@InkStainedFingers
Thanks again. Very useful information. No I do not have a circuit diagram but I am used to working on all kinds of
strange equipment without one. It doesn't always work out but sometimes its worth a try. Actually though, I do
remember having a service manual for (I think) an ip4000) that had a block diagram showing the overall logic.
Probably still similar in the mp610. I wonder where that is?
Einstein called them "thought experiments". I don't claim to be any Einstein and in fact fall far short.
He also said anyone can do them.
So here's what I'm getting at. If, by using whatever fragmentary information is available, one can deduce something
about what is going on inside a part, then one may be able to say something about how it should appear from the
outside (voltages, lights, dots on a paper, etc.). If that appearance does not accord with the deduction, then either
the thesis is incorrect or the part is bad. Take your pick. You may replace the part, even having less info than you
could establish later in the game. Sometimes necessary. Or you can revise the thesis and try again.
@InkStainedFingers - again
Ah, yes! Other voltages. Need to be careful. If, as you suggest, 24-28 volt pulses are being switched in the
decoder chip, that would make things much more difficult. It would also be a very odd custom chip, not
belonging to any of the normal logic families (CMOS, TTL). It should not be too hard to determine that
those voltages are or are not in there. Where they go and how they are used is another matter.
Thanks for the tip!