Marble Madness PCB reset loop?

railwarrior

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I have acquired an 'untested' Marble Madness cartridge. TTL version
I am testing this in a working system 1 cab with Road Blasters.

First, I tried to just install the cartridge and see what would happen. The CR6 led on the top of the System 1 main board was flashing opposite as was this screen http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/railwarrior/marble madness/marblemadness001.jpg

I removed the board and removed and reseated all chips. Reinserted and got this 'Galaga-like boot' screen.
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg30/railwarrior/marble madness/marblemadness002.jpg

The CR6 Led is not lit. It just sits there 'cycling'.
I reinstalled Road Blasters just to double check and it works fine as before.

Any rom/socket locations to check first? Suggestions?
 

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Not sure if any chips are missing or what-not. I'm still searching for Rom/socket locations...
 

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The power setup on this is hacked. There is a switcher spliced into the harness to the Sys 1 main board harness from the power brick supplying the +5vdc and -5 vdc only. It is putting out 6.42V at the switcher, around 5.4 at both test points on the PCB. It works fine with Road Blasters...which is strange. Is this voltage running the risk of damage?
 
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You need to drop the voltage - anything over 5.2 (at the switcher) is too much and you run a risk of damaging things. Certain boards require a tad more juice - but nothing over +5.2.
The previous owner may have already damaged it :(
 
Thanks for the response!
The cabinet was one I picked up a few years back that already had Road Blasters running in it fine. I'm trying to convert it over to Marble Madness.
I did lower the voltage on the switcher to 5.02, but that left the 5vdc around 4.8 on the MM cartridge at both test points. So, I bumped the 5vcd back up and it is right around 5.14vdc on the MM board. The picture has a lot less random stuff (see earlier pic). Still has random characters, but a line on the left side of never changes. I'm contemplating shotgunning the whole thing. If I have to order sockets, I may as well pick up caps, etc. I'm in too deep now to give up on it....and because of that, I may just have to send it to somebody else for repair.
 

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Update

Quick update...cause maybe somebody will need this information down the road....
My Marble Madness cartridge works fine in another KLOV'ers System 1 main board setup.....strange that Road Blasters will still work in my main board...it does have the LETA chip and all...so.....will have to troubleshoot my main board when I get the cartridge back (thanks, B!)...
 
For those who may run a search in the future for a similar problem:

This problem was caused by issues on the A/R III board. Apparently it decided to fail (coincidentally) while swapping out daughter boards. I installed a rebuild kit from Bob Roberts and replaced the resistor at R20 (was burnt).

http://
mm1.jpg
 
5

You need to drop the voltage - anything over 5.2 (at the switcher) is too much and you run a risk of damaging things. Certain boards require a tad more juice - but nothing over +5.2.
The previous owner may have already damaged it :(

It does not matter what you read on the switcher you have to have 5-5.1 on the board. You cant automatical assume you have the correct voltage on the board by testing the lugs on the switcher. If it is a huge voltage loss like the one above. There is a connection issue.

Glad you got it going.
 
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