Qbert not working with ArcadeShop switcher kit

debaser138

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I have a Qbert that I'm working on that was running fine for about a week and then quit working as it blew the BR for the +5v (even tho it was a brand new and beefier BR). Since this machine is at a location and running 16 hours a day, my buddy James Hagen (who we got the Qbert from) ordered a Gottlieb switcher kit from ArcadeShop and had it drop shipped to me. I wired it up and would hear "Hello I'm turned on" and all I was getting was garbage on the screen. I verified the CPU board was getting +5v and that the sound board was getting it's proper voltages. Thought perhaps the CPU board crapped out so James sent over another working boardset.

Plugged it in and was getting the same darn thing. So we looked into this further and found out that on pin 27 of the CPU board, the power supply is supposed to be supplying +11.5v to that pin. It gets this from Pins 1 & 2 on the 4 pin female molex connector (the other 2 pins on that connector are GND). The Qbert switching power supply adapter has those two pins connected to nothing, hence why we were not getting +12 to the CPU. Pins 3 & 4 are connected to GND on the adapter tho.

So I ran a temporary jumper wire from the 12v lug on the switcher to the one side of the cap on the board where the +11.5v comes in and the game fired right up.

James emailed Steven about this but hasn't heard back anything. Has anyone else who has installed ArcadeShop's switcher kit in a Qbert had this problem?

Rodney
 
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James emailed Steven about this but hasn't heard back anything. Has anyone else who has installed ArcadeShop's switcher kit in a Qbert had this problem?

Rodney


Not yet. But the switcher adapter hasn't improved any of the other power related problems I was having, other than the heat. That sucks. Now I have to check mine to make sure it's working. For as much as AS charges for some of this stuff, you'd think the QC would already be done before they start selling. Their multi-Williams panel also comes to mind.
 
Heard back from Steven @ ArcadeShop and we got it figured out. Qbert's power brick in the bottom of the cab supplies the +11.5v to pin 27 at the edge connector of the CPU, not the power supply. Since the BR is blown for that voltage on the power brick, that's why we were not getting that voltage on that pin.

So I'll just run the wire from pin 27 on the edge connector to the 12v on the switcher, bypassing the power brick, and be good to go.

He said he will be updating the documentation so that others are aware of this.

Rodney
 
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