ReWrite
Well-known member
Mine has 1 vertical line that doesn't work. Can these be fixed, or is this just how it'll spend the rest of its days?
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Rebuild your DMD controller pcb.. Kit is like $5 on great plains electronics.. Also, replace the ribbon cable.. That's fixed my issues in the past.. Have you tested the DMD in another game? As that will rule out if it's faulty or not.
Please don't take this as Gospel, but I don't think rebuilding the high power section of the Display Driver is going to fix your issue. If the display was completely blank or giving you wavy lines, then yes, that would solve your problem. However, with 1 vertical line out and all other lines working, you either have a bad trace on the display itself, or possibly a bad ribbon cable. I would start by breaking out the Digital Multi-Meter and checking for continuity (with the game off) between the top and bottom pins on the display line that is out. Then look for a cold solder joints and other possible bad connection points. My thinking is the reason the line is out is because it is not being powered. If more than 1 line or a group of lines was out, then I would suspect something else.
Just my 2 cents, sorry for the long reply
A single line out is a connection problem from the pin on the glass to the controller board. You can try and carefully grind down the glass with a Dremel next to the pin on the line that's out and jumper it with solder or some other conductive material. I'd say you're at 50/50 between destroying it and fixing it this way. People have done it. New displays are $130 or so. I'd get a new one and experiment on this one after.
If it is indeed a broken trace, you can patch it using conductive epoxy. I've done this before with no problems.
Rebuilding the DMD controller board is like capping a monitor.. It needs to be done to a pin thats older than 7-10 years.. As the components only have a 5-6 year lifespan.. They get hot!
So yeah, it's worth the $5 investment.
It may not fix the issue, but it's the smart move.. Or I've been told the wrong thing for years..
Rebuilding the DMD controller board is like capping a monitor.. It needs to be done to a pin thats older than 7-10 years.. As the components only have a 5-6 year lifespan.. They get hot!
So yeah, it's worth the $5 investment.
It may not fix the issue, but it's the smart move.. Or I've been told the wrong thing for years..