Add a knocker to Q*Bert Prototype

koolmoecraig

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So it's really kind of a bummer that my prototype Q*Bert doesn't have a knocker assembly installed. I want to add one.

Yeah I know it's not original and all that but I'm going to mount it on a piece of wood and lay it in the bottom of the cabinet. I won't do it if I have to tap into the original harness.

Where should I start in doing this? Is it just a matter of tapping into an out on the power board?

Thanks ya'll!
 
It's got the voltage required to drive the knocker...

image_zps9bd24fbd.jpg
 
One thing that my prototype doesn't have though is an F6 fuse(knocker) on the transformer plate:

image_zps70505de8.jpg
 
qb

sell it to me and ill throw in a special qbert ser # 999,999 with a brand new knocker ;)
I am with you on this, the game is so much fun cause of that knocker! good luck.
 
I'd leave it as is...my Mello Yello Q-bert doesn't have a knocker either (the wiring is there, never checked the voltage) I've been on the fence about adding a knocker also but decided no one but me likely remembers the knocker.
 
I'd leave it alone.

For anyone who knows Q*Bert, you'll always have the "Hey, your knocker doesn't work" / "That's because it didn't come with one" response.

How many other Q*Bert owners can say that? :cool:
 
I concur with those who say leave it be.

especially if you have a non proto with one (SAVE THE PROTO'S!!!)
 
I also concur with the "just leave it as is" consensus. It's a prototype, so it never had one. If it DID have one originally and it was ripped out or something, that'd be a different story. It's your machine, but that's what I would do...especially since you have another Q*bert with a working knocker.
 
What exactly does the "knocker" do? I haven't played an actual Qbert game in decades.

If any character falls off of the pyramid, after they leave the bottom of the video screen they are supposedly still falling from the screen into the cabinet. The game allows for a slight 'falling delay' then the knocker knocks, simulating the sound of the character hitting the cabinet floor.
 
If any character falls off of the pyramid, after they leave the bottom of the video screen they are supposedly still falling from the screen into the cabinet. The game allows for a slight 'falling delay' then the knocker knocks, simulating the sound of the character hitting the cabinet floor.

Hehe, that is pretty cool!
 
It would just be laying inside the cabinet mounted on a separate piece of wood. I wouldn't be drilling, splicing or anything like that.

I can't imagine this would be that hard to pull off with some alligator clips on an existing connection. Thoughts?
 
Its yours, do what you want besides damage, which i'd hardly call this

FYI, the fuse for my knocker is mounted next to the knocker, not on the brick

Its right behind the monitor neck board here:
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There might be an issues since you are using a prototype PCB. The code to activate the Knocker in the eproms may not be there. Meaning even if you put a knocker in there the PCB board may never send the signal to activate it.

If I was going to add something to the Proto type Qbert I would never connect directly to wiring harness. I would used Male and female connectors. So if you want to put it back to the original way. It is as simple and Unplugging it.
 
Correct, I would never plug directly into the harness.

I believe the code to be there as the knocker is selectable as "on/off" in the on-screen menu.
 
Yeah, I'm just looking for info on where it is triggered from and how exactly the knocker is wired up.

I got this bright idea a day after selling my normal Q*Bert. Brilliant.
 
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