Search results for query: visual inspection

  • Users: andrewb
  • Content: Threads, Posts
  • Order by date
  1. andrewb

    Red Baron: where is the, “PWR ON RESET” test point used for Signature Analysis of the Math Box?

    ...all Signetics chips, you'd stand to fix things a majority of the time.) If that doesn't yield anything, and you've done a good visual inspection to rule out any damaged traces (particularly under the sockets, and on the solder side, use a bright light), then it's most likely one of the...
  2. andrewb

    Tempest PCB stuck paused

    ...best bet is to send it out. Or get a logic probe and start tracing logic and see if you can get lucky. Also, the importance of visual inspection cannot be overstated. Hold the board up to a light, and look for shorts with light shining THROUGH the board. This helps things stick out that...
  3. andrewb

    MCI Computer Baseball

    ...up the other one. But that's ok. However a majority of the time when transistors fail, they go short, or open (so you see no drops in either direction), or do other more obvious things. I would put the visual inspection above all else. Under a bright light. Really scrutinize every joint.
  4. andrewb

    Battle zone playing blind, no beeps, no spot killer

    ...good one from another game can rule that out. In this case, I'd actually suspect one of the caps for the audio circuit may have broken off. Look to see if there are any parts missing on the aux board. Possibly C25, but maybe others. Do a careful visual inspection under a bright light.
  5. andrewb

    SOLD - GAME Sea Wolf by Midway includes base SE Michigan $550

    You don't want to use a scope to test the voltages. You want a DMM. Step 1 is visual inspection, before you even apply power. Check all connections, look for chewed wires, etc. Next, unplug everything from the monitor and game boards. Plug in ONLY the power supply board. Power up and...
  6. andrewb

    X-Men Buzzing - Connector Issue or Board Issue?

    ...wires. But if there's a bad crimp, you should be able to narrow things down and find it, and just fix that one connection (often without even needing to replace the pin), and without needing to repin whole connectors. Visual inspection under a BRIGHT light also often goes a long way here.
  7. andrewb

    G05-802 no neck glow in asteroids cabinet

    ...main cab harness, as either of these can cause false readings. But if the contacts are bent, you should be able to see it via visual inspection of the contacts looking into the connector. One more check: What happens if you turn up the brightness and contrast pots on the board all the...
  8. andrewb

    Centipede trackball control affects horozontal position of the centipede

    ...writing code, or even breaking out logic analyzers or other complex tools. So you start with the simple physical things (visual inspection, self-test, logic probe, etc). And save the more complicated things for last, if the easy ones don't pan out. I have an HP comparator. But rather...
  9. andrewb

    Centipede trackball control affects horozontal position of the centipede

    ...if it isn't that, it could be a number of other things. Also, if you haven't done so already, the first thing you should do is VISUAL INSPECTION. Specifically, look for places on the parts side where tin may have flaked off of one trace, and shorted to an adjacent trace. This is...
  10. andrewb

    My missile command thread

    ...set of instructions I gave. When things are not working (which you determine by testing power with your DMM), the next step is visual inspection and cleaning of connections. Remove the brick, inspect underneath it, and clean and test the fuses in the block. For all you know there could...
  11. andrewb

    Centipede issue, game freezes

    ...the RAM doesn't fix it, it's usually either a bus issue, or an issue with the decoding logic. Also, give the board a good visual inspection (both sides, under a bright light), looking for shorts, damage, and debris. Also, hold the board up to a bright light (with the board between you and...
  12. andrewb

    Millipede rendering each sprites upside down

    ...one trace and shorts to something nearby that it shouldn't. So when you have identified a stuck signal, it's good to do a good visual inspection under a bright light, and make sure there isn't any debris causing the short. Otherwise you can replace chips and not see anything change. One...
  13. andrewb

    Does recapping a monitor usually kill the flyback transformer?

    ...it. So if I had to pick, I'd recap it. (I'd also wash the chassis to get all the grime off, then give everything a very close visual inspection, checking for any cracked solder joints, and reflowing all major joints. Thermal cycling stresses joints, and is another common cause of...
  14. andrewb

    Question to the admins about an AI project

    ...much in that order. And with sending it out always being the last option. Just look at any thread where I've used the phrase 'visual inspection'. Here are all of them: https://forums.arcade-museum.com/search/1257778/?q=visual+inspection&t=post&c[users]=andrewb&o=date Sadly, you used...
  15. andrewb

    G07 Chassis Issues

    ...the neck board, one for each color. So if you make any measurements, you can always compare them to the two other colors. But visual inspection is always good to start with. I'd also advise against shotgun reflowing of joints. If you can see that a joint is visibly bad, that's fine...
  16. andrewb

    Something you are sure that only you own

    ...could have figured that out. You could start by just opening it up and monitoring the voltages, and seeing if they take a dive. Visual inspection of any boards and/or connectors would be another easy thing to check, without needing to get too deep. A cracked solder joint or burned-up...
  17. andrewb

    Need help with my G05-801 monitor

    ...board fuses, Zeners (if it has them, some do and some don't), and all transistors, etc. First step in troubleshooting (after visual inspection) is data gathering. You need more breadcrumbs in order to try to piece together a better picture of what happened. You could also try plugging in...
  18. andrewb

    Asteroids Deluxe Misbehaving

    ...ROMs. And make sure there are no signs of anything being dragged across the bus traces around all ROM and RAM. These are all things that can cause common ROM/RAM errors, and drive you nuts if you don't look to check for them in addition to testing chips. Always start with visual inspection.
  19. andrewb

    Asteroids Deluxe PCB Won't Boot - Two Low Tones, Increments Coin Counter, Resets

    ...right, and is processing junk. Always swap the CPU first with a good board (as they do go bad), clean all chip legs, and do visual inspection (including UNDER all sockets, as people like to gouge the traces with screwdrivers), before trying to debug logic. CPU-side issues can also be...
  20. andrewb

    Pole Positon

    ...- REPLACE (or REPAIR) Before you start cleaning anything, you want to take your DMM and do some measurements. Step 1 (after visual inspection) is always to check voltages. You want to use tools to assess the situation BEFORE you start doing anything. You want to MEASURE things, FIND...
Back
Top Bottom