I just thought I'd pass along this experience, in case others can learn from it.
I've had this Duo2300c with a Duo Dock Plus for about a year and a half. I recently decided to install a 4GB HD in the dock, so I purchased the necessary parts (dock HD installation kit) and put it in. It worked great, and I was able to load up OS8.6 on the dock HD and run off it with plenty of space for everything. After about 3 months of operating this way (seldom use the Duo outside the dock), suddenly the dock would not power up. After some troubleshooting, I discovered that the 4GB HD was somehow loading down the power supply, preventing the DUO from powering up in the dock. (By the way, it is interesting to note that I could eject the DUO, but if I tried to power it up with the dock HD connected, it would begin to startup and then would immediately die. In the process of trying to resolve this problem, I bought a replacement P.S. off ebay (knowing that this P.S. seems to be designed to be merely adequate - no extra "beef"). This replacement P.S. caused the exact same symptoms. So now I thought that maybe I have a problem with the dock, so I go and buy a DUO Dock-II (wanted to upgrade from the Plus anyway) off ebay. And in the process of moving everything from the DUO Dock Plus to the DUO Dock-II, I finally discover the cause of the problem. The poser cable for the dock HD is barely long enough to reach from the power connector on the dock motherboard to the HD. In the process of installing and routing it, it passes through a very tight spot where it can easily get 'pinched' between a couple of posts in the "plastic". Well, guess what? This is CONDUCTIVE plastic (for EMC, I am sure), and in my case, the 5V lead was pinched severely enough that the insulation on the wire broke through. So when I tried to power up the dock, at the point where the dock turned on power to the dock HD, the 5V PS shorted to ground, and the design of the P.S. caused it to 'foldback' and shut down. So, anyway, I fixed the cable by using electrical tape, and taking better care to ensure the power cable was not pinched in the 'tight' location. However, now I have a spare DUO Dock Plus (I plan to keep the spare Power Supply, just because of its poor reputation). I am thinking of selling the DUO Dock Plus on ebay, but decided I'd offer it here first. Contact me off-list if you are interested. Regards, Joe Getchel ---------- Duo/2400 List, The friendliest place on the Net! A listserv for users and fans of Mac subportables. FAQ at <http://www.themacintoshguy.com/lists/DuoListFAQ.shtml> Be sure to visit Mac2400! <http://www.sineware.com/mac2400> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need help from a real person? Try. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ---------- Dr. Bott | 10/100 Ethernet for your 2400 is finally here! MPC-100 | <http://www.drbott.com/prod/mpc100.html> NineWire | If they are cool enough to host this list... Digital Solutions | ...you should check them out! http://www.NineWire.com/ Midwest Mac Parts ][ <http://www.midwestmac.com> After-market parts for Macs. ][ 888-356-1104 ][ MacResQ Specials: LaCie SCSI CDR From $99! PowerBook 3400/200 Only $879! Norton AntiVirus 6 Only $19! We Stock PARTS! <http://www.macresq.com>
