Just bought my first arcade game - Asteroids, 2 days later won't work

[demogo]

True

Molex plugs, for example are designed to withstand 46 disconnects. Yes only 46.

I replace all female pins during a repro, 46 ain't a lot

Are you serious? Are you sure? That has major implications for the switchable control panel plugs I've built. I've probably hit 20 by now.

 

[ELutz]

Are you serious? Are you sure? That has major implications for the switchable control panel plugs I've built. I've probably hit 20 by now.

Yup!
Some connectors are as low as 25 insertions!


Edward

 

[dezbaz]

Are you serious? Are you sure? That has major implications for the switchable control panel plugs I've built. I've probably hit 20 by now.

In this doc, search for cycles

It says >30

I read on a document it was 46 for that size (0.093")

Other pins are 500 mating cycles, but the ones in arcade machines are LOW

 

[demogo]

In this doc, search for cycles

It says >30

I read on a document it was 46 for that size (0.093")

Other pins are 500 mating cycles, but the ones in arcade machines are LOW

Oh man -- I'm so screwed...

Is this a theoretical thing or something you've seen yourself in the real world?

 

[ELutz]

Oh man -- I'm so screwed...

Is this a theoretical thing or something you've seen yourself in the real world?

I personally feel it's theoretical. Most of these game connectors have went through hundreds of cycles. I would not worry too much.

Edward

 

[demogo]

I personally feel it's theoretical. Most of these game connectors have went through hundreds of cycles. I would not worry too much.

Edward

Thanks. I could swear that I asked Bob Roberts about this back when I cooked up my CP wiring scheme and he said that the connectors should hold up...

Infotime, I apologize for derailing your thread and I'll shut up now. OTOH, it was lots of free bumps for your thread.

 

[infotime]

OK, finally got around to testing.

First, here's the voltages I was able to measure on the PCB. I took measurements wherever there was a test point on the board. I also tested to both ground points. The first set of voltages are for the ground point nearest the edge connector, second set is measurements near the CPU.

DISP - would not lock a reading
R/W - 3.4 / 3.5
02 - 1.9 / 1.8
WDOG DISABLE - 4.95 / 4.93
6MHZ - 1.748 / 1.XXX (X = fluctuates)
+5V - 4.97 / 4.96
COINR - 5.01 / 4.99
COINL - 5.01 / 5.00
START2 - 5.01 / 4.99
COINC - 5.01 / 4.99
START1 - 5.01 / 4.99
AUD1 - 5.91 / 5.89
ZOUT - would not lock a reading
XOUT - would not lock a reading
YOUT - would not lock a reading

Also measured some points on the power regulator / audio board (1st numbers from the lower GND, 2nd from upper GND)

10.3VDC - 11.94-11.96 / 11.96-11.98 (fluctuated a bit)
+5VDC - 5.26 / 5.25
SPKR1 - 6.01-6.09 / (forgot to measure 2nd GND point)
SPKR2 - 6.02-6.09 / (forgot to measure 2nd GND point)

Any comments on these findings would be appreciated. Thanks!

The only thing I have left to try is to take the PCB to an expert for repair.

 

[demogo]

If you go the expert route, road.runner is great at it. There's other folks here too that can do the job.