GO8 Monitor Fact or Fiction? Take 2

Jimjaycee

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I've heard stories about the GO8 monitor. Do you have personal experiences with this type of monitor? Is there options to make it bullet proof? What is it really worth today?
(Ref: Sega Star Trek)
 
I've had a terrible personal experience with one of them, bad experience with another... it was bad enough that I actually have 4 of them, but the other two I've never even plugged in :p .

The first was from a Star Trek... I spent TONS of time trying to fix that thing... the best I could do was get half vertical deflection, and then if I tried to fix it any more, it'd burn transistors, smoke/shatter resistors, shoot fire, etc. Then I came across another and had similar problems, but I stopped messing with it after about an hour. Then I came across two more in a bulk buy, and they went directly to the attic ;) . I'm still waiting for one of these days to get up the courage to bring them all to my bench and fix them, but I really just don't feel like torturing myself, and I don't have an immediate need for any of them :p .

DogP
 
Just google a little and find some hardening techniques.

The best I've seen/done is restrapping the input transformer to output a lower AC voltage to the monitor. It takes it easier on the deflection output transistors.

G08 FAQ- find it.

Two main things I've seen that will zap a G08:
1- copper heat sinks on poorly mounted transistors in the deflection amplifier circuitry. If these touch one another, they will blow the main fuses (hopefully) or overload the rectifier diodes in the on-board supply.

2- internally shorted deflection output transistors. This is very common. This will send too much current through the 'current-limiter' paddle boards. I think those are 2W resistors on those little boards (big). I have seen them SPLIT open and yes, I have seen them catch on fire. A very small flame, but I was right there testing the monitor. I chuckled. I don't believe it could have caught a cabinet on fire before burning out and/or killing something else on the board supplying power to it.


They can run for years if fixed.

Don't be frightened of the 'flaming resistor' stories you hear. A MUCH more common monitor is well known for dead flyback transformers and filling a room with putrid smoke.

Kerry
 
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I just fixed one that had done the flaming resisitor of death.. New output transistors, resistors and one drive transistor..along with re soldering several header pins, Im good to go.. Coincidentally all of the components that died, were incorrect replacements for the original. I am planning on lowering the voltage like the internet guide shows.

Andrew
 
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