1200XL cartridge port copper tongue... thing

[Rybags]

The brown cart metal cover isn't actually connected to the cart board in any way.

 

Possible alternate purpose of the tab:

- guide to assist insertion so the board lines up properly with the connector (esp 3rd party carts of the time without the interlock/door tabs.

- ground attachment to assist dispersing static when inserting.

- RF reduction means by joining the cart cover with the internal Faraday Cage.

 

[jamm]

8 minutes ago, Rybags said:

The brown cart metal cover isn't actually connected to the cart board in any way.

 

Possible alternate purpose of the tab:

- guide to assist insertion so the board lines up properly with the connector (esp 3rd party carts of the time without the interlock/door tabs.

- ground attachment to assist dispersing static when inserting.

- RF reduction means by joining the cart cover with the internal Faraday Cage.

 

I assumed an unintended consequence of making the cartridge cases partially out of metal was that there were instances of people shorting out the 400/800 by passing on static electricity from their bodies to the computer.  But you're right: the metal portion of the case doesn't touch the cart PCB, so it's hard to see how that would've happened.