Ever fix non-arcade electronics?

DP Louie

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I'm stoked because I was able to fix my lcd computer monitor - it had been giving me trouble turning on for a few weeks, then the other day it just died completely. I was thisclose to buying a new one on sale at Best Buy, but I though, well, maybe I'll just open it up and take a look (couldn't hurt after all). I kept thinking "check the power supply first", and sure enough, in the ps section there were 3 caps that were bulging at the top. I checked the values and was able to scrounge some replacements out of various monitor cap kits, soldered them in, and the lcd monitor works great once again! So now I can brag that this hobby has actually saved me some money! :D Anyone else fix something electronic that wasn't related to arcade games?
 
All the time. My latest was a 2.5" Laptop hard drive. Friend lost all of his data on it. Drive wouldn't spin. Tried swapping a board from another of the same model drive (I figured this wouldn't work, apparently there are specifics to the particular drive stored in the firmware... sector mappings, etc.) However, with the new board the drive spun. A HA! I knew I had a power issue of some sort on the original board. Found a bad fuse (!!!)... Surface mount, but I'm getting much better at soldering that stuff. Got all of the data back!!

Also, about a week ago repaired my "ROM Burning" laptop. Found via Google that there is a transistor that goes bad in the power circuit. Scrounged a matching transistor from a lesser-model garbage laptop at work. Some surface mount soldering later, and BLAMMO! Laptop fixed. Yay, I can burn arcade ROMs again!!
 
I'm stoked because I was able to fix my lcd computer monitor - it had been giving me trouble turning on for a few weeks, then the other day it just died completely. I was thisclose to buying a new one on sale at Best Buy, but I though, well, maybe I'll just open it up and take a look (couldn't hurt after all). I kept thinking "check the power supply first", and sure enough, in the ps section there were 3 caps that were bulging at the top. I checked the values and was able to scrounge some replacements out of various monitor cap kits, soldered them in, and the lcd monitor works great once again! So now I can brag that this hobby has actually saved me some money! :D Anyone else fix something electronic that wasn't related to arcade games?

Hell yeah man!! awesome!!

I got my start fixing aftermarket car amps and aftermarket car stereos. Then progressed to fixing sega dreamcasts, ps2s, etc.. then this hobby came along and i found my niche. Fixing these arcade games will nevber get old, however ill never forget what first taught me my skills and for that car amps, i thank you. :D
 
I try to fix anything that breaks,with most things being disposable anymore i figure that it is already broke,so i can't hurt it.Mostly friends and family send their television sets,dvd players and console video games my way.For a spell i was fixing c.b. radios and selling them and that branched into repairs and a peak and tune service.The only thing i ever really enjoyed fixing aside from arcade machines were the radios,i got alot of satisfaction getting to hear the radios i worked on all the time running around the same large group everyday.
Haha,surface mount,yea lets just say we are learning to get along a little better with every episode.
 
One of my favorite ways to save money is picking up broken items that I want and fixing them.

So far, I've fixed a few laptops with bad power connections inside, a few Xbox 360s, Gamecubes and PS2. And a bunch more random stuff I can't think of off the top of my head
 
Motion picture projectors and amplifiers.

Commercial emergency lights/exit signs.

Commercial ice machine control boards.

Food equipment control boards.

Electronic control boards for dentist chairs (the ones patients sit in).

Antique radios.

Drive-in theater speakers.

Payphones.
 
For a spell i was fixing c.b. radios and selling them and that branched into repairs and a peak and tune service.

RIP Tommy2Watt (You should be the only one that knows what I'm talking about)

I was proudly on the "banned bus" :D
 
All the time! PC monitors (and other PC stuff), video game consoles, home stereos, amps, etc... basically anything that's broken that I can get apart and back together ;) .

DogP
 
Hell yeah man!! awesome!!

I got my start fixing aftermarket car amps and aftermarket car stereos. Then progressed to fixing sega dreamcasts, ps2s, etc.. then this hobby came along and i found my niche. Fixing these arcade games will nevber get old, however ill never forget what first taught me my skills and for that car amps, i thank you. :D

I guess i should add.. a few mos ago i got a hottub. It uses a pcb with relays on it to conttrol everything.

After a rainstorm it popped the circuit breaker. The topside control panel seal was bad, so rainwater dripped inside and followed the cables right into the control box.. smoke sparks and mayhem ensued.

A new pcb was going to run me $600. I fixed mine for $20 :D
 
I have fixed LCD Monitors, a couple of tv's and also a microwave (the door has switches similar to the microswitches used on arcade buttons).
 
I've fixed a few things, all were pretty simple fixes though and didn't involve fixing circuit boards (wish I knew how to diagnose that kind of stuff). We had a couple VCR's from the 80's that were really good quality compared to the way they're made now, but the belts would wear out (they don't use belts now). I took them apart and replaced the belts..much cheaper than taking it somewhere to get it fixed. Had a TV in college that the on/off volume pot broke. Got one a replacement one that was similar, although the knob wouldn't fit on, but it worked. Also fixed a microwave at work. The button you pushed to open the door broke. I took some scrap plastic and glued it on the back where it broke to beef it up. One other thing I remember fixing quite a few years ago was my parents garage door opener. It had some weird lever mechanism when you pushed the button to trip the switch, and it broke. Couldn't find a replacement remote that worked with it, so I just took the circuit board out, put it in one of those little Radio Shack test boxes and wired a push button on it. They still use it all the time :)
 
I fixed our cats poop box yesterday. It has a ribbon cable that connects to the sweeper motor that broke on one end. Of course the cat HAD to take a dump right when I discovered that the thing was broken.

I'm always fixing stuff around the house. Started at a young age thanks to my dad's profession.
 
Motion picture projectors and amplifiers.

Commercial emergency lights/exit signs.

Commercial ice machine control boards.

Food equipment control boards.

Electronic control boards for dentist chairs (the ones patients sit in).

Antique radios.

Drive-in theater speakers.

Payphones.

Hey Ken.. I'm interested in a few things you played with and I may be needing some info and advice..

I picked up 2 old Radiola's.. a 17 and an 18.. Cabinets are in good shape, just need to rebuild the electrics.. I also have a payphone that I would like to wire up for everyday use.. My buddy that gave me the phone was telling me that I can just plug it in and call some number to have it activated as a normal phone.. does that sound right?
 
Hey Ken.. I'm interested in a few things you played with and I may be needing some info and advice..

I picked up 2 old Radiola's.. a 17 and an 18.. Cabinets are in good shape, just need to rebuild the electrics.. I also have a payphone that I would like to wire up for everyday use.. My buddy that gave me the phone was telling me that I can just plug it in and call some number to have it activated as a normal phone.. does that sound right?

Look for a thread called "Kens Payphone thread" that has a ton of info and discussion on getting payphone working.
 
Fixed multiple things around the house. I have fixed my washing machine, the fridge in the kitchen which included the heating coils in the freezer section, dish washer and multiple other things. With my track record, I am pretty confident if anything broke, I would at least try to fix it 1st!!!!

Brian
 
Got my start in 7th grade fixing a TV.

TVs, VCRs, home stereos, car stereos, car amps, LCD monitors, computer motherboards (many from 8088 through P4), old school computers/game consoles, DVD players, ham radios, CBs, and the list keeps going.
 
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