Re: Tempest help please!

G'day Roger,

I wouldn't touch the pot yet, if you'd like it to last
and hopefully not fry later from overvoltage and bad sense line contacts,
have a go at the updates to the power supply, (similar asteroids details below)
and also run a seperate 2 wire (GND and +5V) cable from the power supply board
to the game board directly, with a new 2 pin connector in line.
(Thanks again John Robertson for getting me fired up about the
 importance of the grounding between the board, psu and monitor!)
It really does help and is good peace of mind.

A ground cable from the power supply to the monitor board ground is good too.

Cheers,

Marc

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Smith" <whooshdoo@hotmail.com>
To: <vectorlist@vectorlist.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 8:38 AM
Subject: VECTOR: Tempest help please!

> I am seeking some help concerning a couple of problems with my Tempest
> upright (which has no video or audio at the moment).
>
> 1.) When I power up, the coin meters start clicking away like crazy and the
> player select LEDs are on solid with no response when I press them.
>
> 2.) While checking for power problems, I noticed that there is an immediate
> voltage drop from the +5 edge connector pins to their respective contacts on
> the board edges, which measure 4.89. Should I adjust the +5 pot on the AR
> board to compensate?
>
> Thanks in advance for any help I receive!
>
> Roger
>

----- Original Message -----
From: "Marc Alexander" <marcwolf123@yahoo.com>
To: <vectorlist@vectorlist.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2003 11:00 PM
Subject: VECTOR: Asteroids repair log 2 - power supply

>
> Back again, I forgot to mention the mods to the Audio/Regulator
> board that will help against further board and power supply problems,
>
> As you probably already know, the Audio/Regulator board
> (and 'II' version on later games) uses seperate +SENSE (5V sense)
> and -SENSE (GND sense) lines that are expected to go to the
> game pcb, and feedback the voltage at the game PCB so the regulator
> can adjust the power supply up a bit to allow for the voltage drop
> of the connectors and cabling.
> Of course 20+ years and low quality connectors to start with meant the
> voltage drop gets higher quickly, and causes all kind of voltage
> regulator, burn out and voltage offset, video wobble and other weird problems.
> Also, failure of the Regulator circuitry or pass transistor has
> the ability to put over 10VDC at high current into the 5V rail
> of the game board, which can kill many parts!
>
> To fix this problem,
> (AUDIO/REGULATOR board, not AUDIO/REGULATOR II, fix is the same but pinouts
> and parts locations may be different?)
>
> 1) First check the board is adjusted to 5.00 VDC output
> while still in the machine.
> This is because a later step will fit a 5V6 zener to the output, and
> it should be below that before fitting it!
> If you find the R8 1K pot that adjusts this is a bit jumpy or touchy,
> replace it with a good quality cermet trimpot, it will save some
> power supply trouble later.
>
> 2) On the back side of J7, the 9 pin connector, you will see pins
> 1 and 4 are connected together.
> Short with a piece of wire soldered to the back, Pin 2 to Pins 1&4.
>
> 3) On the back side of J7, the 9 pin connector, you will see pins
> 5 and 6 are connected together.
> Short with a piece of wire soldered to the back, Pin 3 to Pins 5&6.
>
> Resolder all the connector pins on the PCB just for good measure, they
> can go dry or mechanically bad.
>
> 4) Remove CR1, the diode closest to J7, after first noting its orientation.
> (you could leave it in and put the zener over the top of it if preferred)
>
> 5) Solder a 5V6 5W (or higher wattage) Zener diode at CR1, with the
> stripe facing the same way as CR1.
> I use an 1N5339B 5V6 5W zener.
>
> 6) If you have a bench power supply, put 10-12VDC into the +10.3VDC UNREG
> input (with GND), current limited if available to 200mA, and check and
> adjust the 5V output to 5.00 VDC with the 1K pot.
> If you don't just plug it in to the machine with the game board
> unplugged, and adjust the output very carefully to 5.00VDC.
> NOTE! If you accidentally adjust over about 5.6VDC the zener will start
> clamping, get hot, and the fuse for that line may blow.
>
> Don't hesitate to replace the edge connector that goes to your game board
> if it's a bit loose, it can save a lot of drama.
> Mark the new connector so you know which way is the 'top/parts' side.
> 'Prime' with solder all the pins of the new connector, so they are ready
> to accept the new wire ends
> One at a time, cut the wires off the old connector, strip, prime with
> solder the stripped end, then hold the wire and the iron to the new
> connector pin, and it will attach easily.
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Marc

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Received on Wed Oct 8 22:30:21 2003