Board Repair for Starters

titanfan

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Where would one go to learn about troubleshooting boards. I am looking for flowcharts, repair logs ect. Does such database of knowledge exist?
 
There are a lot of web sites full of great info.
Of course there's a bunch of info here on the forums just searching through what other guys have been through.
Mikesarcade.com has some good info. Your best bet is to google phrases like "arcade repair logs" "arcade pcb repair".
For other general arcade repair how tos, there www.therealbobroberts.net and Randyfromm.com. Randy Fromm has a great pay site full of useful info including momitor troubleshooting flow charts. I'm not sure you'll find deadset flow charts anywhere for arcade boards.
 
It depends on the boards. Some boards, like the Williams boards were published with Theory of Operation manuals, drawing sets and just about everything you need to fix 'em. Some of the JAMMA boards came with nothing more than a piece of paper that said, "This is JAMMA compatible board" and a table of dip switch settings.

Is there anything specific you were looking for?

Around here, the more specific you can be with your questions the more specific the answers and help you are going to get back.

Vague questions = vague answers.

ken
 
My repair logs are kept at a link that is listed in my signature.

RJ
 
Is there anything specific you were looking for?

Around here, the more specific you can be with your questions the more specific the answers and help you are going to get back.

Vague questions = vague answers.

ken

Thanks. TBH it was a vague question on purpose. I have a ton of boards that need repair just trying to eliminate the easy ones first. I have everything from Gravitar boards to Galagas to an array of Jamma. I think it would be cool to get all of the repair logs compiled into one place. This board is awesome and has a ton of information in it. But I think others might agree with me that its a tough egg to crack at getting started with board repair, trouble shooting, chip programming etc.
 
Channelmaniac has some great repair logs (which he has already mentioned).

I've also posted a lot of mine (under different names to this one, specifically Irongiant and VectorGlow) to jammaplus.co.uk and at aussiearcade.com.au (you need to register first to view both of those).

shmups.system11.org has a few too, look for those from user Womble (who also posts at aussiearcade).
 
If I were to whip up a central website where all of these logs could be compiled, would the users who make said logs (channelmaniac et al) be willing to use it? It would be nice if we had a wiki/JIRA type solution for logging fixes for specific games, specific hardware (galaxian class boards, midway Y unit games, etc) all in one central location with content provided by the community.
 
Great idea if you're willing.

The only problem I can see is importing the data that already exists in various formats on various sites. How would you handle that, besides a LOT of cutting and pasting?
 
I wont as the log site I have serves multiple purposes...

People can see what I did to repair their board, others can use it as a source of help for repairing their own boards, and it's a type of advertisement for what I can do on board repairs.

The folks at NLG have been good to me and it's time again for me to donate some cash for the upkeep of the site.

One day, I want to write a book on game repair... but it's probably going to be a couple more years. Until then, the site also serves as a place for me to stash information. ;)
 
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