I bought two non-working, boxed ZX Spectrums off eBay for £50 to see if it is genuinely possible to turn a profit repairing and selling retro hardware.
Design Without Limits
PCBWay 9th Project Design Contest
Student Manufacturing Support Initiative
PCBWay Future Innovators Program
Throughout the process, I diagnose the faults in both units, install new capacitor kits, perform a composite video mod, and replace components including faulty RAM, keyboard membranes, and voltage regulators. After getting both machines fully operational and tuning the video output, I prepare them for sale. Finally, I break down the total costs of replacement parts against the final auction prices to determine the actual hourly profit.
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If you'd like to help keep the lights on (and the tools plugged in),
my Patreon is the best way to do it. Patrons get ad-free early access
to videos, behind-the-scenes updates, and entry to a super secret
Discord channel — plus my sincere gratitude, which is worth roughly
what you'd expect.
In a similar fashion you can join YouTube channel membership.
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There's also the Retro Hardware Discord, where people who enjoy this
sort of thing gather to talk about it. It's better than it has any
right to be.
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Second Channel: @morefunretro2
00:00:00 Introduction
00:01:14 Unboxing the £50 eBay Spectrum bundle
00:08:23 PCBWay Sponsor
00:09:22 Inspecting the second ZX Spectrum
00:13:27 Initial motherboard inspection
00:17:22 Powering on and running diagnostics
00:22:15 Checking required replacement parts
00:33:00 Recapping the motherboard
00:39:33 Composite video modification
00:44:22 Replacing faulty RAM chips
00:50:03 Fitting a new keyboard membrane
00:52:41 Installing a Traco voltage regulator
00:56:52 Power supply inspection and repair
01:04:06 eBay listing results and final auction
01:10:32 Final profit breakdown and conclusion
#ZXSpectrum #RetroComputing #TechRepair