How to start on an Asteroids machine

Thom

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A Member over at the "Build Your Own Arcade Controls" Forum suggested that I post this here:

I have an non-working Asteroids machine. When I plug it in, I get a hum from the monitor-area, the back of the monitor glows red, but that's it. No marquee lights, no Player 1, Player 2 lights, no coin return light, no image at all on the monitor.

I did check all the fuses in the fuse block on the power supply board; there's also one screw-in fuse there, and a fuse up by the monitor - all were good. I replaced the fluorescent lamp in the marquee (it still doesn't light).

The ground plug has been cut from the power cord, but the house that I live in doesn't have properly grounded outlets anyway...

I have some experience with electronics, but am certainly no pro - I can solder on a circuit board, etc., but I'm pretty lost when it comes to troubleshooting. I have basic tools, including a multimeter.

Can someone give me some direction for troubleshooting (or tell me if it's even worth restoring) - or even better, might someone that knows what they're doing live somewhere in Central Illinois (I live in the Bloomington/Normal area).

I don't know if they'll help, but I've posted some pics at the link below. As you can see, I haven't done anything (cleaning, etc.) with it yet:

www.thewhistleshop.com/misc/asteroids/asteroids.html

Thanks in advance,
Thom
 
Check the voltages on the labeled test points on the game board and also going into and coming out of the audio/regulator board.

Also, check to make sure you're getting 36v AC into the regulator board on the monitor (the one with the large blue capacitors). It should also be outputting +25-35v DC and -25-35v from the connector on the right side of the board. The neck glow just means you're getting 6v AC into the monitor. Is the LED on the monitor board on the right just below the heat sink lit?

You have a G05-801 monitor in there, which is an older one. You can find the manuals for Asteroids and the G05 fairly easily to download. Check all the voltages first.
 
My first question would be, did you visually check the fuses or did you meter them? Make sure you always meter your fuses, next advice would be to start checking voltages starting at the power cord and work your way through the cabinet.
 
I removed each fuse and checked them with a meter.

Yep, there's my problem - "start checking voltages starting at the power cord and work your way through the cabinet" - I don't know what voltages I'm looking for, how to "work my way through the cabinet", etc...

Thom
 
A Member over at the "Build Your Own Arcade Controls" Forum suggested that I post this here:

I have an non-working Asteroids machine. When I plug it in, I get a hum from the monitor-area, the back of the monitor glows red, but that's it. No marquee lights, no Player 1, Player 2 lights, no coin return light, no image at all on the monitor.

I did check all the fuses in the fuse block on the power supply board; there's also one screw-in fuse there, and a fuse up by the monitor - all were good. I replaced the fluorescent lamp in the marquee (it still doesn't light).
Mine needed a starter. Do the edges of the light glow faintly? That's a tell tale sign of a bad starter. They're $2 at Lowe's.

The ground plug has been cut from the power cord, but the house that I live in doesn't have properly grounded outlets anyway...

The tip on the end of mine was cut. There was also an issue with the plug and it was shorting out. I replaced it to be safe.

I have some experience with electronics, but am certainly no pro - I can solder on a circuit board, etc., but I'm pretty lost when it comes to troubleshooting. I have basic tools, including a multimeter.

Can someone give me some direction for troubleshooting (or tell me if it's even worth restoring) - or even better, might someone that knows what they're doing live somewhere in Central Illinois (I live in the Bloomington/Normal area).

I don't know if they'll help, but I've posted some pics at the link below. As you can see, I haven't done anything (cleaning, etc.) with it yet:

www.thewhistleshop.com/misc/asteroids/asteroids.html

Thanks in advance,
Thom


You need to test the AR board inside and make sure it's outputting 5v and 12v properly. Here's an idiot guide I got help with a few months ago.

http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=126298

You need to make sure it's sending a good 5v to the PCB.

www.therealbobroberts.net sells a few rebuilt kits for Asteroids.

There's one for the monitor- a G05 cap kit with xistors.
One for the AR (audio regulator) board- AR rebuild kit
New Big Blue. It's the giant blue capacitor on the Power supply.
Asteroids Cap kit. It replaces all the caps on the game board.

Once you do all that, you'll have tackled most of the things that commonly fail. If you can solder, these are all very easy to install.
 
The coin return lamp is probably burned out. These lamps are the most neglected on machines.

The lamp is a #47 or #49, either will work, both are 6 volts.

And like mentined above, the marquee tube has a starter, that is probably bad since you know you have a good bulb.
 
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Thanks to all - I'll get started on it this weekend...

Thom
 
Provided your bulbs are bayonet style, these LEDs will work. They're as bright as the originals- which isn't bright like a Midway door. Anyway I bought them, and I'm happy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180479407243&viewitem=

Here's the interior of my coin door with the new bulbs.

4475240532_f253aabe36.jpg
 
You have an early Asteroids with a G05-801 monitor. Your 4th pic in is the power brick, remove the power brick. Turn it over and test the 2 diodes on the underside of the power brick. Once they have been verified to be good, replace the power brick and test it for proper voltages.
 
Just FYI... #44 bulbs are brighter then #47's.

I use #44's in all my pinball machines and really make a difference.

Ok, then I have a question. When I searched for bulbs I was looking for LED replacements for 1812 or 1815. That's how I found the ones linked above. How do you know I'm using a #47- it doesn't say that anywhere in my auction. When I search for 44 on ebay no led replacements come up. Is there an LED equivilant for a 44? I'd like a brighter bulb, but in an LED. Of course if I have to pay much more than $5 shipped for 2 LED's I'll pass.

Anyone have an ebay link or suggestion?
 
Ok, then I have a question. When I searched for bulbs I was looking for LED replacements for 1812 or 1815. That's how I found the ones linked above. How do you know I'm using a #47- it doesn't say that anywhere in my auction. When I search for 44 on ebay no led replacements come up. Is there an LED equivilant for a 44? I'd like a brighter bulb, but in an LED. Of course if I have to pay much more than $5 shipped for 2 LED's I'll pass.

Anyone have an ebay link or suggestion?

go to www.pinballlife.com
 
You have an early Asteroids with a G05-801 monitor. Your 4th pic in is the power brick, remove the power brick. Turn it over and test the 2 diodes on the underside of the power brick. Once they have been verified to be good, replace the power brick and test it for proper voltages.

Thanks for the info Dokert. Both diodes do appear to be good - .38_ range in one direction; .0L in the other. I'll post an update when I have a chance to work on it some more this weekend...

Thom
 
OK, I've gotten a little (very little) done...

Here are the voltages from the A/R board:
At the +10.3v test point - 13.06v
At the +5v test point - 1.7v

I also replaced the starter in the marquee lamp; it works now (thanks mhanlen1).

I hate feeling so stupid, but would someone please treat me like a total idiot and give me more details on exactly how to proceed from here? I've gotten the following suggestions, but don't want to potentially screw anything up - where should I put the black lead from my DMM, etc...

Check the voltages on the labeled test points on the game board and also going into and coming out of the audio/regulator board.

Also, check to make sure you're getting 36v AC into the regulator board on the monitor (the one with the large blue capacitors). It should also be outputting +25-35v DC and -25-35v from the connector on the right side of the board. The neck glow just means you're getting 6v AC into the monitor. Is the LED on the monitor board on the right just below the heat sink lit?

You have a G05-801 monitor in there, which is an older one. You can find the manuals for Asteroids and the G05 fairly easily to download. Check all the voltages first.

In answer to the above, when you say "game board", I assume that you're talking about the largest board, right? I see many test points on that board, but none that I've found are labeled with voltages. How do I know what I'm looking for there?

Can you give me more detail on how to check for the 36v AC (and the output) for the monitor regulator board? And no, I don't see a lit LED.

I do have the manuals ("Asteroids Operation, Maintenance, and Service Manual" and "G05 Monochrome X-Y Monitor 'Quadrascan'"), as well as the schematics (sheets 1 & 2).

You have an early Asteroids with a G05-801 monitor. Your 4th pic in is the power brick, remove the power brick. Turn it over and test the 2 diodes on the underside of the power brick. Once they have been verified to be good, replace the power brick and test it for proper voltages.

Could you give me more details about exactly how to "test [the power brick] for proper voltages"? I see the "Power Distribution" figure in the Asteroids Manual, but again, I don't know exactly where to put my leads...


'Sorry to be so utterly clueless here - I do pick this sort of thing up quickly; my problem is that I have no prior history at all with it...

Thanks again,
Thom
 
The A/R is putting out bad +5vdc. Most likely it needs to be rebuilt. There is a diode and a couple of resistors that are notorious for failing, look for burn marks on the A/R. Show us a picture of your A/R.
 
The A/R is the 12th pic in the original set. You have posted some good pics of the monitor deflection board and labelled them A/R.

Looking at the A/R in your previous pics, most likely the 2N3055 transistor on the big black heatsink has failed. Radio Shack actually still carries 2N3055 transistors.
 
The A/R is the 12th pic in the original set. You have posted some good pics of the monitor deflection board and labelled them A/R.

Looking at the A/R in your previous pics, most likely the 2N3055 transistor on the big black heatsink has failed. Radio Shack actually still carries 2N3055 transistors.

Ooops - thanks so much for your patience. I've taken some pics of the proper board now:
http://www.thewhistleshop.com/misc/asteroids/asteroids.html

According to their website, my local Radio Shack has this transistor in stock. I'm going to run out and pick one up now...

Thom
 
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