1) I've got 5 or 6 Williams CPU boards, Rev - thru Rev D, and none of them have the little "levers" on the 40-pin connector for the ROM board. This makes it a bit of a PITA to pull that connector out; I'm worried about damaging the crumby-by-design IDC connection. Did they all get broken off over the years, or did Williams ship them without the removing levers installed?
2) Does any replacement or source exist for the "Special Chips" on Robotron & Joust ROM boards?
3) Does anyone know a Mouser or Digikey (or other major supplier) part number for the 20-position IDC connector that solders to the widget boards? I haven't encountered that specific type of connector until these Williams boards...
Hi Darren.
(1) Williams saved approximately $0.29 per board by not including the levers on the 40 pin connectors. I have sent about 29,000 curses to the pinhead in the accounting department that approved that decision.
On the other hand, the life expectency of these boards was about 2.5 years and they were never supposed to be separated, just thrown away.
(2) Yes and No. Rumors have abounded for years about rogue electrical engineering geniuses that have reverse engineered these chips onto FPGA daughterboards. To date, I have yet to see one of these (with the exception of JROK's multi-Williams board that has them embedded in the hardware emulation). The best source for these chips is other ROM boards that are damaged in other ways.
(3) Digi-Key has replacements for the 20 pin ribbon cables (part number C3PPS-2018G-ND). This is an 18 inch cable with solder connectors on both ends. Cut it in half and you have 2 cable assemblies ready for installation.
They also have 40 pin ribbon cables (C3PPS-4018G-ND). These are also 18 inch cables with connectors on both ends.
If you just need the solder connectors, the part numbers are: CPC20S-ND and CPS40S-ND for the 20 & 40 pin connectors repectively.
I have not ordered the connectors by themselves but the pictures and the specs look like the exact replacement parts.
ken
EDIT: BTW, the safest way to remove the ribbon connectors is to use a small flat bladed screwdriver. You slide it into the part where the cam lifters would be, dig one corner into the side of the connector and lift it slightly so that it is loose. Repeat on the other side, alternating sides until the connector is loose and can be safely lifted without putting strain on the ribbon cable.