Chris,
The problem with alot of "refurbed" ACS processors available on the market currently is that you can't be sure what the original circuit board is unless you open the plastic shell and know what the older circuit boards look like - R1-R1.1 & R2. About 50% of the ACS processors we get in for repair each week - come in with an original labeled R3.0 shell, but the older circuit boards are inside. We even see some of the R4.0s now coming in the same way. My point is that you can't be sure what you have "inside" unless you check and know the component configurations on all the version boards. So when you mentioned that the R3.0 to R5.0 with the 012 caused some corruption, it might have been an older board unless you knew the history of the processor.
The Older ACS processors had a different design and vintage of components on them that Lucent had major problems with overheating. We always repalce key PS components when we repair them - what we call the PS "update" whether the PS is defective or not. Like the VS R5.0 mails, Lucent made improvements on the ACS processors as newer releases came out starting with R3.0.
The problem with overheating which does cause some probems with the life expectancy of the power supplies was addressed with these newer power supplies, but ultimately Avaya woke up and just redesigned the 5 slot carrier so the modules don't interlock as they did in the older 5 slot carriers. Improved air flow around the mods helps, but the most important factor for improvinjg the life of ALL Partner mods is using the best power protection on the 100V supply side and also on ALL CO Lines coming into the switch. Basic telecom info, but not followed consistently. Keeps our repair business going!
Except where you need a specific release of the ACS software for a component like the 012E or 1600DSl (an Avaya flop), you can change versions both up and down, but will lose programming in many cases.
Andrew Roach
President - Drew Telecom Group, Inc.
Lucent Voice Mail-Component-Transtalk Repair Specialists
Lucent/Avaya Telecom Brokers/Resellers
drew@triton.net
269-685-5400 - voice
269-685-5500 - fax