Lets talk about 80B reset boards

SarverSystems

New member
Joined
Oct 18, 2013
Messages
287
Reaction score
0
Location
New Kensignton, Pennsylvania
So I've got the following 80B machines:

Hot Shots (boots up every time)
Raven (no longer boots)
Monte Carlo (no longer boots)
Gold Wings (no longer boots)

Hot Shots has had the edge connectors removed, and wires soldered directly to the edge connectors. DO NOT BLAME ME, I DIDN'T DO IT!
But, the machine boots and plays!
I am not sure if it still has the reset board attached or not.

Gold Wings has had every single edge connector replaced and repinned (by me), as well as the entire ground mods and voltage LED mods done (by me).
The machine booted and played great for about 6 months, but now does the following:

When turning the machine on, the siren turns on, and several of the flashers turn on and stay on. If I flip the switch on and off quickly a few times, I can get the machine to boot to attract mode, but not coin up or start a game. And no displays or music.

Raven will not boot up or go into attract mode. It does nothing more than turn the GU lighting on.

Monte Carlo will not boot up or go into attract mode. It does nothing more than turn the GI lighting on.

So this brings us to the reset board.

I purchased 3 "working" reset boards from a reseller.
Putting these reset boards did not change anything as far a booting up or not.

However, the issues I am describing are all related to the reset circuitry.


So here are my questions regarding the reset boards.

1: In general, do you use them? Remove them?
2: Is there a way to test the boards using a DVM, logic probe, scope, or other tools?
3: Is there any way to determine if the reset board is CAUSING the problem rather than FIXING the problem?
 
You probably already know this, but the boards will run just fine without them. So I would get the board up and running first and then worry about using the reset boards, all it does is if the board locks up, instead of leaving it crashed with coils locked on, etc. it makes the board reset and reboot.

There are two types of 'reset', one is the reset line that tells the board it's up and running like you have on a 6502 cpu, etc... and then the reset board that actually resets the game if it locks up.

the 'reset' problems you're having are caused by the reset section of the cpu, not the seperate board that plugs in. First thing to do is make sure you have a good power supply to the board, then I'd unplug everything except the displays and see if it boots, if it doesn't then you have an issue with the roms or the reset section near the battery on the main cpu, not the reset board that plugs in.
 
Everyone I've talked to says to remove the reset boards. I ran my System 80 pin without it with no problems.
 
Just unplug the reset board, it's not needed for home use.

I'm pretty knowledgeable on these Gottliebs (System 80 - Premier era).
On those 80B pins I check/fix power supply, connectors, ground mods and piggyback board on mpu.

The first one (power supply), always reflow solder on the header pins and check that potentiometer on there - it could be suspect.

Connectors (crimped style)- if I have come across a quirky issue on a certain pin - I guarantee it's connector related.

Ground mods: I find these are a must on the earlier B days but not really mandatory on the latter half of the B series to the 3 era. I have a Genesis and Rock machines that refuse to work properly till the grounding mods were done.

Now the piggyback is notoriously attributed to cause issues on that series. It's not the board itself but the cold solder joints to the mpu.

This might be the issue (piggyback board) to some of your issues with the pins above - especially your Gold Wings. Try to press on the little board itself and see if the problems arise.
 
Back
Top Bottom