Macintosh SE/30 M5119 - Restoration

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
This SE/30 wasn't far from me, so the shipping was cheap. The seller is not a tech, more of an estate hunter/flipper, with a 100% feedback rating. Took a chance on this one (seller's pics, should be here Wednesday).
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It looks pretty good on the outside, but you never know what's lurking within. Schrodinger's batt. (lithium vial).

For $250 I rolled the dice, it was reported as 100% untested. Win or lose, I should know soon.

If it has the Sony CR-44 PSU, it's a black IEC socket and switch?
 
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Jase

Active member
It looks pretty good on the outside, but you never know what's lurking within. Schrodinger's batt. (lithium vial).

For $250 I rolled the dice, it was reported as 100% untested. Win or lose, I should know soon.

Fingers crossed for you! :)

At $250 though it was worth asking the seller to at least plug it in and report what happens.

If it has the Sony CR-44 PSU, it's a black IEC socket and switch?

Yes, I think so. My SE has a Sony PSU IIRC and the IEC socket and switch are definitely black.
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Thanks for the reply, and the good luck! 🙂

Instead of having the seller who's unfamiliar with vintage electronics, just plug that in and wing it, and just in case there is a serious problem with it, I'd rather open it first and inspect it before the power on.

The main board is both battery bombed, and not battery bombed at this moment, having him do anything could be what kills the cat. 😿 Paypal refund might be necessary if it's too far gone.

Glad to hear it should gave the Sony PSU in it, thanks!
 

Jase

Active member
You're very welcome. :)

Please update us when it arrives. I, for one would definitely love to see how you get on with this project.
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Looks like I may have a winner here.

Pretty certain that this one had not been opened before.
20241218_121455.jpg

20241218_121751.jpg

20241218_121804.jpg

The way I pulled it out of there.
20241218_122526.jpg

Schrodinger's batt. still has all nine lives, no leak from the battery.
20241218_122736.jpg

But the SMD electrolytic caps are physically leaking, can't wait any longer to get those out of there.
20241218_122555.jpg

20241218_122757.jpg

Green corrosion starting to grow.
20241218_122817.jpg

Time to order the replacement parts, and get the rest of this cleaned up. Will wait to power this up until the logic board recap.

Will also be whitening this SE/30 back to the original color.
 
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GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Thanks so much!

It was Friday the 13th when I spotted this SE/30 for sale, the grand total for this one was $313.13. I'm not a superstitious person, by any means, but it did add to the suspense. :)

Didn't get a steal of a deal, but based on the condition overall, I'm extremely pleased.
 

pinto_guy

Well-known member
Completely off topic, and I apologize for that. But this reminds of one day that I was on a commercial flight. It was Friday the 13th, flight number 13, and I was seated in row 13.
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Completely off topic, and I apologize for that. But this reminds of one day that I was on a commercial flight. It was Friday the 13th, flight number 13, and I was seated in row 13.
That would feel peculiar, the odds of all of that occurring at the same time. Was it uneventful otherwise, or did they at least lose your luggage? :)
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
How does everyone feel about the Console5 recap kits for the SE/30, am I better off making my own list at Digi?
 

pinto_guy

Well-known member
Completely off topic, and I apologize for that. But this reminds of one day that I was on a commercial flight. It was Friday the 13th, flight number 13, and I was seated in row 13.
Well I figured that there are Friday the 13th every 7th month. And there must be multiple flight 13s running on these days (one per airline ?), each with multiple seats on row 13. So it was rare for me, but nothing too peculiar.....
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Well I figured that there are Friday the 13th every 7th month. And there must be multiple flight 13s running on these days (one per airline ?), each with multiple seats on row 13. So it was rare for me, but nothing too peculiar.....
Glad to hear all was well. Some people really take that superstition stuff seriously.
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Going to make a custom cap list from Digi for this project, I have other projects that require components too, might as well ship them all for one fee.
 

djc6

Well-known member
Great find! What website was this you found it on? Too much competition on eBay. I got my SE/30 on Facebook Marketplace back in March - luckily it was listed as an "SE/60" so I think that cut down on the competition.

I recapped it with the following parts - I used Polymer Tantalum Capacitors where possible because they won't leak in the future (no liquid electrolyte). The two axial caps still have liquid electrolyte.

I watched this video to help pick them:

The Polymer Tantalum Caps below are yellow to match other components on the SE/30 board. An additional "E" character at the end will get you black ones. Mouser accidentally sent me a black 1uF cap and then send out yellow one.

Qty 1
Mouser #:594-2222-118-90509
Mfr. #:MAL211890509E3
Desc.:Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded 470uF 25V 20% Axial

Qty 1
Mouser #:598-227TTA025M
Mfr. #:227TTA025M
Desc.:Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded 220uF 25V 20%

Qty 10
Mouser #:581-TCJE476M025R0050
Mfr. #:TCJE476M025R0050
Desc.:Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer 25V 47uF 20% 2917 ES R=50mOhm

Qty 1
Mouser #:581-TCJB105M050R0300
Mfr. #:TCJB105M050R0300
Desc.:Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer 50V 1uF 20% 1210 ESR =300mOhm
 

Jase

Active member
Schrodinger's batt. still has all nine lives, no leak from the battery.

Quite fortunate and it's nice that unlike the SE, Apple didn't use a soldered battery.

But the SMD electrolytic caps are physically leaking, can't wait any longer to get those out of there.

Yeah. Those are definitely a priority.

Out of curiosity, what method are you going to use to remove the SMD caps?

Time to order the replacement parts, and get the rest of this cleaned up. Will wait to power this up until the logic board recap.

Thanks for sharing the photos. I'm excited to see you succeed. :)

Will also be whitening this SE/30 back to the original color.

Through retrobriting?
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Great find! What website was this you found it on? Too much competition on eBay. I got my SE/30 on Facebook Marketplace back in March - luckily it was listed as an "SE/60" so I think that cut down on the competition.

I recapped it with the following parts - I used Polymer Tantalum Capacitors where possible because they won't leak in the future (no liquid electrolyte). The two axial caps still have liquid electrolyte.

I watched this video to help pick them:

The Polymer Tantalum Caps below are yellow to match other components on the SE/30 board. An additional "E" character at the end will get you black ones. Mouser accidentally sent me a black 1uF cap and then send out yellow one.

Qty 1
Mouser #:594-2222-118-90509
Mfr. #:MAL211890509E3
Desc.:Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded 470uF 25V 20% Axial

Qty 1
Mouser #:598-227TTA025M
Mfr. #:227TTA025M
Desc.:Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors - Axial Leaded 220uF 25V 20%

Qty 10
Mouser #:581-TCJE476M025R0050
Mfr. #:TCJE476M025R0050
Desc.:Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer 25V 47uF 20% 2917 ES R=50mOhm

Qty 1
Mouser #:581-TCJB105M050R0300
Mfr. #:TCJB105M050R0300
Desc.:Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer Tantalum Capacitors - Polymer 50V 1uF 20% 1210 ESR =300mOhm

Thanks! I did get this one from ebay, the seller hadn't powered it up, or cleaned it for the auction; they also said there was nothing known about the history of it, so that probably drove most of the competition away.

JDW makes some great content for Mac users, will go with tantalum polymer with the uprated voltages.

Thanks for that!
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Quite fortunate and it's nice that unlike the SE, Apple didn't use a soldered battery.



Yeah. Those are definitely a priority.

Out of curiosity, what method are you going to use to remove the SMD caps?



Thanks for sharing the photos. I'm excited to see you succeed. :)



Through retrobriting?
To remove the old SMD caps, I was going to use the push down and twist method, with pliers.

I really appreciate the encouragement, much thanks!

On my last SE restoration, I used 12% Peroxide hair creme, and a 10W UV LED, it came out really well.

SE before the UV/peroxide:
20240912_175505.jpg

Today:
20241206_204310.jpg
 

GreenBar0n

Well-known member
Ordered a floppy eject gear, all the caps for the PSU, analog, logic, and floppy, and ordered a 12V Notcua fan.

Looks like the case will clean up fairly well. Had a large industrial strength velcro strip on it.
20241218_150332.jpg

Was able to get most of the scuff marks off the bezel, more work to be done.
20241218_150402.jpg

Going to be waiting for parts for a bit.
20241218_150103.jpg
 

dochilli

Well-known member
I never saw caps like these in my SE/30s. May be that yours was recapped before, but was not cleaned very well or leaked again?
If I got a SE/30 that looks like yours, I would have switched it on to check if it boots...
 
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