How to 'bullet proof' a Pole Position. Video. Wtf.

Replace the edge connectors and crimp in the 2nd wire out to the spade connectors... It's cleaner, but a little more work. Wiring tape is awful, I use heat shrink.

The edge connectors are cheap. The reason they burn up like that is because they are not getting a good connection and causing resistance...

It was the first thing I did on my Pole Position II. It's been great ever since (5 years now).

Just my thoughts.

-Mike
 
good video and I can never say it enough, I love your videos and basement arcade!

I did something similar:

I connected all of the test points but I then ran them to a switching power supply that I mounted in the bottom of the cab, while I left the original a/r's in the cab doing their normal job.

I think it was the frizz mod (maybe he got it from someone else, not sure.)
 
Replace the edge connectors and crimp in the 2nd wire out to the spade connectors... It's cleaner, but a little more work. Wiring tape is awful, I use heat shrink.

The edge connectors are cheap. The reason they burn up like that is because they are not getting a good connection and causing resistance...

It was the first thing I did on my Pole Position II. It's been great ever since (5 years now).

Just my thoughts.

-Mike

You know I never replaced my edge connector and it never has made any difference. Game works great and I saved myself some work.

I agree electrical tape is not as clean but when it's all you have on hand it'll do. :)
 
Can you guys demonstrate how the extra wire is added as a spade connector?

For the spade connector you would twist the two stripped wires together then put them inside the end and crimp. Basically the same way you would a single spade connector.

As far as the edge connector is concerned, you would do the same to it.

I can upload a pic tomorrow.

-Mike
 
good video and I can never say it enough, I love your videos and basement arcade!

I did something similar:

I connected all of the test points but I then ran them to a switching power supply that I mounted in the bottom of the cab, while I left the original a/r's in the cab doing their normal job.

I think it was the frizz mod (maybe he got it from someone else, not sure.)
That's not a good idea. You should never connect two power supplies in parallel unless they are isolated from each other, because a difference in voltage will result in current being sent into the power supply with the lower voltage.
 
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That's not a good idea. You should never connect two power supplies in parallel unless they are isolated from each other, because a difference in voltage will result in current being sent into the power supply with the lower voltage.

He should be all right if he's using the switcher for +5 and the ARs for everything else though.

Another concern I had watching the video is if the connections between the test points and the main bus traces are big enough to handle the current. I couldn't tell on the PP board and don't have one to look at, but in general it might be better to solder some wire (18 ga or bigger) directly to the bus traces and put the spade connector on the end of that, or "repurpose" a PC hard drive molex connector.

just my $0.02
/Tim
 
Great video as usual John.. Alot of good tips, and a good refresher for the more experienced as well. This is a good mod to perform on most old Atari games. I look forward to seeing your other "tech" videos as well.

Personally, I'm starting to get to the point of replacing edge connectors on alot of machines, and while crimping the new connectors is a good time to splice in to do these voltage mods at the same time.
 
Great video as usual John.. Alot of good tips, and a good refresher for the more experienced as well. This is a good mod to perform on most old Atari games. I look forward to seeing your other "tech" videos as well.

Personally, I'm starting to get to the point of replacing edge connectors on alot of machines, and while crimping the new connectors is a good time to splice in to do these voltage mods at the same time.

It's funny, I have had this feeling a lot lately with my games. It's obvious to me that a lot of the games need new edge connectors. They just seem loose and reseating them usually fixes issues I have. So, yeah... the edge connectors are for sure going on these games right about now.
 
Quick example... Different pin connector, same idea. One wire in the other out to the spade connector. (Wrong sized wire for that pin the pic. It was scrap, so I used it. And yes I know the wire's insulation is not crimped, this should be crimped on the larger second crimp spot.)

attachment.php


Crimp Quickie by Bob Roberts
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/crimp.html


-Mike
 

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Just saw this...

Yes... my PP and PPII was modified to tie all the test points together and to the +5v ONLY off a switcher. I... of course... removed the linear supplies + 5 lines from the harness...

I no longer have my PP though... and I sort of miss it.
 
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