Sinclair ZX Spectrum Service Manual 
Spectrum For Everyone  https://spectrumforeveryone.com/ 
2 
CONTENTS 
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 7 
1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 7 
1.2 Architecture ........................................................................................................................................ 8 
1.3 Z80A CPU ............................................................................................................................................. 8 
1.3.1 Data Bus ....................................................................................................................................... 8 
1.3.2 Address Bus .................................................................................................................................. 8 
1.3.3 Control Bus ................................................................................................................................... 8 
1.3.4 CPU Clock ..................................................................................................................................... 9 
1.3.5 Dynamic Memory Refresh ........................................................................................................... 9 
1.4 Memory Organisation ......................................................................................................................... 9 
1.5 Read/Write Operations ..................................................................................................................... 10 
1.5.1 Read Only Memory (IC5) ............................................................................................................ 10 
1.5.2 Standard 16k RAM (IC6-IC13) .................................................................................................... 10 
1.5.3 32k Expansion RAM (IC15-IC32) ................................................................................................. 11 
1.6 Input/Output ..................................................................................................................................... 13 
1.7 TV Picture Generation ....................................................................................................................... 13 
1.8 Keyboard Scanning ............................................................................................................................ 14 
1.9 Tape Interface ................................................................................................................................... 15 
1.10 Loudspeaker (BEEP) Operation ....................................................................................................... 15 
1.11 Power Supplies ................................................................................................................................ 15 
2 Disassembly/assembly ............................................................................................................................. 16 
2.1 Disassembly ....................................................................................................................................... 16 
2.2 Assembly ........................................................................................................................................... 16 
3 Setting Up and System Test ..................................................................................................................... 17 
3.1 General Alignment ............................................................................................................................ 17 
3.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 17 
3.1.2 Voltage Check............................................................................................................................. 17 
3.1.3 Colour Adjustment ..................................................................................................................... 18 
3.1.4 Sub-Carrier Oscillator ................................................................................................................. 18 
3.1.5 14 MHz Oscillator ....................................................................................................................... 18 
3.2 System Test ....................................................................................................................................... 19