North Star ADVANTAGE 8/16 User manual
;
NorthStar
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
Service
Manual
NorthStar
North
Star
Computers,
Inc.
14440
Catalina
St.,
San
Leandro,
CA
94577
USA
(415)
357-8500
TWX/Telex
(910)
366-7001
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
Service
Manual
Z-80A®
is
a
registered
trademark
of
Zilog,
Inc.
8088-2®
is
a
registered
trademark
of
Intel
Corporation
CP/M®
is
a
registered
trademark
of
Digital
Research,
Inc.
MSDOS™
is
a
trademark
of
Microsoft,
Inc.
Copyright
©1983,
by
North
Star
Computers,
Inc.
All
Rights
Reserved
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Section
1.0
2.0
5.0
General
Data
.....«.
-@
1.1
Technical
Manual
Overview
1.2
System
Maintenance...
.
1.3
System
Configuration...
1.4
Glossary
of
Terms
....
Repair
Data
.
....+
+e
-«
Safety
Precautions.
.
Setting
the
ADV-16
CPU
Parts
Identification
...
Mini-Jump
Connector
Removing
the
ADV-16
CPU
Circuit
Board
..
Removing
ADV-16
64K
RAM
Circuit
Boards.
.
Removing
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module.
.
Adjusting
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
.
3.1
ADV-16
CPU
Circuit
Board
Line
Drawing
..
3.2
ADV-16
CPU
Assembly
Parts
List
.
....
.
3.3
ADV-16
64K
RAM
Circuit
Board
Line
Drawing
3.4
ADV-16
64K
RAM
Assembly
Parts
List
....
3.5
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
Circuit
Board
Line
Prawing
«2
s*
ss
@
6%
4
8
3.6
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
Assembly
Parts
Troubleshooting
.....
.
4.1
Test
Section
#1
...
4.2
Test
Section
#2
...
4.3
Test
Section
#3
...
4.4
Test
Section
#4
...
Plug/Jack
List
......
5.1
ADV-16
CPU
Circuit
Board
« «
«
«
5.2
ADV-16
64K
RAM
Circuit
Board.
.
5.3
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
...
eee
e@
eoeee@
eeee
e
e
e
e e
e
e
.
e
e
e e
Page
he
I
he
iia
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od
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bo
aad
Table
of
Contents
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
(continued)
Section
6.0
Principles
of
Operation
.
6.1
Overview
......
6.2
CPU
Logic
s«..«
©
«
6.3
Memory
Logic
....
6.4
Communications
Logic
6.5
Timing
Logic
....
6.6
ADV-16
Power
Boost
M
6.7
6.8
2Z80A
Address/Data
Bi
6.9
ADV-16
CPU
Schematic
6.10
ADV-16
64K
RAM
Schem
6.11
ADV-16
Power
Boost
M
VeO
cINGEE
20
0
we
we Ee
%
8088-2
Address/Data
Bit
Assignments
odule
ws
ee
oe
t
Assignments
,
eee
@
©
© ©
© &
oe
ee
e©
©
©
©
@
eee
©
©
©
© © ©
8
oe
e
©
©
©
©
© ©
©
o
ee
© ©
©
©
©
©
©
DNDANDAAAANS
pes
fos
Aes
cs
sche
at
Diagram.
...
-15
atic
Diagram.
.
6-19
odule
Schematic
Diagram
6-21
ii
Table
of
Contents
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
1
ata
ttt
This
service
manual
is
an
addendum
to
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
Technical
Manual.
It
contains
the
information
necessary
for
maintenance
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
The
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
is
a
modification
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
microcomputer.
The
modification
is
an
upgrade
that
includes
installation
of
a
circuit
board
containing
a
16-bit
Intel
8088-2
microprocessor,
an
8
Mhz
clock,
and
64K
of
RAM
with
supporting
input/output
logic.
Additional
plug-in
64K
RAM
boards
are
available
to
make
up
a
full
256K
memory
storage.
1-1
General
Data
TECHNICAL
MANUAL
OVERVIEW
Introducti
Chapter
Title
ue
General
Data
2
Repair
Data
3
Parts
Identifi-
cation
4
Trouble-
shooting
5
Plug/Jack
Lists
6
Principles
of
Operation
Specifica-
tions
1.1
on
The
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
Technical
Manual
is
divided
into
six
chapters.
Contents
This
chapter
contains
information
about
use
of
the
manual,
configuration
charts,
and
system
maintenance.
This
chapter
contains
procedures
for
removing
and
adjusting
parts.
This
chapter
contains
circuit
board
illustrations
and
lists
of
part
numbers.
This
chapter
contains
troubleshooting
Strategies
and
diagnostic
procedures.
This
chapter
contains
drawings
of
plugs
and
jacks
that
are
unique
to
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
Pin
numbers
for
the
plugs/jacks
are
labeled,
and
the
Signals
or
voltages
that
appear
on
the
pins
are
identified.
This
chapter
contains
a
discussion
of
the
operation
of
the
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
and
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module.
Block
diagrams
and
full
schematics
show
functional
areas
and
relationships.
Specifications
for
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
are
identical
to
those
of
the
standard
North
Star
ADVANTAGE,
Technical
Manual
Refer
to
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
for
complete
machine
specifications,
General
Data
SYSTEM
MAINTENANCE
.
1.2
ee
Procedures
Service
Philosophy
Addition
of
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board,
the
ADV-
16
64K
RAM
circuit
board,
and
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
has
negligible
effect
on
the
physical
or
electrical
environments
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
system.
Maintenance
should
proceed
with
troubleshooting
techniques
similar
to
those
used
on
the
standard
North
Star
ADVANTAGE.
Product
reliability
is
a
feature
of
every
North
Star
product,
and
rigid
manufacturing
quality
control
is
used
to
achieve
that
goal
in
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
Long
term
reliability
should
be
the
goal
of
the
technician
who
services
this
system.
This
can
be
achieved
if
service
is
preventive
as
well
as
restorative.
Attention
must
be
paid
to
each
of
the
major
subassemblies
during
repair,
and
this
should
include
examination,
cleaning,
and
adjusting:
fe)
the
keyboard,
°
the
base
assembly
including
the
main
board
and
power
supply,
fo)
the
input/output
circuit
boards,
the
disk
drive
assemblies,
and
the
video
display
assembly
including
the
control
circuit
board
and
cathode
ray
tube.
lomo)
1-3
General
Data
SYSTEM
CONFIGURATION
1.3
Description
Early
Version
Later
Version
Configur-
ation
Identifi-
cation
There
are
two
different
configurations
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
microcomputer.
Although
the
differences
are
not
apparent
to
the
computer
Operator,
a
technician
who
services
the
system
must
be
aware
of
both
versions.
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
computers
manufactured
prior
to
December
1982
contain
power
supplies
that
are
able
to
support
any
combination
of
PIO
and
SIO
circuit
boards
as
well
as
a
hard
disk
drive
and
hard
disk
controller
circuit
board.
However,
adding
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
plug-in
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
to
the
earlier
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
requires
that
the
existing
power
supply
be
supplemented
by
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module.
Power
for
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
is
routed
directly
from
the
output
of
the
module.
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
computers
manufactured
after
December
1982
contain
power
supplies
that
are
able
to
support
any
combination
of
PIO
and
SIO
circuit
boards,
a
hard
disk
drive
and
hard
disk
controller
circuit
board,
an
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board,
and
up
to
three
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards.
Power
for
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
is
routed
directly
from
the
host
power
supply
via
the
system
I/O
bus.
The
system
configurations
can
be
differentiated
by
looking
at
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
serial
number
plate.
The
earlier
version
has
two
smaller
plates
that
are
silver;
the
recent
version
has
a
single
larger
plate
that
is
beige.
TM
14440
Catalina
st
=
leanare
—
Model
NorthStar
(415)
357-8500
TWx/lelex
(910)
366
700!
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
Made
in
U.S.A.
Seer
cal
ADVANTAGE
Ss
ay
ca
ay
be
necessary
t
ec
.
Made
=
Fuse
Rating/Type
|
[VT
[A
[Fase
naira
115
|
60
|
2
|
2a/sto-Bto_
|
Cis
[oo
[2%
[ow
asec
1-4
General
Data
GLOSSARY
OF
TERMS
1.4
a
Description
action
Chap
x.y
Jx-y
P.N.
vwxyZ
Px-y
step
TP-x/TP—y
fae
This
manual
use
the
following
conventions
for
referencing
circuit
boards,
test
points,
chapters,
part
numbers,
etc.
indicates
that
a
step
is
to
be
performed.
If
the
action
requires
that
a
voltage
be
checked,
the
voltage
tolerance
is
given.
refers
to
Chapter
x
and
Section
y.
Example:
Chap
5.2
refers
to
Chapter
5,
Section
2.
refers
to
jack
x
and
pin
y.
Example:
J1-8
refers
to
jack
1
and
pin
8.
refers
to
part
number
vwxyz.
Example:
P.N.
43043
refers
to
plug
x
and
pin
y.
Example:
P2-6
refers
to
plug
2
and
pin
6.
indicates
the
number
for
each
step
of
a
procedure.
refers
to
test
point
x
and
test
point
y.
This
identifies
how
and
where
to
make
a
signal
or
voltage
check.
When
making
a
voltage
reading,
the
first
test
point
designates
the
connection
for
the red
or
positive
(+)
lead.
The
second
test
point
designates
the
connection
for
the
black
or
negative
(-)
lead.
If
a
second
test
point
is
not
indicated,
the
test
point
is
assumed
to
be
any
good
logic
ground.
All
AC
voltages
are
written
as
VAC,
and
all
DC
voltages
are
written
as
VDC.
DC
voltages
are
assumed
to
be
(+)
positive
unless
a
(-)
minus
is
shown
before
the
voltage.
Note
Always
disconnect
power
before
connecting
and
disconnecting
plugs
or
inserting
and
removing
circuit
boards.
Chapter
3,
Parts
Identification,
and
Chapter
5,
Plug/Jack
Lists,
should
be
used
to
help
locate
test
points
or
pins
where
readings
are
to
be
made.
refers
to
a
semiconductor
device
x
and
pin
y.
Example:
U9-3
refers
to
device
U9
and
pin
3.
1-5
General
Data
This
page
is
intentionally
left
blank.
General
Data
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER
2
This
chapter
contains
removal
procedures
for
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards,
and
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module.
It
also
contains
an
adjustment
procedure
for
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
and
specifies
safety
precautions
that
should
be
observed
while
working
on
the
equipment.
Installation
procedures
for
the
ADV-16
CPU
and
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
and
the
ADV-16
Power
Boost
Module
are
not
included
in
this
chapter.
Each
of
these
subassemblies
may
be
easily
installed
by
reversing
the
removal
procedures.
2-1
Repair
Data
SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS
2.1
Overview
WARNINGS
:
Live
Circuits
High
Voltage
CAUTION:
Hard
Disk
The
following
safety
precautions
are
listed
to
remind
you
of
the
dangers
inherent
in
servicing
electrical
equipment.
Please
review
them
thoroughly
before
attempting
any
repairs.
Keep
away
from
live
circuits.
Very
dangerous
voltages
are
exposed
in
the
cabinet.
Disconnect
power
from
the
equipment
unless
electrical
adjustments
must
be
made.
Use
extreme
caution
when
servicing
any
area
where
power
terminals
are
exposed.
Dangerous
voltages
may
exist
within
the
equipment
enclosure
after
power
has
been
disconnected.
Pay
particular
attention
to
large
capacitors
in
the
power
supply
area.
Discharge
circuits
to
ground
before
touching
them.
Dangerous
voltages
may
be
retained
by
the
CRT
anode
after
power
has
been
disconnected.
Discharge
the
anode
to
ground
before
working
near
the
high
voltage
lead.
If
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
contains
a
hard
disk,
handle
it
with
extreme
care.
Subjecting
a
hard
disk
to
mechanical
shock
might
drive
the
read/write
head
against
the
hard
disk
platter.
Damage
to
the
platter
or
the
read/write
head
could
result
in
loss
of
data.
2-2
Repair
Data
SETTING
THE
ADV-16
CPU
MINI-JUMP
CONNECTOR
2.2
Overview
Procedure
Step
1
A
mini-jumper
is
used
on
connector
Wl
of
the
ADV-
16
CPU
circuit
board
to
select
a
power
source
for
the
board.
The
ADV-16
CPU
receives
its
power
from
either
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
power
supply
or
a
power
boost
module.
Action
Position
the
mini-jumper
on
connector
Wl
of
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board.
If
the
North
Star
then
use
the
mini-
ADVANTAGE
8/16
has
...
jumper
to
short
...
a
power
boost
module,
pins
B
and
C
no
power
boost
module,
pins
A
and
B
2-3
Repair
Data
REMOVING
THE
ADV-16
CPU
CIRCUIT
BOARD
2.3
Oe
Eee
Introduction
Procedure
Step
1
Use
the
following
procedure
to
remove
an
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board
from
a
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
Action
Loosen
and
remove
the
rear
mounting
screw
that
secures
the
back
edge
of
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board
to
the
I/O
panel
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
2-4
Repair
Data
REMOVING
THE
ADV-16
CPU
CIRCUIT
BOARD
(continued)
Procedure
Step
2
Action
Lift
the
short
arm
of
the
front
mounting
bracket
from
the
bracket
slot
located
in
the
side
wall
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16
cabinet.
Rotate
the
front
mounting
bracket
in
the
oval
slot
of
the
circuit
board
until
the
short
arm
of
the
bracket
is
parallel
with
the
base
of
the
North
Star
ADVANTAGE
8/16.
2~5
Repair
Data
REMOVING
THE
ADV-16
CPU
CIRCUIT
BOARD
(continued)
Procedure
Step
Action
4
Remove
the
front
mounting
bracket
from
the
oval
~
hole
in
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board.
5
If
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board
receives
its
power
from
a
power
boost
module,
disconnect
Pl
from
Jl
on
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board.
2-6
Repair
Data
REMOVING
THE
ADV-16
CPU
CIRCUIT
BOARD
(continued)
Procedure
Step
Action
6
Remove
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board
from
I/O
slot
#4.
2=7
Repair
Data
REMOVING
ADV-16
64K
RAM
CIRCUIT
BOARDS
2.4
Introduction
Overview
Use
the
following
procedure
to
remove
from
one
to
three
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
boards
from
the
ADV-
16
CPU
circuit
board.
The
ADV-16
64K
RAM
circuit
board
has
two
rows
of
double-sided
connectors
attached
to
it.
These
connectors
permit
three
RAM
boards
to
be
stacked
on
the
ADV-16
CPU
circuit
board.
ADV-16
64K
RAM
connector
P2
is
a
sixteen
pin
connector
that
plugs
into
either
an
ADV-16
CPU
or
an
ADV-16
64K
RAM
connector
J2.
ADV-16
64K
RAM
connector
P3
is
an
eighteen
pin
connector
that
plugs
into
either
an
ADV-16
CPU
or
an
ADV-16
64K
RAM
connector
J3.
2-8
Repair
Data
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