picstart plus operation

[chava]

Hello
I've got a PICSTART PLUS.
Sometimes when I plug it to power supply, it's not turns on.
I noticed that the componnent, refered as "FUSE" on the PICSTART PLUS circuit, gets warm and disconnect the circuit from power (A temperature sensing fuse).
I cannot send it for repair since if I will, I wont have a programmer for my work, therefore I thougth I'll fix it here, in my lab.

I supply power to the programmer from a ac to dc transformer 1.5 to 12Vout 600mA max
I adjusted it to 9v and got:
Vout (open loop)=10v
Vout(with picstart connected as load)=8.8v

This is not the original power supply modul for the picstart, but it works.
I've got some Questions:
1. Does the fuse get warm becouse of the fact that the transformer is not original?
2. can I short the fuse, will it dammage the PICSTART?

Regards
Chava Chukin
Development Dep.
Email: eldekor@betalfa.org.il
Web: http://www.kav-kor.com

[Steve H.]

1) Disconnect everything.
2) Connect the power supply to the Pic Start. Everything OK?
3) If so then connect the RS232. Everything Still OK?
4) If so then always connect in this order.
4a) If not then trouble shoot the problem more to find out under what conditions the Pic Start hangs and starts drawing too much power.

DO NOT SHORT THE FUSE - or you will be buying a new PicStart.

Steve H.