Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
November 11, 2024, 03:48:11 PM

Login with username, password and session length
* Home Help Arcade Login Register
.
+  Forum
|-+  NLG Members who host their own Repair Logs of Various Games.
| |-+  Channelmaniac's Arcadecomponents' Old School Repair Logs (Moderator: channelmaniac)
| | |-+  Feedback Thread
0 Members and 3 Guests are viewing this topic. « previous next »
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Go Down Print
Author Topic: Feedback Thread  (Read 83647 times)
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« on: September 16, 2008, 12:18:01 AM »

If you have feedback on this forum area please share it!

Is there something bugging you about the posts? Have these helped you? Am I leaving out important information? Is there something you have a question about that isn't answered here? Please let me know.

I post on these forums:

NewLifeGames.net
Neo-Geo.com
KLOV.com
pcenginefx.com (currently down)
and a couple more obscure ones...

And have fixed games for those forum members plus for customers off of my website. Many of these game boards have very little repair documentation available - no schematics, no troubleshooting guides, etc - just like the slots that most of the members here like to play with. This is my way of paying back the gaming community - posting how boards have been repaired and by posting how-to guides along with hardware documentation.

This thread is for the members here and anybody that found these threads by searching Yahoo!, Google, etc... who have found them helpful. It's also for folks that want to tell me if I make a mistake. All I ask is that people don't tell me it stinks but rather why it stinks so it can be improved.

Thanks,

Raymond
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
Thor777
Contributing Gold NLG Member
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 415
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 1419


Slave to my CAT's !!!


« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2008, 12:55:34 AM »

WoW...The CoCO...I have one of the first (silver) units with cassette, single side 5" floppy drive (cost me hundreds at the time)...My favorite game was Dungons of Daggorth !!!

Mine is still working fine..although I did have to also take apart the keyboard for cleaning sticky keys...

BTW..I have the origional Technical Reference Manual for the Tandy 1000TL if someone ever needs it...and I'm sure I have it for the CoCo 1 but it might take me a while to dig that up
« Last Edit: September 16, 2008, 01:03:16 AM by Thor777 » Logged

My CAT is smarter than your honor student  !!!
tjkeller
NLG Translator
NLG Document, Media Gallery and FAQ Writer
Sr.NLG Member 501 to 1000 Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 374
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 703


What???...Where???...Huh???


« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2008, 01:05:45 AM »

THANKS channelmaniac for sharing your knowledge and keeping this infomation a part of this forum!
Logged

Thank God for Friends!!!
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2008, 01:10:48 AM »

That was the computer I started with back in the early 80s. It was also my first shot at hardware hacking and repair. It brings back LOTS of memories!

The day it was out of warranty I ordered a 64k memory upgrade kit for $59.95 + shipping and installed it myself. (I was in middle school!)

A few months later I was building a custom game cartridge and plugged it in with the power on. OOPS. Dead computer. I ordered a replacement 6809E CPU and my uncle replaced it. It was soldered in so he removed it and socketed it as I didn't have THAT level of soldering skills then. Wink

My uncle was one of the guys that helped to shape my life and love of electronics. He had a TV repair shop and showed me the finer arts of troubleshooting: Break down the circuitry into blocks and use your 5 senses. Breaking it down into blocks lets you narrow down where the problem will be. Using your 5 senses will allow you to notice things that could be the problem. These techniques work wonders when you don't have schematics. Master them and you'll be able to fix many different things. He was right.

I remeber my first lesson in this. I had a color TV that had no vertical output. It was nothing but a flat line on the screen. I had schematics but no idea were to start. I learned about the sections of a TV: tuner, power supply, IF, horizontal oscillator, horizontal output, vertical output, and the high voltage sections. In this case he said "Change this tube. Also, see this resistor? Check it. I bet you'll find it bad." He was right, it was charcoal. I replaced it and the tube and the set had a beautiful picture.
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
Thor777
Contributing Gold NLG Member
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 415
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 1419


Slave to my CAT's !!!


« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2008, 01:14:24 AM »

BTW...Did ya all know there is a Emulator out their that can be used to run CoCo games and software on your current computer???
Logged

My CAT is smarter than your honor student  !!!
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2008, 01:19:59 AM »

Yup!

There are at least a couple of different ones including one written totally in Java. I used them to test some diagnostics software before deciding which version to put on an EPROM and build a cartridge from. It comes in handy when testing old hardware and chips.
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
Thor777
Contributing Gold NLG Member
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 415
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 1419


Slave to my CAT's !!!


« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2008, 01:21:15 AM »

That was the computer I started with back in the early 80s. It was also my first shot at hardware hacking and repair. It brings back LOTS of memories!

The day it was out of warranty I ordered a 64k memory upgrade kit for $59.95 + shipping and installed it myself. (I was in middle school!)


OMG !!! ...  You mean the kit where you "piggyback " the memory chips !!!   I didn't wait for the warranty to run out...

Remember the POKE and PEEK commands...boy I was smart...hehe
Logged

My CAT is smarter than your honor student  !!!
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2008, 01:32:57 AM »

Nope!

I had the last revision of CoCo1, the NC board. It was the one that didn't have a letter designation on the board.

It required the removal of 8 4116 chips, removal of 8 capacitors (snip snip), moving of 3 jumpers, and soldering together two pads next to the SAM chip before installing 8 4164 chips.

Wasn't too bad at all.

Sad thing was, less than 3 years later Radio Shack was selling sets of 8 4164 DRAM ICs for less than $10 on one of their special purchase deals.

I miss those deals. They had a keyboard that was the same size/shape of the CoCo's but had real keys on it. It also had that flat plastic ribbon cable just like my NC revision CoCo1 had. I bought it. It fit and worked great! It had 2 function keys just like the CoCo 3 later came out with. My guess is that it was a keyboard they decided to not use on the CoCo 2. I loved having a better keyboard. Cheesy
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
SAT (aka GANDHI)
Contributing Gold NLG Member
Sr.NLG Member 501 to 1000 Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 224
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 807



« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2009, 09:32:52 PM »

Great!!!    applause applause applause applause applause applause

I like modifications a lot (as soon as they work same or better than original of course  Duh!   rotflmao)

I see myself posting in this topic in the future  yes

Question:  can any kind of mod be posted here??? just related to slots??? just related to electronics??? 

Cheers Wink
Logged

Keep it simple!!!
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2009, 09:44:27 PM »

Actually, there's a whole forum subsection that anyone can post in for any topic - http://newlifegames.net/nlg/index.php?board=76.0

But nobody is actively using it yet... Sad

Perhaps you could kick start it?
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
SAT (aka GANDHI)
Contributing Gold NLG Member
Sr.NLG Member 501 to 1000 Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 224
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 807



« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2009, 10:13:11 PM »

Yeah for sure!!!  I'll give it a try cause i have some time now...

I'll search for some contents in my files  propeller

Logged

Keep it simple!!!
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2009, 03:33:23 AM »

okay,
now....do you solder 1 resistor (rated at 150ohms) onto EACH  LEDs or do you only use 1 resistor (rated at 150ohms) for the whole string of LEDs?
I'm installing LEDs in a topper.
I need to use 50 LEDs to complete it.
I'm stringing the LEDs in a series configuration.
I am using household current (U.S.of A.)

Also,which leg of each LED does the resistor get soldered to?
The side that has the "bowl" or the other smaller side of the LED?
Or do I only use 1 total resistor for the entire topper string?

I don't know what these 5mm white LEDs need for power.
The only thing I know is that they emit bright white light using clear glass and the light isn't diffused (confused?) rotflmao

I am.... arrow

Anyways, everytime I turn the power on....POOF! smoke escapes...
I end up checking every bloody bulb and resoldering the burnt out ones.
But for a brief second man....it is bright!
« Last Edit: January 16, 2009, 03:38:45 AM by stayouttadabunker » Logged
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2009, 04:12:45 AM »

All of the LEDs go in parallel. Then you add up the current needed to drive a group of them.

Why only a group? They'll all have slightly different resistances which means slightly different current draw and brightness. Doing them in small groups is better for that.

Take 10 of them for example... at 2.1v and 20ma each. That's 200ma total current draw off of, say a 12v power supply.

12 -2.1 / .2
or
9.9/.2 = 49.5 or 50 ohms. You could take 2 100 ohm resistors and put them in parallel for 50 ohms.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

You'll need to also calculate the heat dissapation for dropping 9.9 volts across the resistors. If you use resistors that are too small they'll burn up. Those forumlas I don't have off the top of my head. I'd have to go look that part up. Wink

RJ

Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
jay
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 483
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 3178


if you cant afford to lose you cant afford to win


« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2009, 02:40:06 PM »

Are LEDs not normally 1.5v - so would you not string 8 of them in series and run them off of 12V ?
Alternatively if you then had 40 of these would you not then put 5 strings of 8 in parallel ?
Logged

The only way to beat the casino is to own it
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2009, 04:09:20 PM »

problem is: I don't know if these LEDs are 1.5V...there's no writing on them at all. Scratch Head
So, it's a crapshoot everytime I turn the power on...most times some LEDs go poof! hissy fit
Then I gotta start all over again. bawling

I actually have the same problem with xmas lights...you cant tell the difference between a 3.5V, a 6V or a 12V
bulb. You look at them and there's no writing on them either.
If you stick a couple of 3.5V replacement bulbs in a 12V string of say 150 bulbs....they get way too bright, hot and blow.

I'm becoming a master of blowing fuses and or xmas bulbs and LEDs???
« Last Edit: January 16, 2009, 04:26:28 PM by stayouttadabunker » Logged
jay
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 483
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 3178


if you cant afford to lose you cant afford to win


« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2009, 04:55:33 PM »

If your doing a lot of this kind of work I might suggest you get yourself either a fancy power supply that has a knob on it. That way you can start at 0 and vary your voltage upwards. A 12v bulb will just barely glow with 6v.
If you do a lesser amount you can probably pick up one of the voltage selectable wall warts from Radio Shack for like 12 bucks. It will do 3v, 6v, 9v, 12v by using a slide switch. Might save you some aggravation (and bulbs).
Logged

The only way to beat the casino is to own it
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #16 on: January 16, 2009, 05:04:23 PM »

sounds good . Thanks Jay...I'm going shopping! rotflmao
Logged
channelmaniac
Surface mount soldering geek
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 568
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 2126


Few things are better than fixing an old game...


WWW
« Reply #17 on: January 16, 2009, 05:41:37 PM »

Are LEDs not normally 1.5v - so would you not string 8 of them in series and run them off of 12V ?
Alternatively if you then had 40 of these would you not then put 5 strings of 8 in parallel ?

The problem of putting a string of 8 in series is that they still would pull too much current. You have to limit the current or you'll pop 'em.
Logged

I have too many hobbies! Electronics, gunsmithing, Miatas, arcade games, metal detecting, etc...

http://www.arcadecomponents.com
Joeylc
Founder and CEO of New_Life_Games_LLC
NLG Site Administrator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 287
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 1312


KG7NLG


WWW
« Reply #18 on: January 16, 2009, 05:42:11 PM »

This is a good one ....  yes yes

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250299277978





* power.jpg (32.44 KB, 400x300 - viewed 1277 times.)
Logged

"The Seeds of our Ultimate Destruction are Slowly and Quietly being Planted in the Fertile soil of Political Correctness”
                                                                   Joey Carruthers 2011


Hottest day in the United States recorded August 11, 1983 at 2:21 p.m. was 132 F. - recorded in the shade at the Bullhead City Fire Department. 
BUT IT WAS A DRY HEAT


I Have gone to find myself, and if I get back before I return, keep me here!
  ???





1-888-NLG-SLOTS 928-754-4147
e-Bay ID NewLifeGames_net
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #19 on: January 16, 2009, 06:04:31 PM »

 rotflmao          $289.95 plus shipping  ....whew! For that price....it better be! lol thanks Joey.!

Let's say I use it as a yardstick for what I can afford....
« Last Edit: January 16, 2009, 06:10:26 PM by stayouttadabunker » Logged
Joeylc
Founder and CEO of New_Life_Games_LLC
NLG Site Administrator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 287
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 1312


KG7NLG


WWW
« Reply #20 on: January 16, 2009, 06:36:10 PM »

rotflmao          $289.95 plus shipping  ....whew! For that price....it better be! lol thanks Joey.!

Let's say I use it as a yardstick for what I can afford....


 bust gut laughing bust gut laughing bust gut laughing Sorry about that I forget some times that this is just a hobby for some and 289.95 is kind of out of the ball park for just tinkering around.

I guess it's to many years of working in the casinos with unlimited budgets...  propeller propeller

This is a good one at a good price http://cgi.ebay.com/BK-1630-Power-supply-0-32VDC-0-3A-regulated-with-Meters_W0QQitemZ180321381745



 
Logged

"The Seeds of our Ultimate Destruction are Slowly and Quietly being Planted in the Fertile soil of Political Correctness”
                                                                   Joey Carruthers 2011


Hottest day in the United States recorded August 11, 1983 at 2:21 p.m. was 132 F. - recorded in the shade at the Bullhead City Fire Department. 
BUT IT WAS A DRY HEAT


I Have gone to find myself, and if I get back before I return, keep me here!
  ???





1-888-NLG-SLOTS 928-754-4147
e-Bay ID NewLifeGames_net
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #21 on: January 16, 2009, 06:54:48 PM »

Thanks Joey....lol By the way, this the beautiful topper I'm working on....I finally got it to light up!
My workdesk is a little cluttered up...lol

Click on photo to enlarge it!


* Welcome Topper lights 017.jpg (151.01 KB, 1024x856 - viewed 1264 times.)
« Last Edit: January 16, 2009, 08:15:05 PM by stayouttadabunker » Logged
jay
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 483
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 3178


if you cant afford to lose you cant afford to win


« Reply #22 on: January 16, 2009, 06:56:55 PM »

RJ,

Help me here..... I think I need a Electronics 102 class (subtitled: How to Keep the smoke in)

I thought Current was drawn not pushed ?
I can see if you put a LED inline with a existing circuit it would be subject to the drawn load but if it was the only thing on the circuit how is it possible for it to draw too much unless the voltage is more than the device can handle ?






Logged

The only way to beat the casino is to own it
jay
Global NLG Site Moderator
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 483
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 3178


if you cant afford to lose you cant afford to win


« Reply #23 on: January 16, 2009, 06:57:44 PM »

Nice looking topper.
Logged

The only way to beat the casino is to own it
stayouttadabunker
Senior Full time Member.
Sr.Tech NLG Member 1000+ Post
*

Total Karma Storms: 1039
Offline Offline

Gender: Male
Posts: 13447



« Reply #24 on: January 16, 2009, 07:04:14 PM »

Thanks Jay! (I wish it were mine though ...lol....I'm fixing it for a member)
It has a yellow/orange star too...I'm working on that at the moment!
Also has a blue column and it tops off with a two stage candle light.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 Go Up Print 
« previous next »
Jump to:  


If you find this site helpful, Please Consider Making a small donation to help defray the cost of hosting and bandwidth.



Newlifegames.com    Newlifegames.net    Newlifegames.org
   New Life Games    NewLifeGames  NLG  We Bring new Life to old Games    1-888-NLG-SLOTS
Are all Copyright and Trademarks of New Life Games LLC 1992 - 2021


FAIR USE NOTICE:

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner.
We make such material available in an effort to advance awareness and understanding of the issues involved.
We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those
who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.

For more information please visit: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use,
you must obtain permission directly from the copyright owner.

NewLifeGames.net Web-Site is optimized for use with Fire-Fox and a minimum screen resolution of 1280x768 pixels.


Powered by SMF 1.1.20 | SMF © 2013, Simple Machines
Loon Designed by Mystica
Updated by Runic Warrior
Page created in 0.123 seconds with 21 queries.