so i’m finishing up my first core module (now comes the hard part)
i know very little about electronics.
does it matter which way my voltage regulator is placed?
for my electorlytic caps, which leg is + and which in - (cathode/anode - i dont know the difference)
i have several power adapters for keyboards and stuff, what should i look for to power my core and for my SID.
which points do i check with my multimeter?
is it volts or amps that are going to destroy my circuts?
does it matter which way my voltage regulator is placed?
Yes, it does!!! Look at the photos on the core page for right placement:
http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_core.html
for my electorlytic caps, which leg is + and which in - (cathode/anode - i dont know the difference)
One side of the cap is marked with a (normally) white strip with printed ‘-’ signs in it. That’s the minus side 
i have several power adapters for keyboards and stuff, what should i look for to power my core and for my SID.
For the core it’s all written on the core site:
http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_core.html
For the SID, gues what? YES, on the SID site:
http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_sid.html
http://www.ucapps.de/midibox_sid.html
which points do i check with my multimeter?
And again: It’s al written on the core site (beside the photos):
http://www.ucapps.de/mbhp_core.html
Please reread everything on all the sites concerning core and SID.
Raphael
regulator -
i can’t really tell from the photo, but it looks like taller side metal plate) is facing away from the electrolytic cap.
electrolytic cap -
look at them again, i see a GIANT minus sign…oops, heh.
multimeter points-
ive looked at the core site many times and the directions/points they give are meaningless to me. can you define them? remember, i very very little about this sort of stuff.
power adapters-
well. hm. i guess i’ll just build the commodore PSU one.
9v for core, 15v for 6581 sid, correct?
i feel so dumb…
i had connected my power input to j2 instead of j1. probably almost melted everything.
hey rapael, thank you. it was late last night and i was frustrated. a clear head in the morning made everything work better 
ive looked at the core site many times and the directions/points they give are meaningless to me.
I was speaking of the instructions from the core site:
IC1:MCLR(1) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V
IC1:Vdd(11) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V
IC1:Vdd(32) - IC1:Vss(31) = 5V
IC2( 8 ) - IC2:(5) = 5V
What is unclear?
IC1:MCLR(1) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V says, that you should meassure 5V between Pin1 and Pin12 of IC1 (which is the PIC as you can see in the schematic).
Please do all voltage checks without chips plugged!
Otherwise:
probably almost melted everything.

Raphael
I was speaking of the instructions from the core site:
What is unclear?
IC1:MCLR(1) - IC1:Vss(12) = 5V says, that you should meassure 5V between Pin1 and Pin12 of IC1 (which is the PIC as you can see in the schematic).
Please do all voltage checks without chips plugged!
Otherwise:

Raphael
it took me a few mintues, but then i figured it out. i had forgotten how to read pin numbers for chips (in a circle, not lines).
everything checked out clear!