Hello fellow collectors,  I am hoping that someone can help me with
a Devtronix MIDI problem that I'm having in my Violano.  I bought
a Violano from Mike Ames in Southern California.  Mike has been very
generous with his time and extremely helpful in assisting me, but
I need additional information that Mike does not have.  The Devtronix
boards that I need info on are the 293-1B MIDI Processor Board and
the 293-3A MIDI Output Board.

Here is my problem: I have a wall switch that shuts off power to the
entire Violano and MIDI system.  About 30% of the time when I turn on
the power, the bow wheels will start to spin and remain spinning until
the one minute "No MIDI Signal" timeout is reached.  Sometimes if I
turn the power off and right back on again, the bow wheels will stop.
Other times when I cycle power, all piano and violin coils will
energize simultaneously and blow the fuse in the Violano!

I'm an engineer and I teach electronics at my local community college.
I should be able to fix this problem but I'm looking for any info I can
find before I reverse engineer the Devtronix boards.  The 293-3A MIDI
Output Boards uses 74HC273 Octal D flip-flops to latch the output
relays on and off.  It should be possible to add an R-C time-constant
circuit to the Clear (reset) pins of these flip-flops which force them
into their off state when power is applied.

I'd like to find the schematics on these boards but I'm finding it
difficult to gather any information.  In searching the MMD Archives,
it appears that Devtronix was built by Ray DeVault who passed away?
The Devtronix system was sold to Mark Voorhees of Classic Organs in
Arizona?

I've not been able to contact Mr. Voorhees to see if he still supports
Devtronix.  Therefore, I'm looking for _any_ information or help that
MMD readers can provide, such as:

1) Does your Violano have the Devtronix system and do you have any
problems?

2) Does anyone know who repairs or supports this system besides Mike
Ames?

3) Does anyone have the schematics for these Devtronix boards?

4) Does anyone have any spare Devtronix boards or parts for sale?

If this problem occurs in other Violanos, I will be able to help,
once I find the solution.  Please contact me if you have any
information at all on the Devtronix 293-1B or -3A.

Thanks,
Kevin R. Keinert
tel.: 1-805-937-8881
www.keinert.com