Missile Command or Atari radial optical couplers?

nagamitsu

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They only show in manual as a radial optical coupler, part 030368-01 and no specs. Trying to find replacements for my trackball, but without any details other than this, via Digikey website etc, searching for optical couplers are not producing anything close to what the originals look like. Nor do any specs match up (minimum I find is 12v, when actual power to the boards it 5VDC)

Help! Anyone ever find actual replacement optical/photo interrupter/couplers?

Tim
 
Nobody sells the radial ones, and they aren't needed. You can replace them with two single ones.

This just came up today in another thread.

https://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=426619

Ok, thanks! This helps! I assume when installed, they aren't direction specific when mounted on the board, one side sends/receives depending the current put through on PCB. Gonna order four of these then to hopefully finally get my trackball working again.

Tim
 
They are direction specific. One side is an infrared LED, and the other is a detector. And the circuitry to support each is on the respective side of the board, so if you install it backwards, it won't work.

Worth ordering a few extras, as all Atari opto boards (spinners, trakballs, steering wheels, etc) use them. And they are frequently bad if original.
 
I see some of the replacement ones have an arrow marking direction on them at least. Pic below of mine, arrow I drew, should be the way it is sending the light/signal?

c32a286f8593586b9f5d0fc6ba54de5a.jpg
 
The replacements have some type of markings on them (e.g., 'E' and 'D', or some have a picture of a diode or LED on one side) that indicates which side is the emitter (i.e., IR LED), and which is the detector.
 
The replacements have some type of markings on them (e.g., 'E' and 'D', or some have a picture of a diode or LED on one side) that indicates which side is the emitter (i.e., IR LED), and which is the detector.



Thanks! I can only guess the original's direction, as it is definitely not obvious, but transmitting from outside of the wheel to the inside makes sense
 
Yes, the diode is on the larger/outer side of the original. You can tell because it is the side connected to +5V through the resistor, with the two IR diodes in series, to ground.

The side that actually outputs the signals run to the two separate output pins on the connector.
 
Yes, the diode is on the larger/outer side of the original. You can tell because it is the side connected to +5V through the resistor, with the two IR diodes in series, to ground.



The side that actually outputs the signals run to the two separate output pins on the connector.



Thank you Sir. Should have the ordered parts for tomorrow. Hopefully then, a working/playable game
 
Thank you, for someone who's never dealt with a trackball repair or optics before, it's still Greek.

I've soldered in the replacement couplers just now, and am further along than before. I have full movement left to right, but not up/down. as though the one PCB with the optics for the up/down is somehow backwards, but I soldered in the new couplers same on each board

Tim
 
Thank you, for someone who's never dealt with a trackball repair or optics before, it's still Greek.

I've soldered in the replacement couplers just now, and am further along than before. I have full movement left to right, but not up/down. as though the one PCB with the optics for the up/down is somehow backwards, but I soldered in the new couplers same on each board

Tim

Swapped optical boards, left/right continues to work perfect, up/down makes it also move left/right. I don't get it

Tim
 
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