Galaga Fire Button

WarLordAG

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My buddy was over playing Galaga and he said the fire button randomly quit working in the middle of the game. I've done some testing and I've now ran a wire from the fire button directly to the edge connector and it works. The actual fire button's wire to the edge connector is bad.

My first question, how does this happen?

It seems easier to just order the deluxe harness kit from Bob and replace everything. I don't see anything visibly wrong with the current wire.

Any thoughts?
 
Any Galaga (assuming it's an original) should have a break connector (Molex or Amp connector) in the control panel wiring. Did you check to see if you get continuity from the button up to the control panel's half of that connector and then from the other half of that connector to the edge connector? Also check the ground wire. You may find the problem is only in the wire going from the button up to the connector. I wouldn't replace the whole harness just because 1 wire is bad personally.
 
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More likely the problem is in the edge connector but it could also be the control panel molex connection or an actual break in the wire. Sometimes the wires can get pinched by the coin door if they are not secured correctly in the cab. You should also check the actual connections to the button and verify those.
 
I have never checked a wire for continuity before.
How is this done on my meter?
Makes sense to check from edge connector to molex, and molex to button.
 
The easist way is to check it via a test light, which you can get at any auto parts store or good hardware store.

You can also use a multimeter, set to check for resistance. Zero resistance and the wire is good, infinite resistance and the wire is bad. And give the wire a good wiggle too, to make sure it's not an intermittant problem.
 
I'm an idiot, my meter has a continuity setting.

Ground wire wasn't testing out. Followed it back to a board above the PCB on the side of the cabinet. Cleaned and re-seated all of that and all is well.

What is this board exactly?
 
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