pins off each side then remove them individually.

The Apple IIc for some reason has a high failure rate on its RAM chips compared to the rest of the line. Maybe Apple got a marginal batch? Normally the Apple II is a bulletproof machine!

So glad I found your channel, your videos are super interesting, plus your narration is brilliant. Thank you.

This repair job was not nearly as barbaric as the way I handled my Tempest arcade board repair and somehow I still got that working, so I am not surprised you succeeded.

what a delightful, wonderful ride that was. congratulations. :)

Kapton has poor electrical conductance while also having good thermal conductance(for a tape), making it an ideal isolation tape for electronics.

Well done, sir! I’m a new subscriber but I’ve been watching bunches of your content lately. Great stuff. You’re hella talented and hella intelligent and I’m all about it. Idk why but I get the feeling you and Clint from LGR would be great friends. You guys both seem like my kind of people. Thanks for the great content, man. Keep up the spectacular work!

7:05 I almost thought you'd be "screwing" all day for a moment there! Anyway, really fascinating video. The kind of stuff I'd hope to find at the top of my search results if I were trying to do a similar replacement -- showing the entire process and explaining what you're doing, the potential pitfalls and errors and whatnot. Really good content! Edit: that solder sucker looks fabulous! May have to invest in one (planning to completely recap my C64 soon, and could really use something like that.)

I had one of these wee computers in the mid 90s, garage sale find. I enjoy your videos, keep 'em comin'.

This video is a journey and I love it

Since I have an Apple IIc, this will be useful if I ever do have to repair a bad memory chip. Hopefully it keeps on working, though!

22:41 I did the same thing when I tried replacing a RAM chip for the first time on a ][e. I tore out 4 or 5 traces! The board had those thin traces on it. I tried again on a different board, and had no problem.

Love the outro of you just typing on the //c. Kind of reminds me of the ending of the movie "Stand By Me". Something about the combined narration as you typed it out, I think. :)

I looooovvee that solder sucker. Ive had one for years now. I had a plastic one before and it lasted about one project lol

Hey this isn't Adrian's digital basement lol. If you haven't watched that channel it's easily one of the best on RU-vid in my opinion. And my opinion is correct 99% of the time every time lol. 😅 I crack me up. And omg I just face palm when I see people using anti static straps. It's like tech snake oil for an ailment that doesn't exist. How many volts do you think the human body produces? And what components do you think will be damaged by that 1000th of a watt? Just stop with the straps already.

"Going to brace on this yellow component." is a phrase that makes my butthole pucker so hard that I can carry my chair away if I stand up. That's a tantalum capacitor and those things are not only brittle and the most fragile things on the planet (and that's when they're brand new), but they also fail in the most spectacular display of fireworks and flames.

The old lead tin sodier lacks bismuth and the flux they used was more of a rosin acid mix and the oxidation effect of addiction substances on metals like lead and tin can harden the metal or make hardness and thermal properties change

enjoyed watching...you have a soft voice like the joy of painting .....

Desoldering like a boss!!

I got one of those same solder pumps… I love it! It works so well for things like this.

Engineer makes fantastic tools. I have a pair of their terminal crimps and they just work so well. I want to get more of their tools they are just pricey.

Not referencing Doogie Howser M.D. in the ending sequence was a major missed opportunity :D

Good vid! Only criticism I have is that you were soldering on top of the IIc case, Luckily you didn't burn or melt it, Also, not criticism, but you can test RAM on these old machines by lining up the pins and simply piggy backing a RAM chip on top of the suspected failed chip, rather that having to de-solder everything.

I had a 2e with a profile hard drive an 2 fiveish inch floppys, it had prodos on it .

"Static Shock" sounds like a cool super hero name!

those "leaf" contact DIP sockets are HORRIBLE- the ones you want are called "machined" contacts

'ZX Spectrum is boring' My good sir, I nearly spit out my lukewarm breakfast tea with half-n-half all over this Comfort Inn continental breakfast bar!

I love your videos! You are really knowledgeable and easy to listen to. hope you are doing well, and best wishes in 2021!

I have been using the same solder sucker for about 5 years, it holds up well!

Kapton film is heat resistant and you will often see satellites covered in the stuff with a foil underlay makes it look gold.

the zee ecks spectrum really brings out the z's in one

In repairs like this, I always take an hour break after I do something like tear a trace or bend a pin.

oh hey, a repair video! i wonder what- [single-wipe sockets] oh no

Hey CRD, I know you don't do this for the money, but do you have a Patreon? I'd love to support your channel in a more direct way than just binge watching

Smack talk about the Spectrum!!!!

Careful enough to use a static strap after pulling ICs out of jumble in a plastic storage container. 😁

after the gouge 'aaaaah no check continuity before you put the socket on!' but alas it made no difference, good repair!

I'm surprised you don't have an IC extractor and used a screwdriver. That's risky business.

What kind of switches does the keyboard have? Amber Alps by any chance?

I think Apple soldering ram to the board is one of those universal constants that are annoying as all hell.

My //c has a RAM expansion slot but I haven't been able to locate one.

Great video! Cheers from Detroit!

15:35 I’m stealing this phrase thx

Nice floppy emu just got mine and love it

"not an affiliate link..." Super classy.

Very useful! I'm having the same type of problem, but I'm wondering where to find RAM chips...?

I’ll be honest, I’ve seen soldering worse at work at a PCB fab.

Bookmarked for future reference! 😃

A trick you can do to figure out exactly which is bad is you can piggy back a new chip on top of the old ones one chip at a time and see if it passes the test

Koptan, nice, my dad works in a tape and film factory and they produce Kapton. So he can grab rolls that come up short after running a billet. So i have 2mil and 10mil that ik of offhand, and widths from .5" to 16". Even have a 12" wide sheet of the 10mil without adhesive laid on the back. And another in the 2mil with it.

Whether “c” or “k” those are consonants ?

Why did you throw that dram chip, should just streightened the leg

Flex conduit should NEVER be used for ground! Also clean your flux better. That can ruin stuff.

18:12 I'm not well versed in board repair, but I don't understand why you discarded this RAM, couldn't have been easily bent back to position with some pliers or even by hand?

Hooray!

that's a cool isopropyl bottle, where did you get it?

Thank you so much for not bending to the pressure from the Canadians and British, and pronouncing the Z in ZX Spectrum correctly. 'Murica! 🇺🇲

what tv or monitor is that

24:00 Gravis your ADHD RSD is showing 😂

MT RAM is terrible, it fails all the time. If I have a retro machine that has one failed RAM chip and it is using MT chips I just swap all of them.

Cross between a spectrum and BBC model b

hell yeah dude

Off-brand Kapton tape is pronounced "krap-tawn"

I find your lack of flux disturbing

Get one of these: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC_extractor Much nicer than levering against the PCB or other components to remove chips

I'm just here for the entertainment.

Get a real desoldering pump. Those are known for ripping pads off

Fiiiiiiiiirst