PCB mechanics

MrHiu2

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Ever since my machine broke, I've been trying to figure out how the PCB board(s) work. I understand what is broken, how to fix it, but I can never seem to understand the board in itself. My knowledge at this point is limited to dip-switches :D

Is there any way to better understand the system?
 
Ever since my machine broke, I've been trying to figure out how the PCB board(s) work. I understand what is broken, how to fix it, but I can never seem to understand the board in itself. My knowledge at this point is limited to dip-switches :D

Is there any way to better understand the system?

Find the schematics for the board and learn electronics.

Or just search the forums for all your needs! :)
 

This presents an interesting question.

How useful for this hobby, would an electronics class at the local college be? I'd consider taking a class or two if I thought they'd help get my games working.
 
Not sure about taking an entire course on the hobby, (time cosidered, of course)

I'd say I'm looking for a diagram of sorts, not a manual, but a diagram that shows the different components and what they are. Such as:

The roms are here
The such n' such is here
These wires connect to this and serve this purpose.
 
Not sure about taking an entire course on the hobby, (time cosidered, of course)

I'd say I'm looking for a diagram of sorts, not a manual, but a diagram that shows the different components and what they are. Such as:

The roms are here
The such n' such is here
These wires connect to this and serve this purpose.

For the most part the schematic for the board fits that bill. But... assuming you have that diagram what good is it really going to be without an understanding of how the components work?
 
Not sure about taking an entire course on the hobby, (time cosidered, of course)

I'd say I'm looking for a diagram of sorts, not a manual, but a diagram that shows the different components and what they are. Such as:

The roms are here
The such n' such is here
These wires connect to this and serve this purpose.

No sure which games, specifically, you're interesting in learning about. ROM location and wiring differs, sometimes wildly, through the years, and game to game.

Here's my 30 second free course component identification:
- CPU: one of the biggest chips on the board
- EPROM: usually socketed; usually have a sticker on top covering a small clear window
- TTL: number on top with "74" in it, followed by zero to two letters, then 2 or 3 numbers.
- audio amp: has a heat sink attached to it, and usually a single row of pins

Old Atari game manuals (early 80s-ish) usually had very good diagrams showing each major component, power and signal paths, etc. But not really any "map" of the PCB.

If you're talking just games "in general"... Bob Roberts University has some stuff, mostly about aspects outside of the PCB:
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/acwiring.html
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/acros.html
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/microsw.html
http://www.therealbobroberts.net/buildit.html

...but very little of Bob's stuff is about component-level troubleshooting and repair.

Seriously though, an understanding of the basics of electricity and electronics is pretty vital to do much more than swapping, plugging and praying. The "Getting Started in Electronics" by Mimms really is excellent in that regard.
 
I would be curious to hear peoples' plan of attack on a pcb that doesn't work. Would it be possible to create a generic flow chart to be able to focus more on the problematic components? (Dead, audio: fm/digital, graphics:background/foreground, etc)
 
I feel the need to chime in on this topic because I think it is being downplayed a bit. It would be very difficult to read a book on basic electronics and be able to troubleshoot a board to component level. I'm an ee and still have trouble finding problems on boards. Sometimes the problems are simple, but it still takes a through knowledge of microprocessor systems and digital logic to even figure out which components to test. By the time you figure out the schematics, spend money on test equipment and replacement components, you're better off paying someone that is experienced to fix the board for you.
 
The machine I'm speaking of is Root Beer Tapper,


I think that I should have a friend of mine, whom is an expert in computers and such, show me some components to the thing, and I could slowly work up knowledge.
 
Check out the book Make:Electronics.

http://tinyurl.com/4mtb7t6

That is a good book...

A heftier tome that is also good is 'Teach Yourself Electricity and Electronics':

http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yoursel...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300855800&sr=1-1-spell

Also...

Radio Shack Electronics Learning Lab:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3814337

The book that comes with it doesn't do a great job in my opinion of teaching you the how and why, but combined with a new or used scope and some other test tools one can learn a lot...

Neither is going to just answer some basic questions as to how a typical classic arcade game works.

I'm actually thinking of setting up some kind of tech wiki here, especially if I could get a few people to write some articles for tech newbies. Something as simple as how a Pong board gets its 5v can be explained pretty quickly and simply, but it's tougher for someone who has to go hunt and figure it what 'center tap' means on their own.
 
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I have taken a few EE courses while studying computer engineering, and I would suggest reading here or trying the books already mentioned. First and second year college courses really don't go far enough to teach all of the things you need to know. My KLOV education has helped more in school than school has helped in the hobby stuff.
 
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