Unusual ZX Spectrum 48k motherboard

*UPDATE* I perormed a DC-DC mod to this computer today, something I wasn't aware until recently was needed on an issue 4a. All the power problems are gone. With no peripherals connected this only draws 370mA now! Although I did replace the voltage regulator with a traco, something I will reverse at the winner of the auctions request.

I wrote my first program on the ZX81 at school when I was 8. My first computer was the 48k Speccy. I wrote a fruit machine program on that when I was 10. I am now head of architecture at a software house that is owned by the biggest family owned gaming company in the UK. For me, this is all down to Sinclair. Thank you, Sir Clive

Nice video shot, keep it up, thanks for sharing it with us :)

Ah the humble Speccy, to which I owe my entire career and many happy childhood days. Restored a few back in the 1990s but have just recently started getting back into the game, with the added complication I'm now living in the US. So, I get to play with the NTSC conversion, always fun!

This video appearing in my feed has brought me to your channel for the first time. I loved this, and have subscribed. Content is right up my alley, and your presentation and production is also similarly pleasing. Keep up the good work, I'm so glad to have discovered your channel. Best wishes going forward, hope your subscriber numbers skyrocket now!

Nice video and anyway nice content on your channel. I also own a yellow pcb speccy beside my other 8 working ones. As well I own 10 different zx81 and, of course, one yellow pcb😊

I know a lot of non British people make fun of the spectrum and its ancestors and well its descendants to be honest, and I understand why, usually it is the Keyboards which are probably a huge part of its Toy aesthetic, (as an American I had a US version of the 81 so I experienced the frustration and yes I do miss that little machine) but honestly it is interesting in just how minimalistic Clive and his people were designing a functional computer, and honestly though tiny compared to the offerings from Commodore, Atari Tandy etc, they all looked good, even the 80,

Now I suddenly realize that there is room enough for a cap-lock key, besides a A there is sufficient space for an extra key. Many people it would have helped if there would have been a way to type all in capitals. The people who like to shout on BBS'ses and the many partially disabled persons who can only type with one hand at the time. Policemen when they make a report! Those would have loved the cap-lock key on the Spectrum. Why did nobody think of this before? It could have changed the complete computing industry!

Superb work Good for many years to come

HIIIIII!!! I don't care about the Sinclairs but I watch all your videos! Thos flight cases you made look awesome!

Nice! I need to educate myself about Spectrum's as I have two in need of repair and don't know much about them. First is the composite mod as I don't have RF monitors or capture devices here. Even though the owner asked me NOT to make that mod permanent.

That's a MINT keyboard sir to go along with a MINT job, as ever great work. Almost looks untouched by human hands ... remind me again your hands are human right?

Cool specky, cannot remember ever coming across one with that colour PCB before.

Lovely stuff Lee!

my 1st computer..:face-red-heart-shape:

Well, 4A yellow is kinda rare, all things considered, but what I think makes it somewhat rarer is I think it being in a rubberkey casing. It was the time of the plus casing when issue 4's were around. I can't say I am any kind of expert here, but if the serial number gurus can confirm it is in fact its original casing, then it should go for a similar price seen on that web page. And again, not an expert here but that's a bit too much current, might be something wrong with the ceramic decoupling capacitors, needs further testing, IMHO.

And to think when I used to refurb and sell Speccy's back in 2011-13 I had a whole big box of these 'Yellows' and Issue 1 fawns, and could hardly give them away! No one wanted 'odd' speccy's back then, just 48k normal green board ones to 'play all the games'... Oh how things have changed lol (and wish I still had that box, would have been worth about £10k now!).

1.1A? My guess is something is about to break. I would suggest checking what is getting hot.

A fundamental question: how can I tell what issue my ZX Spectrum is? And does recapping it decrease or increase its value?

what is the name of diagnostics card ?