Kaypro 286
System Profile
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The KAYPRO 286, with Kaypro exclusive Snap-In Design is the complete computer. From monitor to EGA graphics, from enhanced keyboard to flexible dual-speed processing, the KAYPRO 286 has it all - including name-brand software with WordStar Professional Release 4.0. The KAYPRO 286: Speed, power, and performance - With the Future Built In.
Standard Specifications for the KAYPRO 286
| Processor: | 80286 microprocessor Keyboard-selectable 8/10/16 MHz clock Socket for 80287 math cco-processor |
| Video/Display: | Multivideo graphics adapter, EGA, CGA, MDA, and Hercules compatible on most monitors; 12-inch monochrome monitor |
| Memory: | 1 MB expandable to 8MB on CPU board |
| Disk Storage: | One 1.2 MB disk drive 40 MB hard drive, 35ms average access time |
| Ports: | AT-compatible serial and parallel |
| Expansion: | Nine slots, five available for user options |
| Keyboard: | Enhanced 101-style keyboard |
Exterior
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CPU board
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Manual
| Kaypro 286 Manual |
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Upgrading a Kaypro PC to a Kaypro 286
Required Backplane (AKA Bus Board)
Notice the three backplanes below. The upper left one has 4 slots populated for 16 bit cards and 5 slots for 8 bit cards. The lower left one is only setup for 9 slots of 8 bits each. The right one has 2 slots for 16 bit cards and 7 slots for 8 bit cards.
In order to take advantage of the 286's architecture the CPU card and other 16 bit cards need to plugged into the 16 bit slots.
This would only be an issue when you upgraded your Kaypro PC to a Kaypro 286 and would require a replacement Backplane or the installation of the additional 36 pin card edge connectors on the board.
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By upgrading to a processor board based on the 80286 microprocessor, you can effectively turn your computer into a fully functional AT-compatible if you have 16-bit slots. If you have 8-bit slots, you can still upgrade and achieve a degree of AT compatibly, but the shorter slots limit you. True AT compatibility requires that the computer read and write to external devices, such as AT hard disk controllers and extended memory boards, 16 bits at a time.
The first Kaypro PC bus boards had 8-bit slots. In mid-1986 Kaypro switched to a bus board with two 16-bit slots, and as of this writing (April 1988) that board is still being used. To reiterate, you can upgrade to an 80286 microprocessor even if you have 8-bit slots; but you are limited in your choice of expansion boards to those designed for PC and PC-XT compatibles.
If you are interested in obtaining a bus board that does have 16 bit slots, there are several courses open to you. First, you could go out and buy the necessary connectors and solder them in place, converting your old 8-bit board to a 16-bit board. For those experienced with a soldering iron it is a fairly simple procedure. Others could pay to have this done, but that isn't really a good idea, because for the amount of money it would cost you could buy a brand new bus board.
The newer PC bus board with two 16-bit slots is available from your Kaypro dealer (part number 4344). Prices vary, but it should be somewhere around $100. A smarter move might be to spend a few extra dollars and order the bus board for Kaypro's new PC-286, which has four 16-bit slots (part number 5659). With one of those slots used by your new 80286 processor board, the other three are available for extended memory boards, AT-type hard disk controllers, and all kinds of 16-bit goodies.
(Profiles, July 1988)
Hard drive controller
"... the Kaypro 286 board will [not] work with the very earliest PC-10s. Their hard disk controllers run at 5 MHz, while the upgrade boards use 10 and
12 MHz speeds. If your hard disk controller consists of two boards, one bolted to the hard drive and connected by cables to another in an expansion slot, you will have to change controllers before you upgrade."
(Profiles, September 1988)
Ads
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Articles
"Kaypro Corporation recently introduced a 286
PC Card that, when exchanged for the 8088 card, enables the Kaypro PC to operate IBM PC/AT software. The "brain" of the 286 PC Card is an Intel 80286 CPU that utilizes the Kaypro PC's 16-bit potential. A trade-in allowance of $266 on your old 8088 card reduces the retail price of the 286 PC Card to $799, or $1065 without the trade-in."
(Kugram, Jul-Aug 1986)
"Kaypro also introduced a 20-MHz version of its Series 286. The EGA system comes standard with 1 megabyte of RAM, a 40-megabyte hard drive, MS-DOS 3.3, GW-Basic, and Microsoft Works. The system will ship in 30 days and will cost approximately $4,000." (Infoworld, November 28, 1988)
Kaypro controller Bob Gorski said the shortage of DRAMs, which allow computers to store information for quick retrieval, has caused prices of the chips available to increase to as much as $10 each, compared with $3 as recently as late January.
The price increases have particularly hurt sales of Kaypro’s PC 286 model, a computer line introduced in December whose “guts” include 36 DRAMs. Despite the higher cost of the chips, Gorski said the PC 286 retail price has held steady at $2,995.
(LA Times, March 30, 1988)
Chris Singleton has contributed significantly to this page.
Technical Notes
KPC-286 CMOS ERROR FIX
The following board modification will solve many of the PC286 CMOS ram errors. Error indication is known by:
1. Repeated "INVALID CONFIGURATION, PLEASE RUN SETUP".
2. Audible error beep code of 1-1-3.
3. Will boot only after Ctrl-Alt-Del.
The fix involves replacing R9 (a 1.2K Ohm resistor) with an 1N6263 Diode. Physical placement is opposite of CR2 (the cathode band is down toward the card edge contact fingers).
Also the capacitor at C11 (upper right hand corner) must be changed from a 0.1uf to a .47uf capacitor. This help stabilize power supply voltage at DS1210.
Technically the voltage difference between VCC (Power on) and battery voltage (Power off) at DS1210 is not great enough. Therefore the DS1210 cannot switch voltage source or enable the CMOS ram properly.
By replacing the series resistor R9 with a series diode, the total battery voltage drop across both diodes (CR2 & the new one at R9) is increased by approximately .7 volt. This, in turn, increases the voltage potential difference at DS1210 assuring proper operation.
Also, a 1 Meg resistor, watt, needs to be soldered from pin 2 to pin 5 at U5 on the backside of the board.
FROM: KAYPRO TECH SUPPORT
ORIGINATOR: JOHN HILL
CONTINUOUS RESET FAILURES
Subject: PC286 and New 286i continuous RESET failures. 02/16/88
FROM Kaypro tech supportRE: 3 Possible problems that cause continuous reset
1. Improper setup can cause continuous reset. Make sure, by going through each and every parameter with the tech, that setup is correct. This would entail making sure all third party boards or drives are identified in setup.
2. Certain 80286 processor chips, U10, are having heat related problems that cause a continuous state of reset or reset for a while and then lock up. The offending chips are AMD N80L286-12/S. AMD chips can easily be identified by a large arrow on the chip. These chips do not have a heat sink covering the chip so they are readily readable. We are also sending an Intel 80286 chip without a heat sink. (the AMD chip has Intel written on it for copywrite priveleges. Don't mix these chips up). The Intel chip works fine. We have AMD chips going out with a heat sink on the chip. These work fine also. The offending AMD 80286 chip without a heat sink has heat related problems. Spraying freon on the chip will make it work properly again, for a little while. The chips do not work in the temperature range they are specified to work in.
3. They have found several 160 watt power supplys on the production line that are causing the continuing state of reset. It seems crosstalk between the +5 and +12 volt lines is causing this problem. If setup is correct and they do not have the offending amd chip, swap out the power supply.
ORIGINATOR: JOHN HILL